ED3092 - Science Education for Early Childhood

Credit points:	03
Year:	2013
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Education

Note: Lectures and tutorials for this subject are delivered by external mode only in LearnJCU. The subject is offered online requiring students to have access to the World Wide Web for participation in the subject. Students will be expected to conduct level 1 (safe) hands-on science activities at home using simple materials.

Science education is a key component of the Australian Curriculum. In this subject students will develop their science technological and pedagogical and content knowledge with an emphasis on preparing to teach young learners from kindergarten to Year 3. In line with national and state curricula, students will identify the skills, attitudes and concepts that can be developed in an early childhood science program and learn strategies appropriate to the teaching of science. Particular emphasis is given to inquiry-based learning and the integration of literacy and numeracy with science. Students are expected to conduct level 1 (safe) hands-on science activities at home using simple materials.

Learning Outcomes

• become more confident as a learner and teacher of science;
• appreciate the need for a robust science education program in the early childhood years;
• become familiar with the Australian Curriculum: Science, the 5Es inquiry model and key science programs for young children;
• be able to plan and conduct science lessons and units safely and integrating appropriate technology.

Graduate Qualities

• 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 communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to select and use appropriate tools and technologies;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Prerequisites:	6 credit points of level 2 ED subjects
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	ED3192

Availabilities
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 28-Mar-2013
Coord/Lect:	Assoc. Professor Hilary Whitehouse.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	online multiple choice test (20%); science curriculum assignment (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.