Course description

This course takes an issues-based approach and examines the nature of science education at a personal level in the classroom and at a state, national and international level. The course will take the form of a series of informative sessions and discussions on key issues in science education and their impact on curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. Issues include debate around the nature and philosophy of science and scientific inquiry, the complexities of scientific literacy and the debate around its importance to life skills, and the growing debate around science teachers¿ technological and pedagogical content knowledge. These issues will be used to frame the assignments for the course. This course also considers two key points: 1) science education exists at the centre of a number of tensions and on-going debates about its methods, approaches, rationales and role in society, and 2) different educators also have different concerns and interests in relation to science education and teach students at different stages of development and in diverse contexts. The course caters to teacher professionals at any level and provides opportunities to develop an individualised project based on personal interests in relation to science education in the compulsory years that explores an aspect of science education around curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. This course may not be offered internally if enrolment is less than 10 students.

Archived offerings