Issues in Literacy Development and Teaching (9880.3)

Required texts

Core Readings and unit resources:

Castles, A., Rastle, K., & Nation, K. (2018). Ending the reading wars: Reading acquisition from novice to expert. Psychological science in the public interest, 19(1), 5-51.

Hempenstall, K., & Buckingham, J. (2016). Read about it: Scientific evidence for effective teaching of reading. St Leonards, NSW: Centre for Independent Studies Limited.

Hochman, J. C., & Wexler, N. (2024). The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades. John Wiley & Sons.

Wheldall, K., Wheldall, R., & Buckingham, J. (Eds.). (2023). Effective instruction in reading and spelling. MRU Press.

Additional readings and resources will be made available on the unit Canvas site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

All assignment tasks must be submitted through UCLearn (Canvas). 

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. 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

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

A breakdown of the workload for this unit is as follows:

10 lectures and tutorials: 30 hours

Weekly readings, online activities and revision: 60 hours

Assignment preparation, extended reading & research, writing: 60 hours

Inclusion and engagement

If you have a RAP or need specific reasonable adjustments, you are expected to make direct contact with your convenor/tutor at the beginning of the semester to clarify they understand your needs and discuss how adjustments may be personalised to support you for the specific requirements and expectations of this unit.

Participation requirements

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

Successful engagement with all learning activities in this accredited Initial Teacher Education course is necessary to demonstrate that you have met the Graduate career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL, 2011).

Your participation in both class and study activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses.  Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Required IT skills

Students will be expected to be competent with word processing and presentation programs, and with Canvas.

Artificial intelligence services must not to 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.

In-unit costs

None

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Theoretical foundations:  This unit draws on the most recent curricular and pedagogical research in Australian literacy development and learning, with a focus on robust evidence-informed practice to teach and support literacy development and address difficulties.

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. Students should ensure they check their student email regularly.  The Canvas discussion forums will be checked by staff regularly.

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.

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