EPS735 - Primary Science and Technology Education

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: John Cripps Clark
Cohort rule:

Students commencing in 2020 must be enrolled in course E762, E764, E765

Prerequisite:

Students commencing course E762, E764, E765 in 2020, 
must have passed 2 units from EEE754, EEE755, EEE756, EPR721, EPR751, EPR771, EPR781

Corequisite:Nil
Incompatible with: EES540, ESS540
Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

Time engaging in learning activities is expected to average 8 hours per week.

This includes: working through the activities, videos, readings in the online modules; attending or watching online seminars; preparing for and reflecting on small group teaching; and 4-hour school-based or excursion site-based seminars and small group teaching on non-placement teaching weeks (approx. 6-8 weeks).

Independent preparation study throughout the trimester is required to complete all assessments and become a teacher of primary science and technologies.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment:

Time engaging in learning activities is expected to average 8 hours per week.

This includes: working through the activities, videos, readings in the online modules; attending or watching online seminars; preparing for and reflecting on small group teaching; and either a one week school based intensive in Geelong or Melbourne, or weekend TeachFest, or small group teaching with your own or relatives children.

You are also welcome to attend any of the site based experiences including the excursions, and practical activity intensives.

Independent preparation study throughout the trimester is required to complete all assessments and become a teacher of primary science and technologies.

In-person attendance requirements:

Online (intensive): 5 x 5.5-hour school-based seminars over one week

Content

The unit covers the following topics:

  • science and design & technologies pedagogies: conceptual change, multi-modal representations;
  • linking research, theory and resources to practice;
  • states and national curricula planning – planning and implementing a sequence of science and design and technologies lessons;
  • science and technology practical activities;
  • the nature of science and the relationship between design and technologies and science;
  • the relationships between science and technology to the capabilities curriculum: higher order thinking and reasoning, creativity and imagination, ethical decision making, and intercultural competence;
  • resources for a contemporary primary science classroom, including the use of the community, teacher professional associations, and ICT to support learning in Science and Design and Technologies;
  • assessment, as, of and for learning – diagnostic and formative and summative;
  • science conceptual knowledge: including floating and sinking, force and energy, light, heat, animal and plant structure and function, biodiversity, life cycles and animal behaviour, rocks, earth and atmospheric processes, environmental science, sustainability, the nature of science;
  • design thinking; and
  • safety in science and design and technologies teaching and excursions.
ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Systematically explore engaging and inclusive science and technology pedagogies and practices in the teaching of primary students. 

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

ULO2

Critically evaluate research relevant to the teaching of Science & Design Technologies, to link contemporary theory with current practice in the teaching of primary students 

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO3

Critically observe and collect evidence of student learning in order to systematically c evaluate and communicate evidence-based assessment of student development. 

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Reflect on your professional practice to generate creative approaches to the challenges of primary science and technology teaching. 

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO6: Self-management

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Excursion; Plan an excursion, visit the excursion site and make a video 750 words or equivalent 15% Week 5
Assessment 2 - Teaching Report; Developing, trialing and documenting a Design & Technology lesson 2750 words 
or equivalent
30% Week 10
Assessment 3: Learning Report; Teaching a unit of IMS Learning and documenting you and your students' learning 2750 words or equivalent (individual) Or 5500 words or equivalent (pairs) 55% Week 12

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Hurdle requirement

Complete and document six primary science practical activities.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link EPS735
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list.

Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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