ED1411 - Foundations of Sustainability in Education

Credit points:	03
Year:	2012
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Education

Limited offering available to RATEP students only. External offering available only to students enrolled in the ECE major.

This subject provides an introduction to principles and practices of science and sustainability education. The subject investigates interrelationships between chemical, biophysical, economic, social and political systems; the complex mechanisms that lead to degradation of these systems; and, resultant risks to human well-being. The subject draws upon the natural and social sciences and geographic and temporal scales to explore topics related to climate change, energy, water, biodiversity, agriculture and population health. The subject provides early childhood and primary pre-service teachers with foundational scientific knowledge and understanding as well as awareness of scientific inquiry and environmental and social decision-making and policy processes. The subject engages students in aspects of systemic and critical thinking, problem solving, active citizenship and community partnerships in order to ready them for curriculum studies in the Key Learning Areas of Science and Studies of Society and the Environment (SOSE), and, in turn, inspire them to educate for local and global sustainability.

Learning Outcomes

• develop evidence-informed values and positions relating to sustainability through active citizenship, critical and systemic thinking, and reflection;
• recall, identify and apply concepts and procedures of science and sustainability to local and global contexts;
• explore how the design and implementation of engaging and intellectually challenging learning experiences promotes the development of scientific literacy;
• identify implications of education for sustainability for classroom practice, including envisaging a better future and partnerships for change;
• communicate notions of science and sustainability through multiple modes and genres, such as scientific journals and reports, narratives, and critical evaluations of educational resources.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion;
• The ability to work individually and independently;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 23-Aug-2012
Coord/Lect:	Dr Louisa Tomas Engel.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures - 2 hours/week 12 hours tutorials - Commence Week 2; 1 hour/week
Assessment:	science journal, report and reflection (20%); sustainability inquiry and design task (40%); centrally-administered final exam (40%).
Townsville, Limited, Study Period 2
Census Date 23-Aug-2012
Face to face teaching (Online tutorial attendance at RATEP site as per schedule to be advised)
Coord/Lect:	Dr Louisa Tomas Engel.
Contact hours:	13 hours tutorials - online tutorials
Assessment:	science journal, report and reflection (20%); sustainability inquiry and design task (40%); centrally-administered final exam (40%).
External, Study Period 2
Census Date 23-Aug-2012
Coord/Lect:	Dr Louisa Tomas Engel.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	science journal, report and reflection (20%); sustainability inquiry and design task (40%); centrally-administered final exam (40%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 2
Census Date 23-Aug-2012
Coordinator:	Dr Louisa Tomas Engel
Lecturer:	Dr Michelle Lasen.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures - 2 hours/week 12 hours tutorials - Commence Week 2; 1 hour/week
Assessment:	science journal, report and reflection (20%); sustainability inquiry and design task (40%); centrally-administered final exam (40%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.