Developing Literacy
Overview
This unit focuses on developing coherent and advanced knowledge in relation to literacy teaching in a diverse social, cultural and technological world, with a particularly focus on writing, which includes reading to learning and the place of oral language in the development of writing. Building on previous work, you will continue to develop your understanding of English learning as described in curriculum documents and explore and critique various conceptual frameworks and theoretical ideas that help you to understand how students continue to develop various literacy knowledges, skills and understandings. The teaching of literacy is examined from a number of current research and evidenced based perspectives to assist you to develop age-appropriate pedagogical practices, design teaching programs and assess students’ learning across the full range of abilities and with respect to students from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Requisites
01-June-2025
08-June-2025
02-November-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critique and critically analyse key theoretical and conceptual frameworks related to students’ literacy (reading / writing / oral language) development.
- Critically analyse contemporary pedagogical approaches to teaching and assessing writing.
- Critically reflect on everyday literacy practices to evaluate how multimodal texts can be taught and practiced within diverse learning environments.
- Plan inclusive literacy learning experiences that consider students who come from diverse social, cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds.
- Reflect upon thier own English and literacy skills as a future educator.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Online Lecture |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
On-campus Class |
3.00 | 8 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various |
6.00 | 8 weeks | 48 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3 |
| Portfolio | Individual | 50% | 2,3,4 |
| Presentation | Individual | 10% | 5 |
Content
- Literacy in the modern world – the intersections of oral language, reading and writing:
- Teaching writing within a print rich and active oral language environment
- Grammar in our diverse literacy societies
- Grammar – sentence structure and punctuation
- Spelling
- Technologies and writing
- Teacher as writer
- Multiliteracies
- Diverse writing practices
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.