Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Teaching Science and Technologies

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
TCHE2435	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018
TCHE2676	City Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2020, Sem 2 2022, Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024, Sem 2 2025

Course Coordinator: Dr Melanie Nash

Course Coordinator Phone: 99256656

Course Coordinator Email: melanie.nash@rmit.edua.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora

Course Coordinator Availability: By email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course will introduce you to the key conceptual, theoretical, and pedagogical perspectives and issues informing science education and related aspects of design and digital technology education. This course intends to build your confidence and competence as a future teacher of science and technologies by creating learning experiences in which you can develop an understanding and appreciation of science and technology as a series of ‘big ideas’, skills and ways of interpreting the world through the lens of both a learner and a teacher. The collaborative and participatory nature of the course reinforces the focus on the inquiry-based, learner-centred, and design-thinking pedagogies it promotes. You will developing the necessary pedagogical knowledge and strategies to design and implement lessons that engage and motivate primary-aged students.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following program learning outcomes:  

PLO3 Critically analyse relevant evidence-based disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge and experience to plan, implement and assess student learning, social and intellectual development. 

PLO4 Apply professional knowledge, self-awareness, judgment and research skills to develop agile education solutions and make evidence-based decisions for application in specific teaching environments. 

PLO6 Transform learning and teaching contexts with the use of digital skills, tools and emerging educational technologies. 

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:  

		Graduate APST
1.	Describe and apply knowledge, concepts, skills, and inquiry processes required for effective, contemporary learning and teaching of science and technologies through an integrated process.	2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5
2.	Apply skills and strategies to design, implement, and evaluate pedagogy and assessment in science and technology curricula.	2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 7.4
3.	Select, evaluate and justify science and technology resources for use in the primary classroom setting.	1.5, 3.2, 3.4
4.	Describe strategies to support student inclusion and safety in the science and technology classroom.	4.1, 4.4, 4.5
5.	Develop students’ scientific literacy and ability to participate in scientific thinking in social and technological contexts.	2.1, 3.2, 3.3

  

Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as workshops, tutorials, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Teaching and learning may be face to face, online, or a combination of both. 

In addition to scheduled contact time, it is expected that students will do several hours of independent study each week. This time should be devoted to engaging with the set readings, writing reflections on the learning activities in the unit (readings, workshop activities, and assessment), accessing online support materials and communication tools provided on the Learning Hub, researching science and technology topics, and preparing assessment tasks. 

Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal. 

Overview of Assessment

Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. 

Assessment Task 1: Design a learning activity and explanatory commentary (Group) 
Weighting: 30%
Linked CLOs: 2, 3 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Presentation Using Digital Technology in Science (Group) 
Weighting: 20% 
Links to CLOs: 1 & 4

Assessment Task 3: Unit plan for science & technology (Individual)
Weighting: 50%
Links to CLOs: 1 & 2

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 

Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.