Understanding Theories of Teaching, Learning & Development
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- On-campus: 12 hours Face to face+Blended Swinburne online – Fully online
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning. For Online unit delivery, learning is conducted exclusively online.
Aims and objectives
This unit introduces pre-service teachers to theories of learning and development. They are introduced to the major theories of learning and explore how these relate to teaching processes. Pre-service teachers will be challenged to reflect upon their own belief system and how this relates to different contemporary theories and contexts of learning and its potential impact on teaching. In addition, pre-service teachers will explore how developmental factors impact learning.
1. Critically analyse key learning theories and relate them to values, beliefs and contexts.
2. Critically reflect upon personal beliefs about learning and teaching and relate these to contemporary theories and practice.
3. Apply their understanding of learning theories to analyse pedagogy and classroom practice.
4. Demonstrate and communicate knowledge and understanding of the intellectual, physical, language, emotional, moral, social and psychological development of children and young people in contemporary society and how these may affect learning.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
2. Critically reflect upon personal beliefs about learning and teaching and relate these to contemporary theories and practice.
3. Apply their understanding of learning theories to analyse pedagogy and classroom practice.
4. Demonstrate and communicate knowledge and understanding of the intellectual, physical, language, emotional, moral, social and psychological development of children and young people in contemporary society and how these may affect learning.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
| Live Online Lecture
| 1 | 12 | 12 |
| On Campus Class (Seminar) | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Specified Activities Various | 6 | 12 | 72 |
| Unspecified Activities Various | 3.5 | 12 | 42 |
| TOTAL |
|
| 150 hours |
Swinburne Online
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Online Contact Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.5 | 12 | 150 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Presentation | Individual | 20% | 1, 2 |
| Essay | Individual | 40% | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Reflection of classroom practice | Individual | 40% | 3, 4 |
Content
• Complexities of learning
• What is a learning theory?
• Where do theories come from and how are they used?
• Benefits and limitations of learning theories
• Application of learning theories to practice
• World views and their impact on practice
• Behavioral perspectives
• Cognitive perspectives
• Constructivist/Socio-cultural perspectives
• Post structural perspectives
• Contemporary theories from different perspectives
• Overview of how research is used in education
• Key theorists in psychological and social development of children
• The impact of social, cultural and environmental factors on children’s cognitive, emotional and social development.
• Applying developmental theory in adapting pedagogy to the developmental level of students.
• What is a learning theory?
• Where do theories come from and how are they used?
• Benefits and limitations of learning theories
• Application of learning theories to practice
• World views and their impact on practice
• Behavioral perspectives
• Cognitive perspectives
• Constructivist/Socio-cultural perspectives
• Post structural perspectives
• Contemporary theories from different perspectives
• Overview of how research is used in education
• Key theorists in psychological and social development of children
• The impact of social, cultural and environmental factors on children’s cognitive, emotional and social development.
• Applying developmental theory in adapting pedagogy to the developmental level of students.
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials/and or text books will be made available in the Unit Outline.