Rural Pedagogies PG (12202.1)

This unit builds upon the unit Understanding Rurality to develop an understanding of, and expertise in, situating curriculum and pedagogy in rural contexts. This unit expands educators classroom and leadership skills in situating practice in rural contexts to drive improved student outcomes and purposeful school and system change. Educators are provided strategies to share practice and to plan approaches to sustain improved pedagogy in a range of rural educational contexts. Drawing on the evolving research into rural pedagogies educators examine the organising principles of the curriculum and approaches to contextually relevant curriculum enactment, identification and engagement with rural knowledges and community connections, as well as assessment practices. The unit uses expert case studies to unpack and model the characteristics of rural pedagogies from exemplar sites of practice. The focus progressively moves from reflecting and reviewing rural pedagogic practice to implementing and evaluating those practices. Teachers and school leaders report on the learning that has been developed through the professional learning that underpins this unit. There is an expectation that the learning will be celebrated through shared practice, providing teachers and schools in the rural professional practice community the opportunity to identify skills and processes that have been successfully applied. Additionally, the unit further develops skills in communication, reflection, and evaluation to enable educators to implement and sustain pedagogic change to improve student outcomes.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Critically examine perspectives on curriculum and pedagogy and their application in rural contexts;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the way curriculum and pedagogy is enacted in response to local contexts;
3. Evaluate the characteristics of rural pedagogies and their implications for rural contexts; and
4. Design professional practice in response to local rural contextual needs.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.