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Term1,5
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Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

Faculty/College

Faculty of Education

Pre-requisites

96 Credit points in a Bachelor of Education course OR admission to the 1207286 - Master of Teaching OR 1209001 - Master of Teaching

Unit aim

Introduces students to 21st Century secondary science education including exploration of current local and global issues and innovative pedagogical theories. Students develop and apply knowledge and understanding of the Australian Curriculum or NSW Syllabus for teaching. Links are made with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science and cultures, sustainability, critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, digital technologies, literacy and numeracy utilising innovative pedagogical theories and assessment and reporting practices, particularly incorporating differentiation and inclusion. There will be a practical school based/community element incorporated into the unit. 

Unit content

Module 1: Why is secondary science education important?

Module 2: Exploring the curriculum and content.

Module 3: Teaching and learning strategies and assessment.

Module 4: Pedagogical approaches and theories.

Module 5: Lesson plans.

Module 6: Safe working practices and field work/excursion planning and management.

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1 critically reflect on current local and global issues and their significance to science teaching by exploring 21st century knowledge and practice of the science curriculum in secondary schools
2 demonstrate a sound knowledge of the concepts and content of the Australian Curriculum or NSW syllabus Science Year 7 – 10 and ability to translate into practice
3 integrate the Australian cross curriculum priorities, and general capabilities, emphasising sustainability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science and cultures, critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, digital technologies, literacy and numeracy
4 apply suitable laboratory safety including WH&S management, behaviour management, and risk management, in relation to the laboratory and fieldwork

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. critically reflect on current local and global issues and their significance to science teaching by exploring 21st century knowledge and practice of the science curriculum in secondary schools
  2. demonstrate a sound knowledge of the concepts and content of the Australian Curriculum or NSW syllabus Science Year 7 – 10 and ability to translate into practice
  3. integrate the Australian cross curriculum priorities, and general capabilities, emphasising sustainability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander science and cultures, critical and creative thinking, ethical understanding, digital technologies, literacy and numeracy
  4. apply suitable laboratory safety including WH&S management, behaviour management, and risk management, in relation to the laboratory and fieldwork

Prescribed texts

  • Dawson, V., & Donovan, J. (Eds.). , 2020, The Art of Teaching Science: A comprehensive guide to the teaching of secondary school science, 3rd Edition, Routledge, Australia. ISBN: 1000247848, 9781000247848.

  • Prescribed text information is not currently available.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.