Unit Outline

In this unit you will learn how the Australian Curriculum: Science describes the ultimate goal of science education as being the development of scientific literacy. Science is not simply a body of knowledge but should also be understood as a process of inquiry and a human endeavour. You will engage with scientific understanding about the natural world and learn how science can be taught to primary students in a meaningful way that develops their curiosity and inquiry skills. The relationship between science and technology will also be explored through hands on activities and readings.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	explain the content of current science curriculum documents appropriately to primary school children
2	evaluate planning decisions and teaching practices for their potential to initiate and support effective and equitable learning in primary science.
3	develop and justify a repertoire of fair, valid and reliable assessment procedures for use in the teaching of primary science.
4	select and organise teaching approaches and resources to plan a program for effective learning in science with appropriately embedded connections to the general capabilities and cross- curriculum priorities of the Australian curriculum.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Concurrent Pre-requisite	EMT502

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Analysis of Prior Knowledge	Week 2	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Determine Prior Understanding	Week 5	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Reflect on a Teaching Experience	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Analysis of Prior Knowledge

Task Description:

AT1: Analysis of Prior Knowledge

Completion of this Assessment Task relates to Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.5, 4.2, 5.1

Task Length:

400 words

Due Date:

Week 2

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Understanding of science concepts	LO1
2	Understanding of learning and development theory	LO2, LO4
3	Implications for the science classroom	LO2, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Determine Prior Understanding

Task Description:

AT2: Determine Prior understanding

Completion of this Assessment Task relates to Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.5, 4.2, 5.1

Task Length:

1600 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	x	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Reflect on a Teaching Experience

Task Description:

AT3: Reflect on a Teaching Experience

Completion of this Assessment Task relates to Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST) 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 4.2, 5.1

Task Length:

2400 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrated understanding of science curriculum and pedagogy.	LO1
2	Capacity to develop and implement a learning sequence suitable to promote conceptual growth and an assessment of that growth.	LO4
3	Critical engagement with the science education literature as a context for reflection.	LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Skamp, K., & Preston, C. (Eds.) (2021). Teaching Primary Science Constructively (7th ed.). South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia: Cengage Learning.

The Australian Curriculum, v9. https://v9.australiancurriculum.edu.au/