EUN668 Psychoeducational Assessment


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Online

Unit code:EUN668
Credit points:12
Equivalent:LCN620
Assumed Knowledge:

It is assumed that students understand educational practices in education settings and have practitioner experiences within a related education field or support profession.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit equips you with a comprehensive understanding of psychoeducational assessment approaches used by school counsellors. You will explore strategies including observation, interviewing, and standardised and non-standardised assessment for learners with learning, behavioural, or mental health challenges. A key component of the course is the emphasis on research skills. You will learn how to conduct and interpret literature reviews, a crucial skill for staying updated with the latest findings in the field. Understanding how to critically evaluate research allows school counsellors to apply evidence-based practices, enhancing their effectiveness in supporting students. This unit is a blend of practical skills and theoretical knowledge, preparing you for a successful career in school counselling.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Conduct research through sourcing and evaluating current and relevant literature on psychoeducational assessment.
  2. Synthesise scholarly and professional literature (including via the use of emerging digital technologies) on contemporary topics in psychoeducational assessment to identify implications for school counselling practice.
  3. Apply the concepts of psychoeducational assessment to assess student data and create recommendations for the classroom.
  4. Create psychoeducational assessment reports to communicate the findings and recommendations to professionals and families.
  5. Critique and evaluate the outputs created by applying emerging digital technologies to traditional research skills.

Content

This unit will cover the following:

  • Psychoeducational assessment will be defined and reasons for and against testing and assessing will be examined.
  • A range of assessment techniques and strategies used in the educational context will be explored.
  • Statistical concepts that underpin some forms of psychoeducational assessment, analysis and reporting will be examined.
  • The process of administering psychoeducational tests will be introduced and demonstrated.
  • Analysis, interpretation and reporting of results and the use of data in placement and programming will be discussed.
  • How to write literature reviews, synthesising key ideas and literature including with the use of GenAI.
  • The reviewing and critiquing the use of GenAI for research purposes.
  • Sourcing and evaluating scholarly and professional literature for the purposes of conducting literature reviews.

Learning Approaches

In this unit you will learn by engaging in the following:

  • lectures (live and recorded)
  • tutorials (online)
  • online learning materials
  • peer and group discussions
  • embedded support materials for research and literature review writing
  • online learning activities

The unit adopts a problem-based learning approach to identify approaches to support students referred for psychoeducational assessment in the school setting.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

  • a range of formative exercises discussed and undertaken throughout the unit
  • feedback from peers as you investigate and discuss issues raised throughout the unit
  • comments about summative assessment work included with your grade.

Assessment

Overview

In this unit there are two assessments:

  1. Literature review  - In this task you will draw on your research skills to source and evaluate literature on a topic related to psychoeducational assessment within the school context.
  2. Report - this task builds on your skills in psychoeducational assessment to produce a report including recommendations for the classroom.  

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Literature Review

You will write a literature review analysing a topic in psychoeducational assessment. Use traditional research methods to complete the literature review and then recomplete the task with emerging digital technologies and critique the differences.

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 50
Length: 2500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 6
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 5

Assessment: Report

You will take on the role of a school counsellor to undertake a psychoeducational assessment process involving a fictional student. You will write a psychoeducational assessment report including recommendations for the classroom.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 50
Length: 2500 words
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Week 13
Related Unit learning outcomes: 3, 4

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

In addition to the reference book, other resource materials will be used throughout this unit.  

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

Dombrowski, S.C. (2020). Psychoeducational Assessment and Report Writing (2nd edition). Springer-VerlagNew York.

Risk Assessment Statement

During this unit, you will discuss sensitive topics with your peers that may have significant impact and meaning to you, your peers and/or your teaching team. The teaching team will aim to create a supportive and safe environment for all students enrolled in the unit. They will also support you to develop the appropriate skills to engage in these conversations in an appropriate and respectful manner to ensure a positive experience for all students. If you are concerned that the content of a unit may impact your completion of the course, please see the unit coordinator. You can also access free student counselling through QUT Counselling via the QUT Student Homepage.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

EU75 Master of Education (School Guidance and Counselling)

  1. Discuss, evaluate, and integrate advanced discipline-specific knowledge related to professional educational practice and research.
    Relates to: ULO2, Literature Review
  2. Critically analyse and evaluate complex activities, contexts and phenomena related to professional practice and scholarship in the discipline of education.
    Relates to: ULO3, Report
  3. Apply theories and research methods to ethically explore educational issues/phenomena and practices.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO5, Literature Review
  4. Employ a range of communication modes to transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences in professional and scholarly contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4, Report