ECE 4023 Science and Technology Education

Subject Cat-nbr Class Term Mode Description Units Campus
ECE 4023 55387 2, 2006 EXT Science and Technology Education 1.00 Toowoomba
Academic group: FOEDU
Academic org: FOE004
Student contribution band: National Priority Teaching
ASCED code: 070103

Contents


STAFFING:

Examiner: Leisa Holzheimer
Moderator: Bruce Waldrip

RATIONALE:

Scientific and technological literacy will be increasingly important for citizens in twenty-first century societies. If educators are to be effective in assisting learners to become scientifically and technologically literate, there will be a need for learners to have confident and competent teachers. This will require educators to be able to match their knowledge and understanding of the content appropriate to the curriculum with pedagogical approaches that will assist children to develop knowledge of content and processes together with an appreciation of its important values underlying the curriculum.

SYNOPSIS:

The aim of the course is to develop pre-service educators' understanding of content in science and technology, in parallel with their awareness of ways of transforming this understanding of the content so that what they know and the ways they have come to know it become accessible to the children they teach. Pre-service educators will have the opportunity to examine their own misconceptions, and to understand how such misconceptions might be avoided. Problem-solving skills will be advocated together with an approach to learning that incorporates honesty, open-mindedness, creativity, problem solving and information sharing. Content will include selected topics from the Queensland Years 1 - 10 science and technology syllabus content strands. Application of the notion of pedagogical content knowledge to each content area, and the development of suitably transformed content which would be accessible to learners in the appropriate age groups. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the State of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the State of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of this course students will be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of the structure of the Queensland years 1-10 science syllabus
  2. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the core learning outcomes of the five content strands of the syllabus
  3. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the practices and dispositions of science appropriate to the syllabus
  4. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how children (5-12 years) think and learn about science and technology
  5. demonstrate awareness of potential applications of information and communications technologies for science teaching
  6. portray how science and technology impacts on the lives of the students, the children they will teach and on the world around them
  7. demonstrate an appreciation of the interrelationships between science and society through the language of science
  8. promote an authentic pedagogical approach to science with children to 12 years
  9. demonstrate how society uses scientific knowledge and how different people and groups of people may view things differently and
  10. demonstrate an ability to monitor students development in understanding scientific and technology understandings.

TOPICS:


Description Weighting (%)
1. Introduction to science and technology education
 5.00
2. Science and technology content from syllabus strands
 35.00
3. Developmental and constructivist approaches
 10.00
4. Pedagogical content knowledge interpreting science and technology curriculum
 10.00
5. Selecting and creating resources for science and technology education
 5.00
6. Responsible science and technology education
 5.00
7. ICT in the classroom
 20.00
8. Innovative pedagogy and problem-solving in science and technology
 10.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed:

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Book of Readings

Skamp, K (ed) 2004, Teaching primary science constructively, 2nd edn, Thomson Learning, South Melbourne.




REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

 Science Education Review (Available: http://ezproxy.usq.edu.au/login?url=http://www.scienceeducationreview.com/latestnews/index.shtml) [Accessed 15 02 2006]

Carin, A & Bass, JE 2001, Methods for teaching science as inquiry, 8th edn, Merrill Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Chalufour, I & Worth, K 2003, Discovering nature with young children, Redleaf PRess, St Paul, MN.

Fleer, M & Beverley, J 2004, Technology for children: research based approach, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest, NSW.

Fleer, M & Cahill, A 2001, I want to know...? Learning about science, Australian Early Childhood Association, Watson, ACT.

Fleer, M & Hardy, T 2001, Science for children: developing a personal approach to teaching, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, Sydney, NSW.

Harris, R 2004, Learning about science, Early Childhood Australia Inc, Watson, ACT.

Howe, A 2003, Teaching science, design and technology in the early years, David Fulton, London.

Howe, A 2001, Primary design and technology for the future: creativity, culture and citizenship, David Fulton, London.

Howe, A, Davies, D, McMahon, K, Towler, L & Scott, T 2005, Science 5-11: a guide for teachers, David Fulton Publishers.

Lind, K 2005, Exploring science in early childhood: a developmental approach, 4th edn, Thomson Delmar Learning, Clifton Park, NY.

Littledyke, M, Ross, K & Lakin, L 2005, Science knowledge and the environment: a guide for students and teachers in primary education, David Fulton, London.

Skamp, K 2004, Teaching primary science constructively, 2nd edn, Thomson, Australia.

Tolman, MN 2002, Discovering elementary science: method, content, and problem-solving activities, 3rd edn, Allyn & Bacon, Boston, MA.

Worth, K & Grollman, S 2003, Worms, shadows and whirlpools: science in the early childhood classroom, Heinemann, Portsmouth, NH.




STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

ACTIVITY HOURS
Assessment 30.00
Directed Study 25.00
Private Study 80.00
Tutorials 25.00


ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

Description Marks out of Wtg(%) Due date
ASSIGNMENT 1 50.00 50.00 13 Sep 2006
ASSIGNMENT 2 50.00 50.00 25 Oct 2006

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

  1. Attendance requirements:
    There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
  2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
    To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
  3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
    If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 10% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
  4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
    To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must submit all of the summative assessment items and achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
  5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
    The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
  6. Examination information:
    There is no examination in this course.
  7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
    As there are no examinations in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
  8. University Regulations:
    Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1. Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within 24 hours if required by the Examiner. This must be retained by the student until the grade for this course has been finalised.
2. The Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
3. In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, such as a Show holiday, the due date for the assignment will be the next working day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the Examiner's convenience.
4. Students, who have taken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete - Make up). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study.
5. Students, who for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer as assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination); IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
6. The Faculty will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media, except for ONLINE courses.
7. Marking criteria are provided in course material as mark sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
  2. IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc.) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the state of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.