Curriculum Studies – Geography: Part A

Geography is an investigation of the world which provides an accurate description and interpretation of the varied character of the earth and its people. It is a key discipline through which students develop the ability to recognise and understand environmental change and the interactions which take place in our world.

Awards offering Curriculum Studies – Geography: Part A

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Graduate Certificate in Teacher Preparation
• Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Unit Content

Curriculum Objective

Geography is an investigation of the world which provides an accurate description and interpretation of the varied character of the earth and its people. It is a key discipline through which students develop the ability to recognise and understand environmental change and the interactions which take place in our world. This subject aims to prepare pre-service teachers to confidently teach Geography and interdisciplinary areas such as Civics and Citizenship offered in the Years 7-10 syllabi as developed by NESA and ACARA. The subject aims to develop students’ knowledge of theoretical and practical aspects; engage with a range of pedagogical approaches and provides opportunities for the pre-service teachers to design learning and teaching sequences and assessment tools informed by research.

Outcomes

1. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of Australian and State educational policies and priorities and their effect on implementing ‘best practice’ teaching strategies and engaging resources fulfil the aims of the ACARA Geography curriculum 7-10 and NSW Geography syllabi (Stages 4 to 5);
2. Describe in detail the subject’s organisation in understanding the teacher’s role involving support, mentoring, professional development goals, curriculum administration, WHS, and engaging with parents/ carers, professional and external community organisations in the teaching of 7-10 Geography in Christian and alternate school environments;
3. Develop student-centred innovative and well-designed Geography lesson sequences including geographical content (concepts, substance and structure), tools, and skills; language, literacy and numeracy demands of the content; the general capabilities and cross curriculum priorities, and identify, apply and assess age appropriate differentiated strategies for the full range of student abilities (supporting their well-being and safety) and diverse backgrounds (multilingual and sociocultural);
4. Design and critically reflect upon units of work, lesson sequences, and curriculum materials using threshold concepts and skills development, knowledge acquisition and signature pedagogies that incorporate ICT, Quality Teaching Framework, and Great Teaching Inspired Learning using Understanding by Design;
5. Prepare and critically reflect upon a variety of assessment instruments using ‘best practice’ that demonstrate understanding of statistical information, assessment moderation and its application to judge student achievement through assessment of learning, for learning and in learning, and reliably report to parents/carers.

Subject Content

1. Geography – the world its laboratory, wide discipline syllabi integration, thinking geographically, change over time and geography’s relationship with history, natural systems, learning skills, webquest, ICT in geography, concept building, progression in conceptual understanding, geographical learning and teaching strategies, cartography and global positioning technology, multi - media based presentations, role plays, guest speakers, field studies, permeable classroom, aesthetic expression, cooperative learning;
2. Values and human issues: Christian worldview perspectives, social action, volunteerism and charities, moral education, cultural and ideological difference, National Values Education project, values and the national curriculum (ACARA), interfaith understanding, ethical and legal issues in teaching, intelligent design, conflict and war, migration and refugees, economic and cultural development;
3. Year 7 – 10 Curriculum development and planning: curriculum rationale and learning and teaching approaches, objectives, outcomes, behavioural objectives, instructional objectives, geographical pedagogies, differentiation, Ralph Tyler’s model, understanding by design model (UBD), backwards design, unit development, lesson plans, lesson evaluations, question development and construction, models of communication, metacognition;
4. Teaching Australian Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Studies (Nunta Benta), the history of Australian Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Studies in schools, indigenous perspectives in geography, multicultural education, global studies and globalisation, studies of Asia, civics and citizenship, eco-scanner;
5. Geographical assessment strategies and interdisciplinary studies: recording and reporting, normative, formative, summative, portfolios, objective tests, anecdotal records, observation, working effectively with parents and volunteers, problem based learning, resource literacy, ICT and computers, blogs, wikis, TV and film, mp3, documentaries.

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Face-to-Face
• Intensive
• Distance/ Global Online

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

1. Professional digital presentation (20%)
2. Lesson Plan Sequence (40%)
3. Assessing a Unit of Work (40%)

Prescribed Text

• References will include the most current curriculum requirements for schools.

Check with the instructor each semester before purchasing any prescribed texts or representative references