Professional Inquiry A

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2025/02
Institute / School :Institute of Education, Arts & Community
Unit Title: Professional Inquiry A
Unit ID: EDMED7074
Credit Points: 30.00
Prerequisite(s): Nil
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 070303
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

Professional Inquiry consists of two capstone units which require candidates to bring together the sum total of the learning from their specialisation studies to engage in an extended process of inquiry in response to an existing problem or issue within their educational context. Project outcomes should typically have clear recommendations for practice changes/improvements in the student’s professional context.

Professional Inquiry A is the first part of the two units. In this unit, students are expected to identify, develop and present a proposal for a small-scale study project. The process of inquiry is carefully planned to enable candidates to find a possible solution to their identified problem or greater understanding of the issue. Students are able to select from a range of possible research methodologies, such as Survey Research, Case Study, Interview/focus group, Document analysis, Quantitative analysis of de-identified data, and Systematic/scoping/thematic review. Students are expected to develop their research proposal and obtain research ethics approval (if applicable) in this unit, as preparation for data collection and implementation of their professional inquiry projects.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component: No
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Identify and critically analyze contemporary approaches to the inquiry.

K2.

Critically reflect on the nature of professional learning in addressing organizational or personal response to problems or issues.

K3.

Recognise and critique the concepts of evidence.

Skills:
S1.

Critique the different forms of inquiry.

S2.

Identify and justify a form of inquiry to investigate a problem or issue.

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Plan, develop, and justify a project that addresses an organizational problem or issue.

A2.

Write, present, and revise a proposal for the project.

Unit Content:

Topics may include:
• The concept of teacher inquiry
• The principles of ethical research practices
• Forms of inquiry and their philosophical approaches to evidence based outcomes.
• The concepts of evidence-based and evidence-informed practice and ways data and evidence inform.
• Contemporary trends and approaches to action research.

Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities.

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life

1 - Yes
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, S1, S2, A1

Presentation of research project

Oral presentation

30-40%

2.K3, S1, S2, A1, A2

Final research proposal

Written

60-70%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency