ECE220 - Science 1: Science and Environmental Awareness for Young Children
Unit details
| Year: | 2021 unit information |
|---|---|
| Important Update: | Unit delivery will continue to be provided in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. This may include a mix of on-campus and online activities. To find out how you are impacted, please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Unit sites open one week prior to the start of each Trimester/Semester. Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to studying with Deakin in 2021. Last updated: 4 June 2021 |
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Cloud (online), CBD* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: George Aranda |
| Cohort rule: | Nil |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 1-hour class per week 1 x 2-hour seminar per week |
| Scheduled learning activities - cloud: | 2 x cloud conferences per trimester 1 x 2-hour online workshops per week 2 x 1-hour online class per trimester (recordings provided) |
Note:*CBD refers to the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation (NIKERI) Institute; Community Based Delivery
| |
Content
The content is organised around key science concepts cognitively appropriate for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. A range of issues are addressed:
- Science understandings relevant to the early childhood settings;
- The nature of science and its relationship to society and the environment;
- The nature of learning in science and the environment; teaching approaches and strategies for linking science with the other curriculum areas;
- Assessing children's understandings;
- Contemporary issues in curriculum provision and the teaching of science and the environment through play
- The importance of language in the exchange of science ideas with children.
Aspects of science that are relevant to early childhood and primary educators are presented - for example, investigation of living things, materials, properties of water, air, electricity and magnetism, light, sound. Environmental concepts are integrated throughout the program. This unit will identify teaching approaches and strategies for supporting learning in early childhood settings. It will demonstrate, through practical activities applied through play, how young children develop their scientific and environmental understandings.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Evaluate and discuss key theoretical and pedagogical perspectives and issues in children’s learning of sience and environmental understanding | GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Evaluate and apply understanding of key science and the environment concepts and processes to the planning of teaching and learning in early childhood contexts | GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4 Critical Thinking GLO5 Problem solving |
| ULO3 | Apply a range of assessment strategies in the evaluation of children’s understandings and learning of science and the environment | GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4 Critical Thinking GLO5 Problem solving |
| ULO4 | Adapt scientific and environmental knowledge into broader pedagogical practices in early childhood contexts | GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4 Critical Thinking |
| ULO5 | Employ a variety of multimedia within early childhood learning environments to communicate language relating to everyday scientific and environmental phenomena | GLO1 Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3 Digital Literacy |
These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 - Probing Children’s Understandings | 1200 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2 - Teaching for Quality Learning in Science | 2000 words or equivalent | 50% | Week 9 |
| Assessment 3 - Portfolio Activities | 800 words or equivalent | 20% | Ongoing |
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.
Learning Resource
Campbell, C. Jobling, W. & Howitt, C., 2018. Science in Early Childhood 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press
The following website will be an invaluable resource:
- Science and Environmental Education website: https://blogs.deakin.edu.au/sci-enviro-ed/early-years/
The site contains:
- Ideas for teaching science;
- Science concepts: Years 5-10; and
- Video materials.
Unit Fee Information
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