Course Title: International Health

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: International Health

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
PUBH1334	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008
PUBH1334	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010, Sem 2 2011, Sem 2 2012, Sem 2 2013, Sem 2 2014, Sem 2 2016
PUBH1334	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2017, Sem 2 2018

Course Coordinator: Dr Jason Wong

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7095

Course Coordinator Email: jason.wong@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 220.04.16

Course Coordinator Availability: By email appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course will introduce you to the concept of health in the global arena and explore the relevance of these health issues for the teacher and student in the classroom.
This course will examine the complex forces influencing contemporary international health. The health status of a range of countries will be considered with respect to the impact of global economics, politics, policies and power.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course will require students to explore contemporary views about international affairs. This will be done through ’snapshots’ of particular events that have either recently occurred in countries, or are actually happening at present. To this end, the desired capabilities are to:

• Use theoretical frameworks to increase knowledge base
• Identify actual and potential health problems within the framework of international health and discuss specific educational needs for individuals or groups within a school or community
• Provide reasoned arguments in support of judgements in relation to issues
• Facilitate individual / group decisions within a classroom setting
• Utilise educational resources applicable to school / community requirements for international health education
• Contribute to teaching / learning conversations relating to international health education in schools and the community
• Disseminate, in written and oral forms, the processes and results of scholarly enquiry
• Seek, locate and critically evaluate relevant literature / information resources effectively

 

This course will contribute to the student’s development of a range of Victorian Institute of Teaching and Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership National Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL).

This course contributes to the development of the following Health & Physical Education Program Learning Outcomes:

• Develop content knowledge and how to teach it (PLO 2).

This course will require students to explore contemporary views about international affairs. This will be done through ’snapshots’ of particular events that have either recently occurred in countries, or are actually happening at present. To this end, the desired capabilities are:
 

• Use of theoretical frameworks to increase knowledge base
• Identification of actual and potential health problems within the framework of international health
• Identification of and discussion about specific educational needs for individuals or groups within a school or community
• Provision of reasoned arguments in support of judgements in relation to issues
• Facilitation of individual / group decisions within a classroom setting
• Utilisation of educational resources applicable to school / community requirements for international health education
• Contribution to teaching / learning conversations relating to international health education in schools and the community
• Dissemination of the processes and results of scholarly enquiry, in written and oral forms
• Demonstration of the effective and critical evaluation of relevant literature / information resources

Overview of Learning Activities

The conceptual framework underpinning this course reflects a constructivist approach, focusing on the student as a self-motivated learner. To achieve this end the learning objectives provide guidance for you to focus your studies on health-related literature as applied to teaching practice.
This course will provide you with multiple opportunities to discuss and critically reflect on course readings, theoretical perspectives and personal experiences related to international health issues.
You will also be encouraged to participate in active dialogue by working together in small groups, especially for the production of presentation studies.

The mode of delivery involves a combination of workshops, group work, discussions, on-line learning (where available), classroom seminars, open discussion, student prepared presentations, reflective practice and structured self-directed learning. Within this arrangement, you will be expected to develop critical analysis skills that can be applied to the education field. Emphasis will be placed on the application of content to schools, teaching, and learning.

 

Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be expected to adopt an explorative approach to issues in international health. Non-contact hours are allocated for students to read or prepare material relevant to class content and to prepare presentation topics.
The course content is arranged to allow interaction between the student peer group and the teacher, thus encouraging creativity and critical application of basic knowledge.
Sessions will be a mix of discussion/tutorial/groupwork/presentations and lectures. Students will be asked to lead discussions where appropriate. Although some textbooks are recommended, students are encouraged to utilise internet sites & videorecordings used in class. Thus, resources of knowledge will come from within the group and, more formally, outside group activity.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course will consist of:

Assignments based around the ability to discuss and demonstrate in-depth understanding of global health issues.