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Unit of Study EDUC5019 - Brain and Learner: Navigating Processes and Contexts (2026)

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Unit Snapshot

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Unit description

This unit supports students’ critical evaluation of cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development and how these interact with learning across different cultures and contexts. By engaging with contemporary research, reflective practice, and diverse learning experiences, students will analyse how learners acquire, retain, and apply knowledge and how to teach novice learners effectively. The unit enables students to critique misconceptions about learning, integrate evidence-based strategies, and explore research-informed frameworks that support all learners. 

Unit content

  1. Cognitive development: how students think and develop
  2. The cognitive processes of learning: how learning works
  3. Cognitive processes in practice: what this means for teachers
  4. Understanding the whole child: why context matters for learning
  5. Socioemotional development: how identity, emotion, and relationships shape learning
  6. Motivation, engagement, and wellbeing: why learners engage, persist, and flourish

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term3,5
Term3,5
Melbourne
Term3,5
Term3,5
Online
Term3,5
Term3,5
Perth
Term3,5
Term3,5
Sydney
Term3,5
Term3,5

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

explain how cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development shape learners’ readiness for learning, and how these developmental factors interact with teaching and learning processes

explain how memory, attention, and cognitive load influence learning and progression from novice to expert, applying research-based strategies to support knowledge acquisition and retention

critique neuromyths and misconceptions about learning by synthesising contemporary research on the brain and developmental theories

apply theoretical learning and development perspectives to critically evaluate research-informed frameworks that support all learners

Prescribed learning resources

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Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.