Unit Outline

This unit focuses on the theories behind student disengagement and takes a solution focused approach towards re-engagement practices. By the end of this unit, you will have developed a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors that lead to student disengagement, the consequences of disengagement and early school leaving, and the use of data for identification and designing interventions.

As a student in this Unit, you will be encouraged to be an active participant in your own learning. Your life experiences and specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work will be valued and drawn upon within your studies. Work submitted for assessment in this Unit may draw on knowledge and skills that you can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in this Unit, or in the course. This includes knowledge of appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. You are encouraged to take responsibility for further developing these skills and applying them to professional contexts to experience personal achievement.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Explain theoretical foundations, practice and research concerning student engagement and disengagement
2	Identify elements of student engagement using a variety of sources
3	Design educational plans to maximise student engagement
4	Communicate professionally and effectively across a variety of audiences.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The School of Education is committed to the improvement of all units and courses and welcomes the perspectives of students, including insights gained through the University’s student evaluation of teaching and learning (eVALUate). In light of this feedback, the following changes have been made to this Unit to improve student learning:

1. Readability of sources (texts/journal articles).

2. Additional tutorial time for discussing strategies for re-engaging students.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Student Engagement Snapshot: Student Profile	Week 5	20 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Student Engagement Interview: Purposeful Conversation and Reflection	Week 8	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Personalised Reengagement Plan	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Student Engagement Snapshot: Student Profile

Task Description:

Your task is to create a brief student profile based on information (data) that you can gather. While information available may be different in each context, you should consider any evidence that may relate to the student's engagement with education. This may include:

• Attendance
• Suspensions
• Behaviour record
• Behaviour plan
• Learning plan
• Family background
• Academic background
• Description by teacher / parent

With this evidence, you are to prepare a profile that describes the various influencers and manifestations of your student's engagement.

It is essential that the correct ethical and professional protocol be followed. Please do not start this task until we have discussed this process.

If your circumstances make it difficult for you to have access to gather evidence, please contact the unit coordinator to discuss.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

Week 5 (19/Aug/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect student engagement data	LO2
2	Communicate professionally	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Student Engagement Interview: Purposeful Conversation and Reflection

Task Description:

Your task is to interview the student who was the focus of AT1 for the purpose of understanding their engagement with education.
To do this, you will need to:
1. Design "purposeful conversation" questions in line with the dimensions of engagement.
2. Conduct and "record" the "purposeful conversation" with the student.
3. Transcribe the "purposeful conversation".
4. Provide a personal reflection on the process.

A template for creating the questions will be provided and explained in the tutorial (week 4).

Task Length:

Total: 1000 words (Interview Questions: 500 word equivalent, Reflection: 500 words maximum)

Due Date:

Week 8 (20/Sep/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Design interview questions	LO1
2	Conduct student engagement interview	LO2
3	Reflect on the effectiveness of the conversation design in achieving its purpose	LO3
4	Communicate professionally	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Personalised Reengagement Plan

Task Description:

Based on your findings from AT1 and AT2, your task is to design a personalised reengagement plan for your focus student.

Your plan should explicitly identify and address at least three engagement indicators.

To do this, you will:
• Analyse the student profile (AT1) and purposeful conversation (AT2) to identify areas of stronger and weaker engagement.
• Identify priority area/s to focus the plan.
• Using a SMART goal framework, propose strategies to increase engagement.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 13 (21/Oct/2024)

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse student engagement	LO1
2	Constructively design reengagement plan	LO3
3	Communicate professionally	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.