ED3092 - Science Education for Early Childhood

Credit points:	03
Year:	2014
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Education (pre 2015)

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 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 the Australian Curriculum, students identify the skills, attitudes and concepts that form an early childhood science program and learn strategies appropriate to the teaching of science. Particular emphasis is given to inquiry-based learning suitable for the physical, social and intellectual development of young learners. Lectures and tutorials for this subject are delivered by external mode only. 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. Aspects of education for sustainability appropriate for young learners are also covered.

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;
• demonstrate Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at a developed level.

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

Availabilities
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2014
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.