Year
2020
Units
4.5
Contact
13 x 2-hour workshops per semester
10 x 1-hour on-line lectures per semester
Prerequisites
1 Admission into BEDPRBA-Bachelor of Education (Primary), Bachelor of Arts
1a Admission into BAMTPR-Bachelor of Arts, Master of Teaching (Primary)
1b Admission into BAMTPRP - Bachelor of Arts conditional entry to Master of Teaching (Primary R-7)
1c Admission into BAMTSP - Bachelor of Arts conditional entry to Master of Teaching (Secondary)
2 1 of NMCY1001, NMCY1201
3 EDUC2203 - Designing and Creating Digital Solutions
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c) and 2 and 3)
Enrolment not permitted
EDUC4856 has been successfully completed
Assumed knowledge
Basic IT and numeracy skills and lesson planning
Assessment
Project design and evaluation, Critical reflection, Online quiz
Topic description
This topic provides students with an opportunity to develop their capacity to contribute to the design and provision of high-quality Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Students will develop knowledge of the differences and similarities between the STEM disciplines and pedagogical strategies to enable all students to develop STEM related capabilities. Emphasis is placed on empowering students to design learning opportunities for primary school students which builds their knowledge and curiosity about STEM concepts and capacity to solve problems through harnessing and manipulating the world around them. This topic is designed to prepare students to demonstrate highly effective classroom teaching of STEM education and their impact on student learning.
Educational aims
This topic aims to:

  • Develop pre-service teachers’ understanding of the conceptual connections within and between the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

  • Develop pre-service teachers’ capacity to contribute to the design and provision of high-quality STEM education.

  • Prepare students to demonstrate highly effective classroom teaching of STEM education and their impact on student learning.
Expected learning outcomes
On completion of this topic students will be expected to be able to:

  1. Articulate the significance of STEM education in the primary years and the challenges faced in the enactment of innovative education practice

  2. Explain the differences and similarities between the STEM related learning areas of the Australian Curriculum relevant to the primary years

  3. Demonstrate a capacity to purposefully and creatively plan STEM curriculum and orchestrate learning opportunities relevant to the primary years utilising the key principles of real-world contexts; inquiry-based learning; design-based learning and cooperative learning

  4. Demonstrate knowledge of pedagogical strategies to promote quality engagement and retention appropriate to specific groups of learners who are currently less likely to engage in STEM education and are at higher risk of not developing high capabilities in STEM-related skills

  5. Locate, evaluate and draw on a wider range of age-appropriate and relevant education resources, including ICT that engage students in STEM learning

  6. Design assessments and interpret and use assessment data from a broad range of sources to inform planning and teaching

  7. Explain the rationale underpinning their approach to STEM education

  8. Plan strategies to evidence, evaluate and improve the impact of their teaching on individual students

  9. Critically reflect on the development of their STEM education knowledge, understanding and skills and identify goals, strategies and resources to continue their professional learning.