edu2ses teaching science
TEACHING SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
EDU2SES
2016
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In this subject, students will develop competence and skills to teach science in primary schools. We will explore science, with a particular focus on the concepts within physical, biological and chemical sciences and the environment. Students will explore innovative pedagogies for teaching and learning in science and investigate curriculum resources available for teaching science, environmental and sustainability topics. We will also examine contemporary issues that intersect with science education (including choices affecting the public good and the wellbeing of future generations) and are suitable for classroom exploration. ICT skills associated with accessing, processing and communicating in a blended learning environment are embedded within the course and utilised in activities and assessment tasks. This subject addresses La Trobe#s Sustainability Thinking Essential. Sustainability thinking entails deep appreciation of how the choices we make affects the natural, economic, social, political and cultural systems # now and in the future.
SchoolSchool of Education
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorPrem Kurup
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites Only available to students enrolled in EBTP Bachelor of Teaching (Primary), EBTS Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), EBTOCE Bachelor of Teaching (Outreach and Community Education), AZAAE - Bachelor of Arts/Arts Education, SZSSE - Bachelor of Science/Science Education.
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Teaching Primary Science Constructively 4th Ed. | Prescribed | Skamp, K.,(Ed)(2012) | MELBOURNE: THOMPSON |
| Readings | Working Scientifically:Implementing and Assessing Open Investigation Work in Science. | Preliminary | Hackling, M (2005) | DET, WA |
| Readings | Working Scientifically: Implementing and Assessing Open Investigation Work in Science... http://www.angelfire.com/sc/staws/Working_Scientifically.pdf | Preliminary | Hackling, M (2005) | DET, WA |
| Readings | Education for sustainability in the primary curriculum: A guide for teachers. | Recommended | Littledyke, M., Taylor, N., & Eames, C. (2009) | Palgrave Macmillan. |
| Readings | Learning and Teaching Primary Science | Recommended | Fitzgerald, A. (Ed.). (2013) | Cambridge University Press |
| Readings | Educating for Sustainability | Recommended | Nolet. V. (2016) | Routledge |
| Readings | Primary Connections... http://primaryconnections.org.au/about/ | Recommended | Text version (2008) | Australian Academy of Science |
| Readings | Science Continuum... www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/continuum/Pages/default.aspx | Recommended | 2012 (updated) | DEECD |
| Readings | Current Sample Science Program... www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/discipline/science/samples/Pages/default.aspx | Recommended | 2012 (updated) | DEECD |
| Readings | Sample Science Program... http://pandora.nla.gov.au/tep/67728 | Recommended | 2001 | DEET |
| Readings | Teachers' Online Primary Science | Recommended | 2002 | DEET |
| Readings | VELS (Archived)... http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/129125/20121206-0015/vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/index.html | Recommended | 2012 | DEET |
| Readings | Scootle... You will need to register and create a login with your #edu# La Trobe email... http://www.scootle.edu.au/ec/p/home | Recommended | 2014 | Australian Government Department of Education |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Demonstrate an ability to find and incorporate appropriate curriculum knowledge associated with teaching science and the environment in schools through effective planning for teaching # including the ability to access relevant science and environment curriculum documents and apply them in planning for learning, and to select appropriate resources.
- Activities:
- Students will gain first-hand experience with the relevant documents of AusVELS through VCAA site, National Curriculum through ACARA and Sustainability for Education concepts. Quality resources will be a focus and this will incorporate not only the guidance recommended from curriculum documents, but going beyond this to reputable texts, websites, education providers and articles.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Design and construct learning environments that are meaningful and engaging for learners and which meet their learning needs.
- Activities:
- Lectures and tutorials interactions will provide content and delivery for science activities. This will progressively grow throughout the course with a focus fortnightly on the Understanding AusVELS substrands. Holistically the concepts of Human Endeavour and Inquiry Skills will be constantly integrated in how and why of teaching approaches students will encounter.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Develop method-specific assessment tasks of teaching and learning for a variety of formative and summative purposes.
- Activities:
- Variety of resources, approaches and methods of delivery will be exposed through tutorials and lectures. Participation in tutorials which are presented in different modes scopes innovation and creativity when designing for teaching. There emphasis on the skills and understandings required at each year level sets expectations for formative and summative assessment.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Critically reflect on learning in order to improve professional knowledge and professional skills in terms of system thinking and responsible futures
- Activities:
- Students will constantly present content they have produced using quality resources suitable for Primary Science teaching. This develops a group approach to content development but is enhanced by peer review and feedback from both lecturer and peers.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
05. Access relevant science and environment curriculum documents and apply them in planning for learning that includes interdisciplinary, sustainable thinking and learning for the future
- Activities:
- Students will gain first-hand experience with the relevant documents of AusVELS through VCAA site, National Curriculum through ACARA and Sustainability for Education concepts. Quality resources will be a focus and this will incorporate not only the guidance recommended from curriculum documents, but going beyond this to reputable texts, websites, education providers and articles.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorPrem Kurup
Class requirements
LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
TutorialWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours tutorial per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Develop and report on an experiment/activity for the primary classroom (1500-words equivalent) | Develop and report on an open ended investigation where activities are created around a problem and suitable for the Primary classroom. | 35 | 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 |
| Folio of created scientific activities for a Science Resource Folder (2500-words equivalent) | Folio or journal of created scientific activities and observation to produce a Science Teaching Resource Folder. | 65 | 01, 02, 04, 05 |