GDE 4007 Ethics and Professional Practice

STAFFING:

RATIONALE:

Rapid changes in the nature of schools and the growing diversity of educational contexts, are placing intense demands on the role of educators. It is the responsibility of all those involved in the provision of education to become aware of the multifaceted role of a professional educator in the 21st century. An integral part of this responsibility is to understand the need to operate within a framework of a working code of professional ethics, both to enhance the role of the educator within the school and wider community and to assist the educator to realise the complex and often competing world views associated with an inclusive curriculum and supportive classroom environment.

SYNOPSIS:

Students will be required to analyse their responsibilities and role as professional educators in light of a professional ethical framework. As an adjunct to this, various contexts such as legal requirements, social norms, policy mandates, ethics and moral codes, personal value systems and organisational structures operating within any given school/centre/and classroom community will be synthesised within the framework of a moral dilemma encountered at the attachment site. This will enable students to play an active role in the construction and application of personal professional ethical theories, and to reflect upon their assumptions about the professional nature of an educator's work. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. explain the contextual influences shaping the teaching profession for the 21st century
2. recognise and address the ethical dimensions of a case based dilemma
3. synthesise a range of contextual factors relating to a case based dilemma
4. demonstrate the application of inclusive schooling principles to a case based dilemma
5. demonstrate knowledge, understanding and skill in the use of appropriate personal, professional and academic literacies, including ICTs
6. model ethical/legal approaches to personal and professional use of ICTs
7. apply an understanding of ethics and professional practice in the professional attachment and/or graduate internship
8. articulate an example of how the key concepts encountered in this course can be applied in an educational setting.

TOPICS:

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

GDE4007 USQ Resource Package

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the student's responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in the residential school and other scheduled learning activities (such as on-campus workshops and web-based activities) scheduled for them.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks for each assessment item.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   Students who fail to submit assignments by the due date without prior approval must apply to the course examiner for deferred assessment. The course examiner will consider each such application on its individual merits.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   In order to gain a passing grade in the course, students must submit all items of assessment and attain a total of 50% of the available marks. Normally, there will be no opportunity for the resubmission of unsatisfactory items of assessment.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations in this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1. Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
2. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the state of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.