James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2024

ED1411 - Science and Sustainability in Education

Townsville Mixed attendance available only to RATEP students. JCU Online offering is available only to Online B Ed ECE and Primary students enrolled in the carousel offering.

Subject Description

This subject develops Early Childhood and Primary pre-service teachers' understanding of science and scientific inquiry through exploration of important socio-ecological challenges such as climate change, our energy future, water security, biodiversity conservation, food security, and human population growth and urbanisation. Pre-service teachers investigate interrelationships between environmental, social, economic and political systems; the complex mechanisms that lead to degradation of these systems; and the resultant risks to environmental and social sustainability. Teaching and learning in this subject develop pre-service teachers' awareness of Education for Sustainability policies and practices; provides opportunities for active citizenship, critical and systemic thinking, envisaging alternative futures, values clarification and reflection; and models pedagogies for science and sustainability education, with links to the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline, the Early Years Learning Framework, and the F-6 Science and HASS Australian Curricula.

Learning Outcomes

• 1. recall, synthesise, apply and communicate science and sustainability concepts and ideas through multiple modes and genres
• 3. identify teaching strategies for science and sustainability education informed by the Early Years Learning Framework, the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline and/or the F-10 Science and HASS Australian Curricula
• 4. develop evidence-informed values and positions relating to sustainability through inquiry, active citizenship, critical thinking and envisaging alternative futures
• 2. apply scientific enquiry skills to plan, conduct and evaluate a science investigation, and reflect on implications for classroom practice

Subject Assessment

• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (20%) - Individual
• Sustainability inquiry - (45%) - Individual
• Science investigation and report - (35%) - Individual

Note that 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.

Availabilities