EDU6195 ADVANCED SEMINAR ASSESSMENT:
Assignment 1: Reflective Journals (2) 50%
Important Dates:
: First journal entry due
: Second journal entry due
This assignment comprises a journal in which you reflect on any of the seminars
(face2face or CD-ROM) or readings that are made available to you as part of
Advanced Seminar. You should complete two journal entries (approximately 500-
1000 words each entry) relating the relevance, meaning or significance of the content
to your own professional practice or professional interests. Each journal entry may
review the ideas of one seminar or paper, or intersecting/interconnecting ideas of two
or more seminars and papers. Each journal entry should be a focussed personal
reflection that conveys your own thinking and opinions. As a consequence, the style
and structure of the writing is open. The assessment criteria will help to direct you to
the kind of reflection required.
Assessment Criteria
Academic writing skills will not be assessed in the journal entries and you are not
required to use references. The criteria for assessment for the journal entries include:
1. Engagement with the topic presented in the seminar/reading
To what extent did the student demonstrate that they were deeply engaged in the topic
of the seminar or reading? For example, did they present a critical analysis or a sharp
synthesis of the main ideas presented, or explain how the seminar/reading helped
them to see things from a different perspective (for example)? (5 marks))
2. Transfer of meaning from context of seminar/reading to another context
To what extent did the student transfer an aspect of the topic or reading and relate it to
their own educational or professional context? Did they transfer theoretical ideas from
the seminar/reading into a practical context? (10 marks)
3. Extension of thinking/development of knowledge
Was the student able to go beyond the ideas presented in the seminar/reading by
posing probing questions, extrapolating ideas or demonstrating learning of new
concepts and theories (particularly related to educational research). (5 marks)
4. Developing a learning community
Did the student share ideas with others in their learning community (within or outside
the Advanced Seminar) and carefully listen to the opinions and perspectives of other
people? Did the student search for related information from other sources? (5 marks)
The first journal entry should be submitted via e-mail to your tutor by 7 April 2008
and the second two journal entry should be submitted via e-mail to your tutor by 5
May 2008.
You should submit your journal by email (in ONE file).
Assignment 2: Reaction Paper 50%
Important Date:
Assignment 2
The Reaction Paper (approximately 1500-2500 words) must take the form of a
critique of a selected topic. The critique
must be a critical analysis incorporatingan evaluation of a selected topic
. Students must take a defensible stance in a reactionpaper to demonstrate analytical skills (I have read, understood and can apply aspects
of the related readings) and conceptual skills (I understand the topic from the
viewpoint of my educational context). You can select from the two topics below as a
focus of your reaction paper.
Topic 1: A critique of a professional learning community that is part of a
school/educational setting that is familiar to you.
1. Demonstrate your understanding of the professional leaning community
(PLC) construct.
2. Analyse an educational setting, based on PLC characteristics and the role you
and/or others, school structures etc. play in this setting.
3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the PLC in your analysis and make
recommendations for future PLCs in such settings.
Topic 2: A critique of professional development as a teacher, education officer,
trainer or school leader.
a. Demonstrate your understanding of the professional development construct.
b. Analyse a recent professional development experience from personal, school,
system and/or employer perspectives.
c. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the professional development
activity in your analysis and make recommendations for future initiatives for
you and others engaged in teaching and learning.
Academic writing skills will be assessed in the reaction paper. Structure your paper
with an introduction, conclusion and subheadings (background, literature review,
discussion, and implications) in the body of the paper. You should develop your paper
in a logical and coherent manner and support your arguments with appropriate
references to the readings provided and other professional and academic literature.
Use clear sentences and check your spelling and grammar. Ensure that you use APA
style referencing (
http://www.apastyle.org/).Assessment Criteria
1. Introduction and Overview of PLCs (or PD) (10 marks)
Is the focus clearly identified? Does the student understand PLCs (or PD)? Are the
implications for professional practice/pedagogy identified?
2. Background and Analysis of Educational Setting (10 marks)
Is the background and analysis of the educational setting structured, clear and logical?
Is the analysis supported by coherent arguments?
3. Evidence of critique (25 marks)
Is there evidence of critical analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the PLC/PD?
Does the student take a position? Are clear recommendations made?
4. Academic Writing (5 marks)
Is APA style used correctly? Are the expression and structure as well as the technical
aspects of the assignment appropriate for a Masters student?
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