units

SCI3910

Faculty of Science

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.

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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 Science
OfferedClayton Second semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr David Overton

Synopsis

In this unit students further develop employability skills through a placement in a primary or secondary school. Each student is required to research, develop, manage and deliver (teach) a science based module that matches the learning outcomes specified to them by their client (supervising teacher). Prior to their school placement, students participate in a series of workshops on: understanding and catering for different learning styles, motivation, team work, goal setting, planning, management, leadership, effective communication and presentation skills, asking the right questions and reflection. While there is an emphasis on how the students can directly apply this knowledge in the short term (during their school placements), they are also required to reflect how they will transfer this learning into their future workplaces.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate they have identified and further developed the generic skills for the workplace: effective communication with a range of audiences, analyse and solve problems, develop new innovative ideas, learn new skills, effective teamwork, lead and motivate small teams, think on their feet and cope with the pressures of working in a professional environment where 'conditions' are constantly changing;
  2. Correctly interpret the brief from their client (supervising teacher). Research, design and deliver an individually tailored learning project that specifically meets the desired outcomes within the available scope;
  3. Appropriately manage: client expectations, schedules, resources, risk, personnel (school students') skill and knowledge levels, personal travel to and from site (allocated school), as well as their other commitments;
  4. Assess their own understanding of the fundamental science principles relevant to a project. Design activities and explanations that will assist lay personnel (their students) to understand and accurately use these principles;
  5. Actively seek out and act upon constructive feedback.

Assessment

Journal entries: 20%
Performance review from client and elective co-coordinator: 20%
Final presentation to peers: 10%
Written report (4000 words): 50%

Workload requirements

Weeks 1 - 3: One 2-hour workshop and 10 hours individual study per week
Weeks 4 - 12: 12 hours of individual work per week to prepare for and deliver science module in school and to complete assessment tasks

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Prerequisites

36 points of science units