Course overview
This course will deepen preservice teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical understanding for Science, and to build their capacity to design, implement and assess scientific units with a particular focus on inquiry, integration and interdisciplinary education. Preservice teachers will learn and apply strategies for modelling, conducting and assessing scientific inquiry units of work. They will learn and apply strategies for thinking and working scientifically, both for themselves and in planning for learning with a particular focus on inquiry-based learning and Science as a Human Endeavour. Preservice teachers will engage with contemporary science education research including Indigenous, environmental and social issues, and will learn how to meaningfully integrate science strands with other disciplines and unpack STEM perspectives.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply curriculum frameworks and a range of teacher resources to plan integrated and inquiry centred learning experiences appropriate for primary science
- Apply curriculum frameworks and a range of teacher resources to plan formative and summative assessment appropriate for primary science, with an explicit focus on thinking and working scientifically
- Critique and reflect upon design of learning in primary science
- Work with peers to construct and implement a professional learning experience centred on modelling or inquiry-based learning to engage, develop and extend children's thinking and understanding in science
- Develop a critical pedagogical focus appropriate to teaching science