units

EDF5030

Faculty of Education

18 September 2017 22 November 2024

print version

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 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.

Monash University

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Postgraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Education

Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Gillian Kidman (Berwick); Dr Angela Fitzgerald (Clayton); Dr Sylvia Almeida (Peninsula); Mrs Kathleen Smith (Online)

Offered

Berwick

  • First semester 2016 (Day)

Clayton

  • First semester 2016 (Day)

Peninsula

  • First semester 2016 (Day)
  • First semester 2016 (Online)

Synopsis

This unit explores science within four broad frames: science as a way of thinking and acting, learning about learning science, teaching as the transformation of knowing science, and the engagement of learners and communicating science. The unit focuses on how science knowledge shifts and changes over time and through technological and social change. The unit takes a constructivist approach, employing strategies that include the use of prior knowledge, questioning and inquiry learning. An emphasis is placed upon hands-on approaches, scientific investigations and student-owned/student-centred investigations. The relationship between science, technology and society, different science curriculum and the nature of science as a discipline is also considered. Students build understanding of science learning and teaching through collaborative participation in a range of contexts and critically reflect on these.

Outcomes

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

  1. appreciate science as a way of thinking that generates knowledge and which represents cultures and societies
  2. demonstrate an understanding for the ways in which science responds to changing technological and social change
  3. critically reflect on their experiences as science learners and identify implications for their professional identities
  4. develop strategies to establish, monitor and develop student understanding of science and the importance of reasoning and critical thinking skills in this knowledge development
  5. communicate science understanding in multiple ways and to multiple audiences.

Assessment

Science learning investigation (2000 words, 50%)
Reflective critique (2000 words, 50%)

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising:

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

  • equivalent to 24 hours engagement in online, face-to-face or blended platforms

(b.) Contact hours for off-campus students:

  • equivalent to 24 hours engagement in online or blended platforms

(c.) Additional requirements (all students)

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

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Angela Fitzgerald

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

Early years and primary education
Primary education
Primary and secondary education