EDF5138 · Science in secondary years B

Overview

This unit builds on EDF5137 Science in secondary years A to broaden your thinking about learning and teaching science by introducing you to ways of engaging learners in real-world science building a strong foundation for career-long professional learning. It provides you with the opportunity to develop your planning and teaching skills and emphasises the importance of reflection and continual development of teaching practice. This unit draws on concepts from constructivist theories of learning, pedagogical content knowledge and critical reflection, enabling you to apply evidence-based teaching approaches that successfully facilitate student learning. You will build understanding that learning and teaching science is more about creating a scientifically literate community than it is about content and correct answers. You will be assisted to trial and critique a wide variety of purposeful and effective teaching strategies including the implementation of innovative technologies, skills and techniques considered essential for establishing a productive, diverse and sustainable secondary classroom. The unit emphasises a view of learning about teaching as an ongoing, collaborative process that is developed through engaging with theory, research and critical reflection on experience.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. competently plan and implement lessons and units of work, enacting the principles of curriculum design as they relate to the content of current general science curricula
2. apply a personal, inclusive approach to teaching science, through the exploration and experience of a variety of learning and teaching strategies that incorporate a meaningful, real-world approach to science and account for the diverse experiences and social and cultural backgrounds of your students
3. demonstrate an awareness of the ways in which science education research helps inform teacher practice to enhance student understanding of science concepts across a range of disciplines
4. reflect critically on the development of your own teaching and learning to teach science.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: • 24 hours* of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities; and • the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement. *Subject to variation due to professional experience requirements.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.