EDF5467 - Physics education B

Leader: Mr G Lancaster (Clayton) + TBA (Gippsland)

Offered

Clayton Second semester (Open Learning) 2007 (Open Learning)
Clayton Second semester 2007 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

This unit builds on the concepts introduced in EDF5466. Students will be introduced to the ideas of "Children's Science" and the importance that students' prior views play in trying to effect conceptual change in the learner during teaching. Attention will be given to investigating ways of developing interesting and effective lessons which incorporate practical demonstrations (POE's - Predict/Observe/Explain), laboratory work and available learning technologies to explore topics within the recommended contexts. A range of current resource material including suitable textbooks, videotapes, computer software, multimedia presentations and visual aides will be evaluated.

Objectives

This unit has been designed to familiarize students with the language, methods and major ideas useful in contemporary physics teaching in post primary schools; introduce a diverse range of effective teaching strategies and appropriate contexts useful in physics and general science education suitable for the social and cultural backgrounds of their clientele; explore a variety of classroom procedures aimed at improving the participation rate of students and particularly the outcomes for girls studying physics in post primary schools; introduce and evaluate a variety of educational resources, learning technologies and teaching aids useful in improving learning outcomes for students; introduce students to a constructivist approach to teaching and learning in physics and its implications for designing activities for student engagement during laboratory work; develop the capacity and confidence of students to communicate their knowledge of Physics effectively in the classroom and encourage critical reflection; introduce a variety of suitable assessment and monitoring procedures aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of students to meet the intended learning outcomes of the physics study design; assist students to confidently approach the research and design of a unit of work suitable for teaching a topic or topics from the senior Physics study design.

Assessment

Class participation and Practicum tasks: 40%
Satisfactory completion of assignment tasks: 60%
Student participation in the unit is vital and an 80% attendance requirement is required so students can fully participate via workshops or on-line chat forum. Teaching practice also forms a major part of the assessment of this unit and students must complete at least 45 days teaching practice (50 for double degree students) and gain a rating of satisfactory for the teaching practice.

Contact hours

3 hours per week

Prerequisites

EDF5466