EDUC4802

Teaching Scientific Literacy For Sustainable Futures

10 Units 4000 Level Course

Not available in 2014

Previously offered in 2009

This courses focuses on the teaching and development of scientific literacy. Using a multiliteracies framework, the course explores scientific knowledge as represented in written, graphic, and digital forms. It aims to assist students to make connections between scientific knowledge as generated through disciplined inquiry, and questions derived from their everyday experiences. It will assist students to represent and communicate scientific ideas, understandings and information; and to teach scientific concepts competently to their future students.

Objectives Upon completion of this course, students will be expected to:

1. An understanding of the competing definitions of scientific literacy;
2. An understanding of the multimodal forms of scientific communication;
3. A knowledge of a wide range of practices and texts supporting the development of scientific literacy;
4. An understanding of how scientific knowledge may be related to students' everyday lives;
5. An ability to engage in discourse of and about science;
6. A capacity to evaluate the quality of scientific information on the basis of its source and the methods used to generate it.
7. A capacity to design instruction that challenges alternative conceptions of scientific phenomena.
Content This course will address:

1. The Multiliteracies Framework.
2. Constructs of Scientific literacy.
3. Subject specific vocabulary, metalanguage, and language structures and features of scientific discourse.
4. Pedagogies for developing the scientific literacy of young children.
5. Pedagogical approaches for challenging alternative conceptions of scientific phenomena.
Replacing Course(s) EDST2090
Transition Students who have completed EDST2090 should not be permitted to enrol in EDUC4802.
Industrial Experience 0
Assumed Knowledge Completion of EDUC2744 and SCIM2030 or other Science Studies would be advisable but is not essential.
Modes of Delivery Flexible Delivery / Student Centred Learning
Teaching Methods Case Study
Email Discussion Group
Lecture
Student Projects
Tutorial
Assessment Items
Essays / Written Assignments Assignment 1 - 20% (1,500 words): Exploring children's understandings of scientific phenomena.
Case Scenario/PBL exercises Assignment 2 - 40% (2,000 words): Critical analysis of ready-made science-focused teaching resources.
Presentations - Tutorial Assignment 3 - 40% 10 minute presentation plus lesson plan and associated resources. Selection and analysis of scientific discourse in children's and/or everyday multimodal text. Design of lesson plan focused on explicit teaching of scientific language and concepts located in the selected multimodal text.
Contact Hours Lecture: for 12 hour(s) per Term for Full Term
Tutorial: for 24 hour(s) per Term for Full Term