The Practice (PCK) of Teaching Science and Technologies (11780.1)

Required texts

• Campbell, C., & Howitt, C. (Eds.). (2023). Science in Early Childhood (5th ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009339766
• Albion et al., (2022). Technologies Education for the Primary Years 2nd Ed. Cengage Learning, Australia.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Approval of extenuating circumstances will be dependent upon the production of supporting documentation and at the discretion of the unit convener.

All assessment items required to be submitted online must be submitted via the appropriate Canvas drop box. It is the student's responsibility to upload the correct and corresponding draft or assessment item to the right submission section. Assignments must be submitted in a format accessible to the assessor(s), as stated on the relevant canvas site. If the unit convener and/or tutor are unable to access a submission, a standard late penalty of 5% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day until the assignment is made accessible.

It is important to note that no part of an assignment submission has been submitted for assessment in any other unit in this or another Faculty, except where authorised by the lecturer/s concerned.

When developing your lesson plans, it is encouraged that you are using your skills in lesson planning and design to create engaging and rich lesson resources. Using materials from commercial sites such as TPT, Twinkl, Sparkle Box etc. is not desirable in this unit. If you adapt resources from commercial sites and sources, please note this in your lesson planning and resource development.

Special assessment requirements

An aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit. It is imperative that all assessment tasks are submitted.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Provision of valid documentation

Please note that the University takes student conduct very seriously. All documentation provided to University staff must be valid and the provision of fraudulent documentation carries with it potentially serious consequences, including suspension and/or exclusion from the University. Note that all allegations of student misconduct will be referred to the Associate Dean for Education (ADE) as a prescribed authority for investigation.

Learner engagement

Reading and private study: 50 hours

Workshop and online participation: 50 hours

Assessment tasks: 50 hours

Participation requirements

Active participation in the face-to-face classes is required in order to demonstrate the achievement of learning outcomes.

Attendance at all scheduled sessions in this unit is compulsory and absences could result in a fail. All absences need to be supported by appropriate documentation (e.g. medical certificate).

Successful engagement with all learning activities in this accredited Initial Teacher Education course is necessary to demonstrate that you have met the Graduate career stage of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL, 2011).

It is recognised that sometimes absence is unavoidable. If you are absent for more than two sessions, however, your engagement with the unit could be considered unsatisfactory.

Your participation in both class and online activities will enhance your understanding of the unit content and therefore the quality of your assessment responses. Lack of participation may result in your inability to satisfactorily pass assessment items.

Required IT skills

It is an expectation of this Unit that Pre-Service Teachers can present all submissions in a word-processed format. Students should keep copies of all submitted work. Students should also become familiar with Microsoft/Apple applications such as: Excel, PowerPoint and Word or equivalent Mac applications.

Artificial intelligence services must not to be used for assessment or assessment preparation by students unless explicitly allowed in the assessment instructions for an assessment task published with the assessment task and/or in the unit outline. That is, an artificial intelligence service may only be used if:

• its use is authorised by the unit convener as part of a specified
  assessment task, and
• it is used in the way allowed in the assessment instructions and/or unit outline, and
• its use is appropriately referenced, meaning that students must reference the use of AI in their assessment in the same way as they reference other source material.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

This unit differs from additional PCK units delivered across the UC Faculty of Education. There is no placement aligned with this unit. All tutorials will be delivered face-to-face on campus. 

Additional information

This unit will provide Pre-Service Teachers with opportunities to reflect on the research and theories which underpin the teaching of Science and Technologies. PSTs will further develop their understanding of how students learn, with a particular focus on inquiry pedagogical approaches, relating to teaching and learning in the Australian Curriculum: Science and Technologies. 

• Semester 1, 2024, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (217190)
• Semester 1, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (211624)
• Semester 1, 2022, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (209831)