PRI1491 Content Studies for the Middle Years

PRI	1491	79081	2, 2008	ONC	Content Studies for the Middle Years	1.00	Springfield
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOEDU
Academic org:	FOE002
Student contribution band:	National Priority Teaching
ASCED code:	070103

Staffing
Other requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Karen Spence
Moderator: Jerry Maroulis

OTHER REQUISITES

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html.

RATIONALE

This course is designed to provide students in the Bachelor of Education (Primary & Middle Schooling) with the basic middle years of schooling (Years 4-9) content competencies. This will allow students to appreciate the diverse nature of content in the middle school years. Students also need to develop content knowledge across the key learning areas and build upon their existing knowledge and express themselves adequately in the middle schooling context that will help students to develop confidence and reduce anxiety across the key learning areas in the middle years of schooling (Years 4-9).

SYNOPSIS

Students will be exposed to content in 6 areas regarded as most significant in the Middle Schooling context. These are Science, Mathematics, Expressive Arts, Information Technology, SOSE (Studies of Society and Environment) and Health Studies.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On completion of this course students will be able to:

demonstrate thorough content knowledge in a range of content areas relevant to the middle years of schooling (CMAs; and assignment)
demonstrate understanding of important content principles relevant to teaching in the middle years of schooling (CMAs; and assignment)
demonstrate competencies through content knowledge in a range of content areas relevant to the middle years of schooling (CMAs; and assignment).
demonstrate competence in written language and scholarly writing including correct spelling, grammar and bibliographic referencing.

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Introduction to content studies for the middle years of schooling	10.00
2.	Part A: Science	15.00
3.	Part B: Expressive Arts	15.00
4.	Part C: Mathematics	15.00
5.	Part D: Information Technology	15.00
6.	Part E: SOSE	15.00
7.	Part F: Health	15.00

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).

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.

The course examiner will provide students with a list of resources and references. The CD Rom which contain all the lecure materials and Breeze presentations can be purchased from the bookshop. Alternatively, all of the course content is provided via the study desk. Whether you are on, or off campus, the USQ Library is an excellent source of information http://www.usq.edu.au/library/. The gateway to education resources is here ....http://www.usq.edu.au/library/faculties/education/default.htm

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessment	25.00
Directed Study	60.00
Private Study	80.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
ASSIGNMENT	40.00	40.00	13 Oct 2008
CMA A- THE ARTS	50.00	10.00	07 Nov 2008	(see note 1)
CMA B- SCIENCE	50.00	10.00	07 Nov 2008
CMA C- MATHEMATICS	50.00	10.00	07 Nov 2008
CMA D- INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY	50.00	10.00	07 Nov 2008
CMA E- HEALTH	50.00	10.00	07 Nov 2008
CMA F- SOSE	50.00	10.00	07 Nov 2008

NOTES

1.: All CMA assessments will occur in the first week of the normal examination block at the end of semester. The course examiner will supply further information regarding these assessments during the semester, and will advise the due dates for all assessment items.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and 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.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To complete each of the assessment items satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available. USQ Regulation 5.6 Assessment 5.6.10 Resubmission of Assessment Items states that, ".... an examiner may permit students to resubmit an assignment/supplementary examination/additional work that has received a failing grade or a mark of less than 50%. If a student is permitted to resubmit a failed assignment/supplementary examination/addtional work, normally the only passing grade or mark allowable for the resubmission will be C- or 50% (as appropriate)."
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks obtained for each of the assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
There will be no Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course.
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.	The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner.
2.	Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of request being made by the examiner. The student must retain this copy until the grade for this course has been finalised.
3.	In accordance with the University's assignment extension policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
4.	The Faculty will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media. The Faculty will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile. Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements.
5.	Students who have undertaken 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.
6.	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 an 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).
7.	When there is more than one marker for a single item of assessment, the distributed patterns and means for the different markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
8.	Marking criteria are provided in course material as mark sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
9.	Summative assessment items will receive a numerical score. Any ungraded assessment requirement will receive a Pass, Fail or Incomplete.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students will require access to e-mail and Internet access to USQConnect for this course.
Students are to use a recognised referencing system as specified by the examiner.
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.

This version produced 26 Nov 2008.