Students

EDST8200 – Conceptualising Professional Practice and Educational Research

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-infrequent, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Signe Duff
signe.duff@mq.edu.au
Email to request a consultation time
Tutor
Janet Dutton
janet.dutton@mq.edu.au
Contact unit convenor for all unit enquiries
Tutor
Nicola Hoffman
nicola.hoffman@mq.edu.au
Contact unit convenor for all unit enquiries
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MTeach(Prim) or MTeach(Sec)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces key dimensions of teaching and educational research to support student decision-making as they negotiate their transition into postgraduate study and practice in school-based settings. This unit is tenanted on research-informed learning and teaching and assessment practices. The unit affords students an opportunity to engage in professional dialogue whilst critically reflecting on implications of historical and current perspectives about educational theory and practice on their own positioning as a teacher and development of educative practice. 

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Develop critical insights into the ways in which contemporary educational practice has been shaped, and continues to be shaped, by socio-cultural and historical factors.
  • ULO2: Understand and evaluate strategies for behaviour and classroom management that ensure a supportive and safe learning environment.
  • ULO3: Acquire knowledge of and critically reflect upon the ethical and legal responsibilities of being a primary or secondary teacher.
  • ULO4: Apply academic research skills to read for purpose and investigate contemporary issues in Australian educational practice.
  • ULO5: Develop skills in reflexive practice through critical engagement with research informed practice, feedback and professional interactions in school-based and non-school based settings.

General Assessment Information

General Submission Information

Please format assessments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing. All assessments must be submitted electronically. Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments. It is the responsibility of all students to ensure that their submitted work is in a format compatible with Turnitin software for plagiarism checking. Submissions must meet the required file type and formatting specifications outlined in the assessment guidelines. Failure to submit work in an acceptable format may result in delays in processing your submission and potential penalties for non-compliance with assessment requirements. If you are unsure about the file format or have technical difficulties, it is your responsibility to seek assistance before the submission deadline. Students should be careful to check that they submit the correct file for an assessment as no re-submissions will be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file. It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assessments. If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to contact the unit convenor. Students can use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing if this option is made available in the unit. Word limits are strictly applied. Work above the word limit will not be marked. Students should be aware of and apply the University policy on academic integrity (see: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3).

Special Consideration / Late Penalties

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day to late submissions, up until the 7th calendar day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

Important to note:

  • Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs) will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.
  • Students should not request an informal arrangement from their tutor, lecturer or Unit Convenor (or equivalent).
  • Where an application for Special Consideration is approved and the outcome is an extension to the due date of a task, submissions that are received after the new due date will be subject to late penalties that are calculated from the new due date. This only applies where the outcome is an extension to the due date – see the Special Consideration Policy for a schedule of all possible outcomes.
  • A Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Applications must be made via Service Connect.

Marking

All assessments are marked using a rubric. Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor.

University Policy on Grading

ssignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading System and University Assessment Policy. To attain a pass or higher grade in Professional Experience a student must obtain a satisfactory in both the Professional Experience component and a pass or higher grade in the academic component. For Professional Experience units the Professional Experience Evaluation Report is marked as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. The Macquarie Teaching Performance Assessment (MQTPA - in final WIL/PEx units) is marked as Not met, Met or Exceeds.

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed because they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit Service Connect.

Withdrawing from this unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice via Service Connect before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact your course progression.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Critical reflection 50% No 23:55 07/04/2026 Individual No Open AI
Viva Voce and rationale 50% No Exam Period Individual No Observed

Critical reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: 23:55 07/04/2026
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Open AI

A 3000 word critical reflection addresses knowledge and understanding from the modules, site visits, unit readings, and reflexive practice. The critical reflection should holistically address each of the following focus areas:

1. Role of the teacher including ethical and legal imperatives

2. Classroom management strategies

3. Role and significance of assessment and quality feedback to students and parents/carers

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop critical insights into the ways in which contemporary educational practice has been shaped, and continues to be shaped, by socio-cultural and historical factors.
  • Understand and evaluate strategies for behaviour and classroom management that ensure a supportive and safe learning environment.
  • Acquire knowledge of and critically reflect upon the ethical and legal responsibilities of being a primary or secondary teacher.
  • Apply academic research skills to read for purpose and investigate contemporary issues in Australian educational practice.
  • Develop skills in reflexive practice through critical engagement with research informed practice, feedback and professional interactions in school-based and non-school based settings.

Viva Voce and rationale

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 36 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Observed

Analysis and research-informed critique of an authentic teaching scenario with implications for self as a teacher.

The Viva Voce is open book with a 30 minute allocation: 15 minute presentation, 10 minute of discussion, questions and responses, 5 minutes of feedback.

Focus of the Viva Voce and written rationale surrounds an authentic teaching scenario which relates to issue of educational significance such as the legislative, administrative, ethical and organisational responsibilities of a teacher and the management of student behavior. Implications for self as a teacher should be addressed with a future-facing view towards next steps in professional practice

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop critical insights into the ways in which contemporary educational practice has been shaped, and continues to be shaped, by socio-cultural and historical factors.
  • Understand and evaluate strategies for behaviour and classroom management that ensure a supportive and safe learning environment.
  • Acquire knowledge of and critically reflect upon the ethical and legal responsibilities of being a primary or secondary teacher.
  • Apply academic research skills to read for purpose and investigate contemporary issues in Australian educational practice.
  • Develop skills in reflexive practice through critical engagement with research informed practice, feedback and professional interactions in school-based and non-school based settings.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Information about the unit iLearn site

This unit has a full web presence through iLearn. Information for students about access to the online component of this unit is available at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/index.php. You will need to enter your student username and password. Please do NOT contact the Unit Convenor regarding iLearn technical help. Assistance is available from IT Helpdesk: via email onehelp@mq.edu.au or Ph: 9850 4357 or 1800 67 4357. On Campus: Ground floor at 18 Wally’s Walk.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

School of Education Procedures

In addition, the following policies and procedures for the Macquarie School of Education apply to this unit.

Academic Progression Policy

This unit is a part of a professional course listed on Schedules 2 and 3 of the Academic Progression Policy. This course has additional requirements that are applicable for the full duration of the course, including course-specific Inherent Requirements, Fitness to Practice requirements and other compulsory course requirements. It also has rigorous academic progression standards. Inability to meet these requirements may result in a withdrawal of offer of admission and/or permanent exclusion from the course in accordance with the General Coursework Rules.

Communication

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a weekly basis. Communication may occur via:

  • Official MQ Student Email Address
  • The Dialogue function on iLearn
  • Other iLearn communication functions

Attendance and Participation

See the University timetable for information about when classes begin in this unit. Creating your timetable - Enrolling | Macquarie University, Sydney (mq.edu.au) Attendance at all synchronous activities, completion of non-synchronous formative/diagnostic class tasks and involvement in professional forums is expected as the Master of Teaching (Primary/Secondary) is a professional qualification. Activities completed during weekly tutorials (DAY or ONLINE DAY mode) or on campus days (INFQ mode) are essential for building the core knowledge and/or skills required to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit and to meet the AITSL Graduate Teacher Standards and/or ACECQA requirements. Attendance at all tutorials and/or on campus days is expected. Make up tasks may be given if attendance is missed to ensure all content is covered to meet accreditation requirements. Students are required to attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled. Any changes to tutorial enrolments must be completed officially through e-Student. Please do not contact the unit convenor to request a change.

Infrequent Attendance Students

Information about the dates of the on-campus sessions can be found in the university timetable. Creating your timetable - Enrolling | Macquarie University, Sydney (mq.edu.au)

  • The on-campus sessions are essential to student engagement and learning and attendance is expected.
  • Prior to the on-campus sessions, students should have read the prescribed readings and listened to the lectures, summarise the main points, and make notes of the key terms and definitions. Prepare any discussion questions of your own that you wish to share.
  • Please make effective use of the online component of the unit and access iLearn regularly. Keep up to date with listening to the lectures on a weekly basis.
  • Further details and any updates about times and locations will be posted on iLearn as an Announcement during first half of the semester.

Unit information based on version 2026.01R of the Handbook