units

EDF4025

Faculty of Education

Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Education
OfferedNot offered in 2015

Synopsis

This unit develops students' advanced understanding of content and pedagogy for sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority, and primary years science discipline knowledge relevant to the Australian Curriculum and AusVELS, including biological, earth and environmental science studies from Foundation to Year 6. Students develop an appreciation for how education for sustainability has emerged as a global priority by exploring research and curriculum content and policy including goals and agreements developed by the United Nations and other education providers in this field. They develop an understanding of the concepts of environmental studies and sustainability and explore how these concepts are inextricably linked. They learn how to develop integrated approaches to studies of the environment and sustainability and specific related science content across primary school curriculum. Students investigate and understand the cultural, social, economic, scientific, ecological and political factors that influence attitudes and actions towards environment and sustainability. They develop theoretical, discipline-based and pedagogical knowledge and understanding of how to implement whole school approaches and classroom learning experiences for environment and sustainability at different levels of primary education.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. describe and understand the difference between environmental and sustainability education
  2. develop and demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of the national and global reasons that have led to the emergence of education for sustainability as an educational priority
  3. develop pedagogical content knowledge necessary to teach education for sustainability and relevant content in the areas of biological, earth and environmental science studies from Foundation to Year 6 in AusVELS and the Australian Curriculum
  4. discuss and evaluate the influence of cultural, social, economic, scientific, ecological and political factors on how concepts of environment and sustainability are understood and incorporated into primary curricula in Australia and internationally
  5. design and implement learning experiences that incorporate environment, sustainability and science at different levels of primary education.

Assessment

Essay: exploration of pedagogical content knowledge, curriculum and policy related to education for sustainability and related areas of science (can include individual and/or group work) (2000 words or equivalent per student, 50%)
Unit of work to teach science, environmental education and sustainability in a primary school (can include individual and/or group work) (2000 words or equivalent per student, 50%)

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:

(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:

  • 2 contact hours per week

(b.) Additional requirements:

  • independent study to make up the minimum required hours per week

See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study