485-455 Learning Area:Sci & Technology 3(Adv)

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

485-355 Learning Area: Sci & Technology 2 (Adv), or approved equivalent studies.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Investigation of curriculum resources available for teaching particular science topics, including written materials, multimedia, computer software and industry and community support services; a case study of the understanding and learning of a selected science concept by children at primary school level; the design, implementation and evaluation of a science unit or a science project related to the local school community extending over at least six hours in a primary school. Introduction to the major ideas in the current literature on children's understandings of science concepts and the methods by which they may be probed.

Assessment

A major report of a case study on an investigation into children's understandings or learning of a selected concept in science (about 1500 words) (30%); a review of related literature on probing children's understanding (about 1500 words) (30%); the production (development, implementation and evaluation) of a science curriculum unit or a science project related to the local school community extending over at least six hours (about 2000 words) (40%).

Prescribed Texts

Reading guides will be provided at the beginning of the course of study.

• Board of Studies, Curriculum and Standards Framework: Science. Melbourne 1995.
• Australian Education Council, Science - a Curriculum Profile for Australian Schools. Curriculum Corporation, Carlton 1994.
• Faire J & Cosgrove M, Teaching Primary Science. University of Waikato 1988.
• Biddulph F & Osborne R (eds), Making Sense of Our World: An Interactive Teaching Approach. University of Waikato 1984.