Course Title: Research an education issue
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2014
Course Code: TCHE5814C
Course Title: Research an education issue
School: 360T Education
Campus: Brunswick Campus
Program: C5290 - Diploma of Education Support
Course Contact : Soosan Kian
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 9183
Course Contact Email:soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Soosan Kian soosan.kian@rmit.edu.au 9925 9183
Margaret Hanrahan margaret.hanrahan@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494
Linda Finger linda.finger@rmit.edu.au 9925 9494
Nominal Hours: 70
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
No specific pre-requisite and co-requisite.
Course Description
This course deals with the skills and knowledge required by education support workers to carry out reseach activities, analyse collected data and produce reports
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CHCEDS507A Research an education issue |
Element: |
1 Determine the research question and requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 In consultation with relevant staff, define research brief or problem according to education organisation requirements |
Element: |
2 Develop a research strategy |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Identify and evaluate suitable research strategies for use in the project |
Element: |
3 Conduct and manage reseach activities |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Conduct research methods and activities according to the research plan |
Element: |
4 Evaluate reseach outcomes |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Organise research data according to the approved research strategy |
Element: |
5 Document reseach processes and outcomes |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Summarise research procedures and outcomes in format acceptable to the education organisation and academic standards |
Element: |
6 Disseminate reseach results and reports |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Submit research reports and findings to the relevant authorities for action |
Learning Outcomes
This unit is intended for education support workers undertaking research as part of an education team in areas related to school operations and education/training programs.
This unit applies to work undertaken with appropriate guidance, support and supervision by a nominated teacher or other education professional. On successful completion of this course, you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate your competency in the above elements.
Details of Learning Activities
This unit is part of Diploma of Education Support program. You will study this unit with several other units on the same day. Your program consists of face to face teaching, Directed Study and you are expected to participate in professional placement. It is highly recommended that students attend at least 85% of class time as crucial learning activities, assessment task preparation some assessment tasks are completed in class. You are not required to attend to complete Directed Study, however you are expected to complete all work given and will at times be required to show evidence that the work has been completed in this unit. Directed Study is a very important part of your program. An outline of your Directed Study will be given by your teacher and is published in the Weekly Program Delivery Plan.
The student learning experience will be facilitated through participation in a range of activities: 

Group discussion 

Research assignments

Guest speakers

Oral and/or written questions on "What if?" scenarios

Realistic simulations and role play
Practical demonstrations and direct observation of actual work and simulated work practice
Oral Presentations
Individual and group projects - Completing the projects will include negotiated independent study time and practical work relevant to the unit of competency. 

Work placement
Teaching Schedule
Program Dates: Monday 10th February – Friday 28th November 2014
Term Breaks: Monday 21st April – Sunday 27th April 2014; Monday 23rd June – Sunday 13th July; Monday 22nd September – Sunday 5th October.
Public holidays: Monday 10th March (Labour Day), Friday 18th April (Good Friday), Monday 9th June (Queen’s Birthday), Monday 3rd November (RMIT Holiday), Tuesday 4th November (Melbourne Cup Day)
This unit will be delivered weekly. The times will be outlined in the program delivery plans which are updated each week.
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources. Should the teaching schedule change students will be advised via blackboard.
Library Orientation & an RMIT Online Systems Information Session will be scheduled during the first two weeks of your program. Information about student services, rights and responsibilities is contained in your student diary.
Semester 1
Week 1-4
Research protocols and procedures
Organisations preferred format and style for documenting research findings
Key people and their responsibilities for research projects
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 5-8
Confidentiality in research
Ethics and privacy
Ethical and legal obligations of self and organisation to undertake particular research topics
Work within ethical frameworks underpinning research within an education setting
Discussion, Q&A activities,
Assignment – Research/Q&A/Observation – Instructional learning theories
Observation report
Week 9-12
Using computers for work processing and data entry
Reading, understanding, interpreting written documents associated with the task
Analysing and presenting information
Discussion, Q&A activities
Research/Oral presentation
Week 13-16
Methods of presenting information
Copyright protocols
Research policies relating to behavior modification
Discussion, Q&A activities
Research/Oral / Role play
Progress interview
Week 17-18
Reading, understanding, interpreting written documents associated with the task
Analysing and presenting information
Reflecting on own research
Discussion,Q&Aactivities
Assignment 1, Q&A, Role play, Evidence of researching an education issue; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Thirdparty
Semester 2
Week 1-4
Reading, understanding, interpreting written documents associated with the task
Analysing and presenting information
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 5-8
Analysing and presenting information
Determining research questions and requirements
Framing research questions or topics
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assignment/project 2 – Research/Scenarios
Week 9-12
Developing a research strategy
Using computers for work processing and data entry
Discussion, Q&A activities
Week 13-16
Confidentiality in research
Ethics and privacy
Ethical and legal obligations of self and organisation to undertake particular research topics
Work within ethical frameworks underpinning research within an education setting
Discussion, Q&A activities
Folio - Presentation of folio (oral and written)
Week 17-18
Confidentiality in research
Ethics and privacy
Reflecting on own experiences
Discussion, Q&A activities
Assessment review – review folio of final assessments e.g :
Assignment/Project1 and 2, Oral presentation, Evidence of practical experience researching an education issue; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Folio – Presentation (oral and written)
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
TEXTS AND EQUIPMENT
There are no set texts in this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through handouts, our online systems and access to facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources. It is recommended that you bring:
• Display folder with plastic sleeves
• Highlighter pens
• Notebook or loose leaf paper
• Headphones (use your own or they can be purchased from the Brunswick Library very cheaply)
• USB (Memory stick)
Overview of Assessment
You must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of the competencies in order to be deemed competent.
Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
• Direct observation of actual and simulated work practice
• Oral or written questioning
• Assignments and projects
• Presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files
• Work-based activities
• Third-party feedback from a work supervisor/employer
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Disability Liaison Unit if you would like to find out more.
An assessment charter (http://mams.rmit.edu.au/kh6a3ly2wi2h1.pdf) summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.
Your courses assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies and procedures which are described and referenced in a single document: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ln1kd66y87rc
Assessment Tasks
Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks. You may be assessed by:
Assignment 1 – Research/Q&A/Observation – Instructional learning theories
Observation report Week 8
Assignment 2, Q&A, Role play, Evidence of researching an education issue; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Third party Week 18
Semester 2
Assignment/project 3 – Research/Scenarios Week 4
Assessment Folio - Presentation of folio (oral and written) Week 16
Assessment review – review folio of final assessments e.g :
Assignment/Project1 and 2, Oral presentation, Evidence of practical experience researching an education issue; e.g. Observation/Demonstration, Folio – Presentation (oral and written) Week 18
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions, through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are assessed using the following competency based results:
CC – Competency credit
CA – Competency achieved
NYC – Not Yet Competent
Please note:
Assessments tasks may include other Units of competency from the program.
All Assessment tasks should be submitted by the deadline. If an extension is required you must ask your teacher for one before the due date.
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency.
These are available from the course contact person (stated above).
Course Overview: Access Course Overview