Assignment Task

AITSL Standards:

This assessment provides the opportunity to develop evidence that demonstrates these Standards:

1- Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

2- Understand how students learn

3- Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds

4- Strategies to support full participation with students with disability

5-Engage parents/carers in the educative process

6- Engage with the parents/carers

7- Engage with professional teaching networks and the broader community.

Topic 1.

As human beings, brain development has a very large influence on our ability to learn. We know that genetics and environment will both affect the way our brain develops. From the perspective of your study area (Early childhood, Primary, or Secondary education) discuss how the biological development of the brain may interact with a student’s environment. What factors might promote or slow down brain development? How can we structure a classroom environment (i.e., learning materials, social/cultural factors or physical environment) to support brain development? Provide specific examples.

Topic 2.

Outline the implications of reduced physical activity for children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. What has contributed to the decline in physical activity? What can you do as a teacher to help to reverse the trend? Ensure you include practical applications including for students with disabilities. Particular emphasis may be given to the age group of students you plan to teach.

Topic 3.

Piaget’s theory has had a big impact on education systems. Outline the key aspects of Piaget’s ideas for the age group you plan to teach. How can these ideas be implemented in a classroom? Provide specific examples according to your study area (Early childhood, Primary, or Secondary education). What are the limitations of this theory?

Topic 4.

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is an important concept of Vygotsky’s theory of development. From the perspective of your study area (Early childhood, Primary, or Secondary education) discuss this concept and how you might a) assess if your instruction is within your students’ ZPD and b) once you have this information, what specific teaching strategies might be useful to maximise your students’ learning.