Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Teaching Primary Science

Credit Points: 12.00

Important Information:

In 2023 this course is titled 'Taking Primary Science into the Classroom'

From 2024 this course will be titled 'Teaching Primary Science'

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
TCHE2472	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2021, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 1 2024, Sem 1 2025
TCHE2508	Brunswick Campus	Undergraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2016, Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018, Sem 1 2019

Course Coordinator: Dr Melanie Nash

Course Coordinator Phone: 03 9925 6656

Course Coordinator Email: Melanie.nash@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None

Course Description

This course builds on your previous science learning and teaching experiences by continuing to develop your confidence and competence as a future teacher of science. The focus will be on translating your knowledge of science concepts, skills, and the nature of science into impactful learning experiences that draw on your understandings of appropriate science education pedagogies for primary-aged learners. 

Inquiry-based, learner-centred, and design-thinking pedagogies remain a central feature of this course as does the curation of learning opportunities that move you between being a learner and a teacher of science. 

This course has been designed to establish a ‘community of practice’ between peers to support you in becoming a collegial and contributor member of a professional learning team and the teaching profession. 

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes 

In this course, you will develop the following program learning outcomes: 

• Develop and apply broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge through one or more of the following practices: planning using data; teaching and learning; assessing; feedback and professional judgement; and appraising impact of teaching across a range of disciplines.
• Apply initiative, judgement, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which may include the use of new technologies and teaching tools, to enhance your practice and to provide growth opportunities for students. 

Course Learning Outcomes 

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

		Graduate APST
1	Develop students' scientific literacy and ability to participate in scientific thinking in social and technological contexts.	2.1, 3.2,  3.3, 3.4
2	Describe and apply strategies to support student inclusion and safety in the science classroom.	4.1, 4.4
3	Individually and collaboratively develop teaching activities, investigations and units of work for teaching using a variety of pedagogical approaches.	1.5, 2.2,  2.5, 3.1,  3.3, 3.5
4	Create assessment tools for diagnostic, formative and summative assessment in the science classroom that align with the Australian/Victorian Curriculum.	2.3, 3.1,  5.1
5	Discuss current issues related to assessment of student work in science.	5.1, 5.2

 

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. 

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

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course’s learning outcomes (CLO) and on your development against the program learning outcomes. The assessment is also mapped against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST).   

	Assessment title	Weighting	CLOs	APSTs
AT1	Teaching a science concept & individual reflection (Group)	50%	1, 2, 3	1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.4
AT2	Design a unit of work (Individual)	30%	1, 2, 3	1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.4
AT3	Develop assessment tools for unit of work (individual)	20%	1, 2, 4, 5	2.3, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2

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.