Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Science is vital to our future and becoming scientifically literate contributes to questioning systematically about your natural environment. In this unit you will have the opportunity to plan, implement and evaluate exciting and innovative science lessons for primary students. You will also design a science unit of work. This unit provides an understanding of: the context for science teaching and learning; theories and approaches for learning and teaching in science education; the science syllabus and constructing a curriculum; designing science units of work with appropriate content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge; integrating science education; devising science lessons and managing the learning environment; and assessment and evaluation in science education.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop your science content knowledge and pedagogical practices to effectively plan, teach, assess and evaluate primary science education.

Objectives

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

1. Manage learning environments that are educationally productive for diverse sets of students and their learning needs (QCT Standard 1).

2. Design teaching and learning programs that draw upon pedagogical, curriculum and assessment knowledge and skills, to respond to the diverse abilities and interests of all learners (QCT Standard 3).

3. Model and promote inquiring, cooperative and independent approaches to learning (QCT Standard 3).

4. Employ accountable and theoretically-grounded processes to monitor and assess student understanding and progress, including the use of outcomes-based assessment criteria (QCT Standard 5 & 10)

Content

This unit provide content for an understanding of: the context for science teaching and learning; theories and approaches for learning and teaching in science education; the science syllabus and constructing a curriculum; designing science units of work with appropriate content knowledge and pedagogical knowledge; integrating science education; devising science lessons and managing the learning environment; and assessment and evaluation in science education.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be taught by integrating lectures, workshops, tutorials and independent study further supported by web-based activities. The lectures provide you with a theoretical framework, while workshops provide the opportunity to develop an understanding of primary science teaching using language, materials and technological tools, and collaborating in teaching and learning tasks that illustrate the theory highlighted in the lectures. Tutorials provide an insight into planning a science unit of work with appropriate pedagogical knowledge.

Assessment

Assessments in this unit are both formative and summative. Formative assessment will be provided through discussion and feedback on your science lesson presentation and critical self reflection. Summative assessment will include written comments as feedback on your science unit of work.

There are two items of summative assessment in the unit: a science lesson demonstration with critical self reflection, and a science unit of work.

Assessment name: Demonstration lesson
Description: Demonstration science lesson and written self reflection
Primary science lesson for peers and written critical self-reflection.
Length: 800 words plus lesson presentation
Due date: Throughout the semester
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Assessment name: Science unit of work
Description: Science unit of work on a theme for a specific grade
Length: 2500 words or equivalent
Due date: In the week concluding all workshop presentations
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, & 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Text

Hudson, P. (2010). Hudson's guide for teaching primary science. Brisbane, QLD: Australian Academy of English Studies.

References

Queensland School Curriculum Council. (1999). Science: Years 1 to 10 syllabus. Brisbane: Education Queensland.

There is also a range of reading materials placed on the MDB006 website.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with the general conduct of this unit. Workplace Health and Safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply. This unit may entail working in sites where potentially hazardous materials are used. To participate in these activities you must follow any instructions given by your lecturer and you must abide by the regulations set out in the Information for Students booklet provided to you by the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (including compulsory covered footwear and no eating or drinking in laboratories). It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a copy of this booklet and that you have read the contents of the document.

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

Last modified: 31-Oct-2012