Education policy and practice

In this unit you will explore the value of education policy. The unit considers how education policies influence practices in the school classroom and other settings. You will engage with scholarly and public discussions about the formulation of social policies as well as the political discussions underpinning their creation and implementation – their problems, practice, and possibilities. Specific attention will be placed on the way that everyday educational policies are influenced by global, national, and local factors. You will also learn about the structure and funding of Australian schooling. By engaging directly with policy documents, you will develop your understanding of how education policy determines and defines your work and your learners’ experiences of schooling. Critical attention will be placed on how educational settings cater to the competing demands of different pedagogic trends, socio-economic objectives, and learner needs. In doing so, you will gain knowledge of the educational policy context and how you can engage it in your future personal and professional experiences.