Introduction
This unit introduces you to the foundations of primary science education. It focuses on the purpose and relevance of science as it relates to everyday life, as well as contemporary issues of sustainability, and how they can be addressed at age-appropriate levels.
This unit develops your scientific literacy alongside your understanding of scientific concepts and big ideas across the four disciplines in the primary science curriculum. It introduces the theoretical and practical basis for science teaching and learning as it is implemented in schools and in the community. This unit draws from constructivist, explicit instruction, socio-cultural, and place-based approaches to teaching science, through guided inquiry, conceptual learning, multimodal representations, hands-on, and interactive methods in relevant contexts.
You will develop skills to integrate learning outcomes, general capabilities, and cross-curricular priorities in the Australian curriculum, to develop and reflect on evidence-informed science learning experiences and lessons. You will also develop strategies to apply inclusive and culturally responsive pedagogies, including First Nations ways of knowing, and how these contribute to understanding the natural world. As part of your emerging professional identity as a pre-service science teacher, you will also engage in reflective practice.
Summary
| Unit name | Primary Science Education 1 |
| Unit code | EPR150 |
| Credit points | 12.5 |
| College/School | Arts and Society Faculty of Education |
| Discipline | Education |
| Coordinator | Doctor Michelle Parks |
| Available as an elective? | Yes |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Introductory |
Sustainable Development Goals
The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on the alignment of the unit with these goals.
Availability
Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the contemporary theories of teaching and learning science for primary school settings.
- Relate the Big Ideas and key scienti¿c concepts to the science curriculum to support the development of scienti¿c literacy.
- Design science demonstrations and lessons appropriate for primary school students.
- Reflect on your emerging professional identity as science educators through ongoing critical reflective practice.
- Communicate in a scholarly manner.
Fee Information
2027 fee information will be available in August.
Teaching
| Teaching Pattern | Online: Weekly online tutorials (2 hours)
On-Campus (Inveresk and Cradle Coast Campuses): Weekly face-to-face tutorials (2 hours) |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Integrated STEM lesson (50%)|Microteaching Demonstration (50%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
It is strongly encouraged you have your own copy of the textbook as it is a foundational resource for the two core units in science education, EPR150 and EPR350. For the remaining required readings, it is important that you have ongoing access to them, so they will be available for a limited loan period from the University of Tasmania Library collection.
|
|---|---|
| Recommended | These materials will be useful to your developing knowledge and understanding of the content in this unit, but you are not required to purchase them. When seeking sources of evidence to support your assignment work, you will find these a useful starting point. These materials are available for a limited loan period from the University Library collection.
Reading Lists provide direct access to all material on unit reading lists in one place. This includes eReadings and items in Reserve. You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.
|
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.