EDUC2322 Learners and their Development (Primary)

In this topic the focus is on the development and learning of young people, and the various influences that impact on their learning and well-being. The concepts of the child and adolescent will be explored in a historical, cultural and philosophical context. Relevant theories and research will be examined in order to help students describe and understand cognitive, affective and physical development from infancy to adolescence. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of individual differences that impact on development and learning. Theories explaining development will inform pre-service teachers' knowledge of young people as learners. Learning in this topic will be linked to school experience providing the opportunity to make clear connections between theory and practice. Pre-service teachers will work in small groups using inquiry-based learning and a range of technologies to investigate aspects of development and learning.

This topic aims to:

• Explore the concepts of childhood and adolescence and introduce theories and research which help to explain young people's development and learning
• Explore the relationships between young people, their environments and their development and learning
• Introduce pre-service teachers to a range of individual differences and their relationship to learning
• Explore the roles of assessment in learning
• Explore the learner's role in learning, particularly in relation to motivation and cognition
• Consider factors that impact on learning and well-being
• Encourage pre-service teachers to make connections between research, theories and practice so that they develop self-awareness of their own learning and motivations and build capacity for teaching and learning

1. Demonstrate an awareness of students' individual differences in terms of interests, abilities, disabilities, motivation, readiness for learning and learning profile
2. Articulate the impact of family and cultural influences on child and adolescent development, learning and well-being
3. Apply theories of cognitive and affective development to explain how young people interact with their environments and the possible impacts of these interactions on their learning and well-being
4. Articulate ways in which teachers evaluate and recognise student learning
5. Apply skills in inquiry-based learning to investigate issues of young people's learning and development
6. Connect theories of development and learning to identify effective teaching practices that enhance students' learning and well-being
7. Develop skills in effective collaboration effective collaboration in the context of inquiry-based learning