Learning and Development in Primary Education G (11340.3)

Required texts

Compulsory unit resource: Margetts, K. Woolfolk, A., & Usher, E.L. (2023). Educational Psychology (6th ed.). Pearson Australia. 

The text can be accessed online through UC library; however, there are limits on the number of people who can access at one time.

Alternatively you can purchase a copy from the publisher (Pearson)

Additional readings will be made available on Canvas.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

When developing your lesson plans, it is encouraged that you are using your skills in lesson planning and design to create engaging and rich lesson resources. Using materials from commercial sites such as TPT, Twinkl, Sparkle Box etc. is not desirable in this unit. If you adapt resources from commercial sites and sources, please note this in your lesson planning and resource development.

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. Where this is not possible, exceptions may be sought from the Faculty Associate Dean Education (ADE). It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, or if no submission has been made by the due date and time, a standard late penalty of 10% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day, for three days, after which the submission will receive a score of ‘0' in keeping with UC's Assessment Policy.

Artificial Intelligence

Students may use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit.

GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:

1. The Unit Convener has authorised its use for that assessment;
2. The student uses it in the way that the assessment instructions allow for;
3. The student fully acknowledges its use, with appropriate citations and references. Each referencing guide provided by the Library provides advice on how to appropriately reference the use of GenAI in-text.

Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not allowed for that assessment. If students are unsure, they should seek advice from the Unit Convener.

Students should be aware that the University of Canberra utilises GenAI detection software. Suspected instances of unauthorised GenAI use may lead to a Learning Validation Conversation' designed to provide assurance that a student is able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills to meet required learning outcomes. Students who are suspected of having misused GenAI in assessment may be required to attend a summary inquiry for suspected misconduct.

It is strongly recommended that students keep records of the development process for all works submitted for assessment, or drafts of work submitted for a work-in-progress review, in a learning portfolio or equivalent. Failure to provide evidence of the development process for assessment may influence a suspicion of GenAI misuse or other forms of academic misconduct. 

 The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.

Special assessment requirements

An aggregate grade of 50% AND a pass in professional experience placement is required to pass this Unit.
 

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE), as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

Indicative workload:

Pretutorial lectures: 10 hours

Readings and other learning activities within modules: 60 hours

Tutorials: 20 hours

Assignment Preparation: 60 hours

Placement: 15 days

Participation requirements

Professional Experience

Successful completion of the professional experience component is critical to success in the whole unit. Refer to assessment (5a) on the Canvas site for further details. Students must make themselves familiar with the processes and policies of professional experience.

Unit Participation

Active engagement in all online modules enhances your learning and is strongly advised. Unless specifically stated in the unit outline, there is no mandatory attendance requirement. However, you may elect to attend timetabled activities, as they allow you to ask 'real time' questions to develop your understanding for the relevant assessment tasks.

There is a strong correlation between participation and success in higher education. Your participation and engagement with online activities will enhance your understanding of this unit's content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Delivery mode (self-paced OR intensive)

Students will be given the option at the commencement of the unit to elect to undertake the unit as a self-paced option OR an intensive. Students who select the intensive option can attend 3 x 1 day sessions (to be held on Wednesdays in Winter Term in week 2, 4 and 7). These sessions will run from 9.30am to 2.30pm and will replace the self-paced online activities. 

This will only be offered if enough students sign up to this option. 

More information will be made available through canvas.

Required IT skills

Basic word processing and web searching skills are assumed.

Familiarity with the UC Learn (Canvas) tool and with the online resources provided at the UC Library.

Artificial intelligence services must not be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task published with the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. That is, an artificial intelligence services may only be used if:

• its use is authorised by the unit convener as part of a specified assessment task, and
• it is used in the way allowed in the assessment instructions and/or unit outline, and
• its use is appropriately referenced, meaning that students must reference the use of AI in their assessment in the same way as they reference other source material.

Work placement, internships or practicums

This unit includes a 15 day professional experience placement. Students must adhere to UC policies including the Student Conduct Rules (2018), WIL Policy and Procedure, and Assessment Policy and Procedure. All information regarding placements is available on the All Teacher Education Students (ATES) canvas page and it is the responsibility of the student to check for any updates.  

Students are advised to review InPlace regularly to check the status of their pre-placement requirements and to ensure that all contact details are up-to-date and will be for the during of the placement period. This information must include an emergency point of contact or next of kin. 

The Placement Team requires evidence of the following before a placement can be organised: 

Pre-placement Requirements (ALL must be uploaded to InPlace): 

• Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) card 

• Working with Children Check (WWCC) 

• TQI Preservice Teacher Registration 

• Completion of Pre-Place module 

Early Childhood (EC) – Current First Aid, CPR and Anaphylaxis  

Student needs to upload this information to InPlace and ensure it is verified (green status) by the due date stipulated by the placement team. All compliance tasks must be valid for the duration of the placement blocks. It is a student responsibility to ensure that previously submitted compliance documentation is valid for subsequent placement blocks. 

Pre-placement Requirements (must be uploaded to Unit Canvas Page for first professional experience): 

• Acceptable Use of ICT form 

• UC Student Acknowledgement form 

Failure to complete required pre-placement requirements by the due date will result in the cancellation of placement and may result in a fail (NC) grade for the unit. 

When students are allocated a placement it is their responsibility to contact the school/service to determine any additional pre-placement requirements specific for that location that need to be completed prior to the placement start date. Failure to do this may result in withdrawal from the placement and potential fail (NC) grade for the unit. 

Students who currently have a UC Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) may be eligible for a Placement Support Letter (PSL). It is the student's responsibility to work with UC Wellbeing to determine any adjustment needed for Placement. 

Eligibility for placement is dependent on satisfactory academic progression at the time placement is scheduled. 

All placements must occur according to the published placement calendar on the ATES site. Students experiencing extenuating circumstances may request a date change; approval, however, is at the discretion of the Faculty. All placement blocks must be completed within 12 months of the associated unit's teaching and learning start date. Delays beyond this timeframe may result in a fail (NC) grade for the unit. 
 

Intervention and Support 

Students who demonstrate unsatisfactory progress towards the expected standard of practice at any point throughout their placement will be provided with Intervention and Support. This support process is tailored to meet the needs of the individuals. If sufficient improvements are not evident, a fail grade (NC) for the unit is the likely outcome. If the student's conduct or practice constitutes a significant risk to public safety, a student's placement may be terminated immediately without the Intervention and Support process being enacted. The student will meet with their Unit Convenor/Faculty member and discuss their progress in the unit and provided opportunities to reflect on their practice, setting goals for improvement.  
 

Assessment Requirement 

Placement must be successfully passed to pass the Unit 

Generalised Support  

For placement queries, contact placements@canberra.edu.au. 

Additional information

Theoretical foundations

This unit engages with the literature in the field of human learning and development and draws on different prominent theoretical perspectives explaining how learning occurs.

Provision of information to the group

Notifications through the Canvas Announcements Forum or the Canvas Discussion Forums are deemed to be made to the whole class.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's Canvas website (forum messages are also emailed to student email addresses only).  Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly, please ensure that comments are appropriate.

Use of student email account

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes".  Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.

Please ensure that when emailing the Unit Convener or tutors that you include the unit code and the reason for your email in the "Subject."

Research led education

This unit involves research-led education and work-integrated learning. There are active researchers delivering this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.

• Winter Term, 2026, Placement, UC - Canberra, Bruce (234570)