Outline

Overview

This unit examines effective pedagogy and engaging resources relevant to the teaching of Science and Technology in the K-6 curriculum. While the unit focuses on the value of learning through enjoyable tasks with familiar objects, it also emphasises that teaching must focus on the development of conceptual understanding of content in combination with learning skills in working scientifically and working technologically. The unit will include aspects of: 1) lesson planning in science and technology; 2) the selection/ development of learning experiences and resources to cater for student diversity; 3) planning learning sequences and units of work; 4) integrating literacy, numeracy and ICT; 5) organising and managing classrooms to ensure safety and promote meaningful learning; 6) using toys and representations to engage children and support development of scientific thinking and conceptual understanding.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	EDMT5682
Academic unit	Education
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	EDMT5535 or EDMT5008
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points including EDMT5676 or EDMT5500
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Christine Preston, christine.preston@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Reflective journal n/a	20%	Multiple weeks	900 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research guided teaching n/a	30%	Week 03	1300 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Toy trial n/a	50%	Week 07	2300 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Research guided teaching: In pairs, select one of the discrepant events from Workshop 1. List all possible ideas primary students may suggest to explain what happened in the DE. Identify what concepts primary children do and do not need to know that are involved in this particular DE. Summarise research about children’s ideas in relation to the main concepts identified and discuss alternative conceptions which may create barriers to developing correct scientific understanding. Develop a question sequence to guide students to construct a scientific explanation of this DE and identify the types of questions you incorporated into the question sequence.
Reflective journal: Take photos of any teaching and learning tasks you believe is important to your learning as a teacher of primary science throughout the workshops of this unit of study. Select 2-3 photos and write a reflective statement of each. The reflective statement should be personal comments describing why each photograph was significant for you. This can include the people, the equipment or resources, the event or activity, the instructions, your involvement and/or the feelings that made each photograph symbolic or noteworthy.
Toy trial: Select a toy that would be suitable as a learning aid to support primary children’s learning of a science concept. Conduct a voice-recorded individual interview with a primary age student as they interact with and talk-about the toy and complete a drawing to show their understanding of the concept. Transcribe and analyse the interview and analyse the drawing. Summarise the findings from the combined data analysis and compare your findings with published research. Briefly describe and justify 2 hands-on learning experiences that would support, challenge or extend scientific understanding.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	How do students learn science constructively?	Lecture (1 hr)
	A - How do you gain student interest?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	B – How do you plan science & Tech lessons?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 02	What do you know about students' prior conceptions?	Lecture (1 hr)
	A – How can you help students think about forces?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	B – How can you promote inquiry in kindy?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 03	How do you teach skills - working scientifically?	Lecture (1 hr)
	A - How can LEGO aid learning?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	B – How can you teach skills AND concepts?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 04	How can you teach skills – design and produce?	Lecture (1 hr)
	A - Can you make me disappear?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	B – Why does stuff melt?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 05	What do you need to learn about sequencing lessons?	Lecture (1 hr)
	Can toys be teachers?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	How's your chemistry knowledge?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 06	How can you support thinking & concept understanding?	Lecture (1 hr)
	A - Do you know: adaptations?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	B – Do you know: electricity?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 07	How do you assess & report to parents?	Lecture (1 hr)
	A - Coding can you do it?	Science laboratory (2 hr)
	B – You think you can design?	Science laboratory (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Required text: Skamp, K. & Preston, C. (2018). Teaching Primary Science Constructively (6th Ed). South Melbourne: Cengage.
Required syllabus: NESA. (2017). NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum. Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus. NSW Education Standards Authority.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. promote awareness of the contribution of scientific and technological developments to people's daily lives and to the overall personal and social development of children
LO2. devise appropriate learning experiences for children at different developmental levels that guide students' development of values and attitudes, skills, knowledge and understandings of scientific and technological concepts
LO3. develop classroom management strategies to create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments including the effective use of a range of tools and technologies in practical tasks
LO4. identify implications for science and technology education of the various cross curriculum initiatives being implemented in schools and incorporate a range of information and communication technology in the development of learning experiences
LO5. explore a range of teaching resources and practical activities to effectively engage students whilst working technologically including provision for students from diverse backgrounds
LO6. engage with student colleagues to enhance teaching practice by working collaboratively to plan learning experiences for teaching Science and Technology K-6
LO7. demonstrate critical reflection of research findings and issues raised in academic texts and professional journals
LO8. demonstrate professional competence in your written communication skills including academic writing related to the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area of Science and Technology (K-6)
LO9. analyse appropriate toys to identify science and technology concepts and skills that can be used to develop an understanding of, and link such learning to syllabus outcomes
LO10. exhibit enhanced self-efficacy and positive attitudes towards teaching science and technology.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 1.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 1.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching. 2.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area. 2.2.1. (Graduate) Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence. 2.3.1. (Graduate) Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans. 3.1.1. (Graduate) Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics. 3.2.1. (Graduate) Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies. 3.3.1. (Graduate) Include a range of teaching strategies. 3.4.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning. 3.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement. 4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities. 5.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 4.4.1. (Graduate) Describe strategies that support students’ wellbeing and safety working within school and/or system, curriculum and legislative requirements. 4.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 2.6.1. (Graduate) Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students. 4.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant issues and the strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT in learning and teaching. 7.2.1. (Graduate) Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 3.1.1. (Graduate) Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics. 3.2.1. (Graduate) Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies. 3.3.1. (Graduate) Include a range of teaching strategies. 3.4.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning. 3.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement. 4.1.1. (Graduate) Identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities. 4.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate the capacity to organise classroom activities and provide clear directions.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 5.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment strategies, including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches to assess student learning. 5.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of providing timely and appropriate feedback to students about their learning. 5.3.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of assessment moderation and its application to support consistent and comparable judgements of student learning. 6.2.1. (Graduate) Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers. 6.3.1. (Graduate) Seek and apply constructive feedback from supervisors and teachers to improve teaching practices.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 1.2.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching. 3.6.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge of strategies that can be used to evaluate teaching programs to improve student learning. 6.2.1. (Graduate) Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers. 6.4.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate an understanding of the rationale for continued professional learning and the implications for improved student learning.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 3.5.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 2.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area. 2.3.1. (Graduate) Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
	Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) - 2.1.1. (Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Level – UG and MTeach) -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
1.1.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students and how these may affect learning.
1.2.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research into how students learn and the implications for teaching.
1.3.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of teaching strategies that are responsive to the learning strengths and needs of students from diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
1.4.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of the impact of culture, cultural identity and linguistic background on the education of students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
1.5.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of strategies for differentiating teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities.
1.6.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate broad knowledge and understanding of legislative requirements and teaching strategies that support participation and learning of students with disability.
2.1.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of the teaching area.
2.2.1		(Graduate) Organise content into an effective learning and teaching sequence.
2.3.1		(Graduate) Use curriculum, assessment and reporting knowledge to design learning sequences and lesson plans.
2.5.1		(Graduate) Know and understand literacy and numeracy teaching strategies and their application in teaching areas.
2.6.1		(Graduate) Implement teaching strategies for using ICT to expand curriculum learning opportunities for students.
3.1.1		(Graduate) Set learning goals that provide achievable challenges for students of varying abilities and characteristics.
3.2.1		(Graduate) Plan lesson sequences using knowledge of student learning, content and effective teaching strategies.
3.3.1		(Graduate) Include a range of teaching strategies.
3.4.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate knowledge of a range of resources, including ICT, that engage students in their learning.
3.5.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate a range of verbal and non-verbal communication strategies to support student engagement.
5.5.1		(Graduate) Demonstrate understanding of a range of strategies for reporting to students and parents/carers and the purpose of keeping accurate and reliable records of student achievement.
6.2.1		(Graduate) Understand the relevant and appropriate sources of professional learning for teachers.
6.3.1		(Graduate) Seek and apply constructive feedback from supervisors and teachers to improve teaching practices.

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

EDMT5682: Science, Technology and Toys K-6

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect