Course Title: Extending STEM Education

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Extending STEM Education

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

TCHE2663

City Campus

Postgraduate

360H Education

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2023

Course Coordinator: Melanie Nash

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 6656

Course Coordinator Email: melanie.nash@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course is designed to intoduce you to content and pedagogical content knowledge in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This course aims to develop your knowledge of key concepts and contemporary issues in STEM education. You will explore the contexts and key theoretical and professional debates in STEM education including new ways of thinking about STEM within a school curriculum and as a teacher. You will also enhance your STEM content and pedagogical knowledge, through a critical examination of new and emerging approaches to engaging students in STEM education and hands-on activities. You will consider the implications of seeing knowledge as distributed and dynamic on your own pedagogical practices.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to meet the APST teahcing standards by demonstating the following capabilities

   AITSL Standards
1. Articulate concepts and contemporary issues in STEM education, contexts and systems.  2.1
 2. Extend your current knowledge, skills and abilities as a STEM educator.  2.1
 3. Synthesise STEM content and pedagogical content knowledge to develop authentic STEM learning sequences for primary children.  1.3, 1.5, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1
 4. Discuss major theoretical and professional debates in STEM education as located within contemporary research.  


In this course you will develop the following program learning outcomes:

  • Critically analyse and apply educational research to your professional practice, demonstrating inclusive, learner focused, evidence-based teaching.
  • Consolidate and synthesise expert content and pedagogical knowledge and judgement to develop highly effective and innovative teaching skills in an area of specialisation.
  • Demonstrate a capacity for critically reflective practice including social, environmental and cultural professional awareness in both local and global contexts.
  • Communicate and engage professionally and ethically with students, colleagues, parents, carers and education stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
  • Show commitment to ongoing professional learning, particularly in relation to meeting the Australian Graduate Standards for Teachers.

 


Overview of Learning Activities

Your learning in this course will involve a range of activities including workshops, practical activities, individual tasks, collaborative group work, excursion, discussion and individual reflection.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT University will support your access to learning resources for this course. Readings from current educational literature will be provided through your online course site and will be drawn from highly regarded academic journals, books and conferences as well as reports, websites and other online resources. The University Library provides extensive scholarly resources to supplement your suggested readings and research and is able to request books or articles from any library in the world. Guides to the literature in your discipline area are available from http://rmit.libguides.com/sb.php?subject_id=67929 Assistance with referencing and avoiding plagiarism is available here Page 3 of 6 http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing The Library and the Study and Learning Centre are also on hand to support and assist in the development of your academic skills to make best use of such resources within your academic studies. http://www1.rmit.edu.au/library 


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you meet the course learning outcomes and on your development against the program learning outcomes. Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning. You will be able to develop your work in relation to your own specific areas of interest in your professional practice.

AT1: The what, why and how of STEM education (50%) Articulate your understanding of STEM education, with reference to current literature and education debates CLO1, CLO4.

AT2: STEM scope and sequence outline and pitch (50%) Design a STEM scope and sequnce for teaching a year group of your choice from 3-6. Include a description of the dominant pedagogical paradigms that underpin the scope and sequence, teaching pedagogy that promotes conceptual development and addresses students' possible alternative conceptions. CLO2, CLO3. (Group task). 

Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or the Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions which are available for review online: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment