EES734 - Planning and Assessing Effective Learning: Science and Technology

Unit details

Content

• Student learning in science & student conceptions;
• Theories of learning: constructivist and sociocultural perspectives;
• Appropriate pedagogies, the SIT Science Components, diagnostic and formative assessment, conceptual change strategies, scaffolding, classroom discourse, questioning. E-learning. Planning a science lesson;
• The nature of science; historical narratives, the relationship between theory and evidence in science, contemporary science practice. The relationship between environmental education and science;
• Investigative processes; types of question, design, measurement, data representation and analysis, writing in science;
• Higher order thinking and reasoning in science. Creativity and imagination;
• Formative and summative assessment in science;
• Planning for integration in science; the nature of integration, integrating with technology, mathematics, art and SOSE;
• Using community resources in science. The use of ICT to support learning; and
• Science conceptual areas: properties of materials, matter and substance, physical and chemical changes to matter (melting, dissolving, evaporation), the science of cooking, testing of materials, rocks, earth and atmospheric processes, the earth in space.

Assessment

Assignment 1: Probing Children's science understandings.

This assignment is based on 4 explorations you will carry out during tutorials. You will develop understandings of strategies to probe children’s existing understandings in an area of science. (paired tasks)- 20%

Assignment 2 - Design of a science teaching sequence.

This is a 4-5 lesson teaching sequence which you will undertake with a small group of children in your first Professional Experience. (3000-4000 words for paired) - 30%

Assignment 3 - Reflective Portfolio of Tasks.

This is an organised collection that details some of your learning experiences during the unit, and the resources that will form a basis for your professional practice.

Part A – the Pedagogical Portfolio (PP) will be based substantially on material and ideas (13 pieces) gathered through professional experience, reading lectures, tutorials, and other aspects of this unit. 26%

Part B - will be a short response to four aspects of science teaching (360 words for each short response) 24% (Total 50%)

Unit Fee Information

* Rate for all CSP students, except for those who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
** Rate for CSP students who commenced Education and Nursing units pre 2010
Please note: Unit fees listed do not apply to Deakin Prime students.