Department of Education, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
ED50322 Issues in science education |
| Credits: 12 |
| Level: Masters |
| Modular: no specific semester |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
|
Aims:
* to provide a background to the development of the science curriculum and current debates about significant issues relating to science teaching; * to introduce teachers to relevant research in science education and to see its application in their teaching; * to encourage participants to reflect on their practice and appreciate ways of developing it. Learning Outcomes: Having studied this unit, students will be able to: * understand different perspectives on the nature of science and science education, and the relationship between 'real science' and 'school science'; * distinguish between different approaches to and purposes of practical work in science and understand the distinctive features of investigative work; * understand the significance of research into children&©s&© learning in science and implications for teaching approaches; * understand factors affecting the design of curriculum materials for use in science lessons and be able to create and evaluate effective resources; * describe a range of assessment techniques and their purposes in the context of science teaching, and understand the basic principles of assessment; * relate issues of equal opportunity (including gender, race and special needs) to their practice as science educators; * incorporate Information and Communications Technology into their teaching of science and understand ways in which its use can enhance their practice; * appreciate current trends in science education research and be aware of the implications of research for classroom practice. Skills: Demonstrate and exercise independent thought (F) Structure and communicate ideas effectively in writing (F/A) Structure and communicate ideas effectively orally (F) Assess the relevance & importance of the ideas of others (T/A) Evaluate own performance critically (F) Reason critically (T/A) Evaluate information critically (T/A) Analyse & interpret (A) Key Skills 1. Make critical use of the literature of the field of Education (T/F/A). 2. Make critical use of professional experience in the field of Education (T/F/A). 4. Analyse, interpret and critique findings and arguments (T/F/A). 9. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems (T/F). 10. Evaluate research and variety of types of information and evidence critically, also making informed judgements in the absence of complete data (T/F/A) 12. Contribute to professional debate in the field of education (F). 13. Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level (F). 14. Communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences (T/F). 15. Evaluate their own academic and professional performance (T/F/A). 16. Manage change effectively and respond to changing demands (F). 17. Manage time, prioritise workloads and recognise and manage personal emotions and stress (F). 18. Develop new or higher level skill, for example in information technology (F). Content: The unit will address a number of issues relating to: * the nature of science and perspectives on science education and science as a curriculum subject; * the place of practical work in science in the development of procedural understanding; * children's conceptual understanding and the development of a constructivist approach to science teaching; * the evaluation and design of curriculum materials focussing on language issues and other aspects of readability; * approaches to assessing performance in science; * provision of equality of opportunity and access; * the use of information and communications technologies to support science teaching; * accessing and using science education research to inform practice. |