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Equity, Diversity and Schooling unit (EDU305)

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Location: Launceston, Online

Introduction

In this unit, you will explore teaching and schooling from a sociological perspective. The unit introduces you to the way schools are shaped by wider political contexts that enable and constrain what education is and what schooling can be. This broad context exerts considerable influence upon how teaching and learning is shaped and the identities of teachers and students. As a teacher, you need to be cognisant of the complexities of this context and its impact upon education, schools and teaching. The unit introduces you to key concepts and issues such as power, identity, equality and disadvantage. The unit builds your knowledge of the politics of education while developing your skills in culturally responsive teaching. It enables you to critically explore how schooling and teaching can contribute to a more equitable and just society. Modules in this unit provide a basis for you to understand the interconnections between contemporary issues in education, current research in schooling and key theories of sociology, your own experiences of learning and teaching and the professional work of teachers.

Summary

Unit name Equity, Diversity and Schooling
Unit code EDU305
Credit points 12.5
College/School Arts and Society
Faculty of Education
Discipline Education
Coordinator Doctor Kim Beasy
Available as an elective? Yes
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Advanced

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Launceston Semester 1 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
Online Semester 1 This unit is available through off-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
Note

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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 1 22/2/2026 16/3/2026 19/4/2026 13/6/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • critically analyse the contemporary context of education and schooling from a sociological perspective
  • communicate the theoretical concepts of educational sociology such as power, identity, equality and disadvantage that shape how schooling is practised and experienced by teachers and/or students
  • apply key concepts and skills from the sociology of education to enact culturally responsive pedagogies
  • exemplify attitudes and professional values to meet the needs of children and the education profession, including a commitment to social justice
  • establish honest, ethical, professional conduct with colleagues and apply principles of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession in professional communication skills across a range of communication forums and apply constructive feedback to improve practice, where necessary.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
070300 $592.00 $592.00 not applicable $2,562.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Concurrent Prerequisites

(EDU202 OR ESH202 OR EAL211 OR EAL201) AND (EAL110 OR EDU190 OR ESH390)

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

This unit is largely self-paced and demands your independence as a learner, however, teaching staff recognise the importance of peers and community in supporting learning and practice development.

For those enrolled to study on campus, opportunities to come together to deepen and extend the materials available on MyLO will occur weekly (2 hrs) in Launceston.

For those enrolled to study online, two options to come together to deepen and extend the materials available on MyLO will be available to you:

  1. A learning community will be established online through MyLO platforms (weekly) and zoom sessions (fortnightly).
     
  2. A learning community will be established online through MyLO platforms (weekly) and a one-off workshop on Sunday 26th April (10am - 4pm) in Launceston. 

 

AssessmentOnline MyLO Quizzes (2) (30%)|Professional Engagement (30%)|Pedagogical stories from the classroom (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Textbooks can be purchased by using the Booktopia textbook search tool which lists the required texts as set by your Unit Coordinator.

You will need the following texts:

Ferfolja, T., Jones Diaz, C., & Ullman, J. (2015/2019). Understanding sociological theory for educational practices. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. 
(Available as an e-book in the UTAS library)
 
Recommended

University of Tasmania (2015). APA. In Referencing and assignment writing. http://utas.libguides.com/content.php?pid=27520&sid=199805 

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