Course overview
This course will develop preservice teachers who are knowledgeable about how children birth to five years of age explore mathematics and science in their environment. This course will equip them with the professional skills required to prepare and report on individual children's development and learning in mathematics and science. Preservice teachers will examine young children's (babies, toddlers and preschoolers) intuitive construction of mathematical and scientific understanding, processes and attitudes in an integrated way. Preservice teachers will develop learner centered play based approaches to developing scientific and mathematical ideas. Preservice teachers will apply planning and evaluation strategies with an emphasis on informal approaches and provision of encouragement and directions for further learning. Preservice teachers will critique a variety of structured and informal materials, print and IT resources suitable for all children.
Course learning outcomes
- Compare the relationships between children's scientific/mathematical thinking with the conventions of the discipline
- Evaluate and apply a recognised curriculum for planning and assessment
- Design a sequence of learning experiences taking into account research on children's learning in science and mathematics
- Evaluate how personal knowledge and experience affects teachers' and primary students' beliefs, attitudes and confidence when choosing and using mathematics and science to solve problems
- Select and analyse the resources available to support teachers and learners of mathematics science
- Employ knowledge of current technologies to incorporate digital technologies in planning, teaching and evaluation of mathematics and science learning experiences