Course Title: Investigating in the Sciences (Early Childhood)

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Investigating in the Sciences (Early Childhood)

Credit Points: 12

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
TCHE2228	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	360H Education	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Susan Elliott

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7804

Course Coordinator Email:susan.elliott@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 220 Rm 4.16

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

There is no pre requisite for this course.

Course Description

This is a core course that focuses on the use of interactive approaches to facilitate children’s investigation of science, mathematics, technology and the environment in everyday experiences.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course is designed to assist students to build a positive understanding of young children as investigators and how the topics science, mathematics, technology and the environment can be explored in early childhood settings.

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
• Demonstrate a positive and confident attitude towards fostering children’s innate curiosity and investigation of science, mathematics, technology and the environment.
• Describe suitable learning experiences and strategies to investigate science, mathematics, technology and the environment in early childhood settings.
• Critically evaluate experiences and resources designed to promote children’s investigation of science, mathematics, technology and the environment.
• Observe and analyse children’s learning in science, mathematics, technology and the environment.
• Design, construct and evaluate relevant learning resources/artefacts.

ICT Outcomes
At the conclusion of this course, students will have demonstrated and/or acquired the following ICT capabilities:
• Understandings of the role of ICT in learning and implications for the classroom.
• Awareness of a range of contemporary ICT resources suitable for the classroom.
• Skills in using ICT for communication, presentation, work preparation and implementation.
• Personal proficiency in using ICT.

Overview of Learning Activities

Students’ learning in this course will involve a range of activities including group work, lectures, discussion of readings, excursions and on-line research.

Overview of Learning Resources

Recommended readings, references, journals and internet sites will need to be accessed during this course.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks are directly linked to the stated objectives and outcomes. Assessment in the course will be both theoretical and practical in nature. A range of formative and summative assessment types will be incorporated into the course (for example, curriculum planning, exam, written, oral or performance based assessment).

Students should refer to Part B of the course guide for further information on assessment.