EDF5161 Mathematics education in the secondary years A
Faculty of Education
EDF5161 Mathematics education in the secondary years A is a level 5, 6-credit-point, undergraduate and postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Education, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before EDF5161
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After EDF5161
1 unit list EDF5161 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisites
- Enrolment in D3001 BEd(Hons), D3002 to D3007 BEd(Hons)(Secondary doubles), D6001 MTeach
- Minor in mathematics or statistics (provided it is taken within a mathematics department)
Overview
This unit, along with EDF5162 Mathematics education in the secondary years B, explores the teaching and learning of mathematics in secondary schools. The units introduce you to the language, approaches, and key big ideas important in mathematics education, with a focus on content, pedagogy, and the interrelationships between them. You will be provided with opportunities to develop your mathematics content knowledge and pedagogical expertise for teaching at secondary levels. You will be encouraged to reflect on past and new experiences to inform and transform your perspectives on teaching practices that are engaging, effective, and inclusive. The units give you opportunities to investigate theoretical and empirical literature to appreciate important philosophical ideas and evidence-based research foundational to mathematics education. This unit focuses on learning to teach Years 7-10 mathematics and EDF5162 focuses on the senior secondary years (Years 11 and 12). Together, the units emphasise a view of learning about teaching as ongoing collaborative inquiry that is nurtured through research, critical analysis, creative thinking, and innovative action.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus, block |
Assessment
- Personal reflection and curriculum analysis (2000 words or equivalent)Project50%
- Investigative task (2000 words or equivalent)Project50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
demonstrate deep pedagogical content knowledge for planning and implementing effective teaching approaches for secondary school mathematics in Australian and international contexts
- 2
research, develop, and create engaging and conceptually rich learning experiences for Years 7 to 10 secondary mathematics students
- 3
use critical and creative thinking to investigate and plan with evidenced-based teaching and assessment practices that are inclusive of all learners in a range of contexts
- 4
demonstrate an understanding of the developmental progression of mathematics concepts in curriculum and research literature and the variety of mathematics assessment strategies effective at secondary levels
- 5
demonstrate highly effective communication and interpersonal skills in working collaboratively with others
- 6
demonstrate ability to transform information from a variety of sources to make informed judgements and evidence ethical, reflective practice.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials16 hours
- Lectures8 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study.
Usually, you can expect to engage with:
• 24 hours* of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities; and
• the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study
Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
*Subject to variation due to professional experience requirements
You will be provided with the opportunity to engage with relevant literature and resources. Further, you will be encouraged to deepen your understanding of topic areas through collegial discussion and debate, and by participating in activities designed to extend your understanding.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Please visit the unit Moodle site for further information.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Karina Wilkie
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Karina Wilkie
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for EDF5161?
EDF5161 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after EDF5161?
EDF5161 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including EDF5162.
When is EDF5161 offered?
In 2026, EDF5161 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
How much work is EDF5161?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does EDF5161 have an exam?
No. EDF5161 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.