80523 SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT: STUDENT ADJUSTMNT

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	80523 	S12 	X 	SUPP SCH ENVIR: STUD ADJ  	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Pre-requisite(s)
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details

STAFFING:

PRE-REQUISITE(S)

An undergraduate course in child/ adolescent development. Recommended prior study - it is desirable that students have completed an introductory develop- mental psychopathology course - e.g 80416

RATIONALE:

In  recent  years, many educators in this country have drawn attention
to  the influence of the learning environment on student learning  and
behaviour.  Because students display a wide range  of  capacities  and
characteristics, the learning environment must be capable of providing
for  the varied needs of different students, if these students are  to
learn  effectively and develop appropriate social skills. The learning
environment,  academic achievement and psychological  adjustment,  are
three  phenomena linked in mutual interaction and influence. The  term
supportive  school environment has become familiar to  many  teachers,
and  schools  are being encouraged to provide a supportive environment
for  all  members  of their school community. Many school  communities
need  assistance  as they undertake this process. This  unit  provides
information  about the important issues involved in the  process,  and
assists  teachers  (and  others)  to participate  effectively  in  the
process of establishing and maintaining a supportive environment.

SYNOPSIS:

The  unit  consists  of  two modules. The first takes  an  essentially
descriptive approach. The concept of supportive school environment  is
investigated, together with a number of the important issues which are
related to the concept. These include effective learning and teaching;
children's   peer   relationships;  adjustment  difficulties;   social
justice;  moral  education;  and  teacher-student  relationships.  The
second  module requires students to undertake a critical  analysis  of
this  concept.  Important  relevant issues  indicated  previously  are
investigated  and  students are required to discuss these  issues  and
their  implications for a supportive school environment. In  addition,
students are required to investigate a school which has taken steps to
develop a supportive environment.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. describe characteristics of a school environment which are
   supportive of effective learning and harmonious relationships,
   
2. analyse important issues which influence the nature of a
   school environment, demonstrating a sound understanding of
   relevant literature,
   
3. contribute to the process of establishing and maintaining a
   school environment which is supportive of effective learning
   and pro-social development.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

The process of developing a supportive environment                    20.00

Aspects of a supportive environment -                                 50.00
. effective teaching and learning,
. children's peers relations,
. teacher-student relationships,
. provision for student adjustment difficulties,
. social justice; ethics,
. moral education

Critical analysis of the concept of supportive school                 30.00
environment

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

Rogers, W.A. (1992), "Supporting Teachers in the Workplace", Milton:
Jacaranda Press.

Slee, R. (ed) (1992), "Discipline in Australian Public Education,
Changing Policy and Practice", Hawthorn, Vic: ACER.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Directed Study                                	60
Private Study                                 	60
Assessments                                   	40

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   S              26/05/97  DESC & EXPL OF SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIR    30.00     Y
2   S              15/09/97  CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT OF SSE   30.00     Y
3   S              03/11/97  ACC OF EXPER OF 1 SCHL IN RELAT TO SSE    40.00     Y