PART B: Abstract from USQ STUDY DESK

Part B - Preparation and planning

Part B is meant to serve at least two purposes

1. Provide an opportunity for you to show what you've learned in this course and how it has changed how you plan learning and teaching.
   
   i.e. one expectation for this course is that you now know how and when to integrate ICTs.
2. Give you an opportunity to develop your own process you will use when developing the lessons you teach while on PE.

Content

The Part B description explains exactly what should be in this "essay".

In particular, pay special attention to the rubric. Especially the footnote that lists the types of context information that is expected to be seen.

Form and advice

Some comments on the form of your essay, includes:

1. Does not have to be written in the normal essay format.
   
   e.g. you don't need to include an introduction and conclusion. It can be written as an appropriate combination of dot points, prose, tables and diagrams.
2. Between 500 and 1000 words.
3. Using first person is acceptable.
4. Use APA referencing.
5. Don't mention the school or anyone at the school by name.
6. There is no need to reference information about the school.
   
   We'll assume that any information you provide about the school has been sourced from appropriate people or documents. If you were to reference these documents it would contradict the previous point about not naming the school.

Some advice, includes:

Explicitly mention the literature, frameworks, theory etc that inform your view.

Don't explain the literature, frameworks, theory etc, just reference it.

You don't have a lot of space in this essay. So if you claim your planning will be informed by "learning theory A" then don't waste word count describing what "learning theory A" is, provide a reference. But it might be useful to provide a reference that says "learning theory A" is great for students like those in my PE context or for learning about "content area X".

Explicitly demonstrate how your planning approach is linked to your context.

Your planning approach should not be generic, it must have explicit links to your context.

The following draws on and describes the sample essays provided on the Assignment 3 specification.

Remember, being a sample means that while these are pretty good assignments, they are not with flaws.

Year 1, New South Wales

Comments about this Part B include:

• It is just over 1000 words (with the reference list excluded).
• Includes an introduction to the essay which is not required.
• Describes the context using 5 of the specified areas and makes clear that the areas are covered through the use of headings.
  
  This is a very good practice.
• Offers a range of theory to support the view of learning, teaching and the role of ICTs.
• Incorrectly uses TPACK.
• Includes a list of ICTs that may be appropriate to the grade and also how they might be used to address particular contextual needs.
• While the planning process covers many of the right bases, it doesn't fit together as a really useful description of a planning process.
  
  For example, after reading the planning section of this sample, how easy would it be for you to sit down and plan a lesson using this process?
  It's possible to say that it ticks the boxes in terms of theory and literature, but doesn't really provide a practically useful planning process. Though the main points are sort of there.
• Has a few formatting problems.

Year 6/7 Queensland

Comments about this essay include:

• Is 1100 words minus the reference list, just within the +/- 10% rule.
• Covers at least four areas in the context description, but not as clearly as the previous essay.
• Has an "interesting" description of students in constructivist learning theory being "passive builders of knowledge".
• Uses tables to show connection between theory and context specific approaches.
• Good use of TPACK to identify what knowledge is required to be developed.
• Doesn't make the connection between Backwards Design and aspects of the TIP model.
• The reference list has some formatting problems.

TAFE Hospitality

Comment on this essay include:

• Written as bullet points, easy to read.
• 742 words long including the reference list.
  
  Perhaps just a little short given some other comments.
• The reference list is perhaps a bit light and overly reliant on videos rather than scholarly literature.
• Views on learning and teaching are limited, if at all present.
• Role of ICT in student learning described (mostly as goals) and not supported with references or offering reasons why particular goals are beneficial.
• Approach to planning mentions a range of literature/theory and how it will be used. However, the descriptions and approaches are fairly generic and not explicitly connected to the context.
• Some of the problems identified in the description of the context are not addressed by the planning approach.