Science Education Internship (9898.3)
| Available teaching periods | Delivery mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| View teaching periods | Placement |
Bruce, Canberra |
| EFTSL | Credit points | Faculty |
| 0.125 | 3 | Faculty Of Education |
| Discipline | Study level | HECS Bands |
| School Of Teacher Education | Level 4 - Undergraduate Advanced Unit | Band 1 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021) Band 1 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021) |
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:1. Enhance their approach to teaching science and understand the implications of this approach for children's learning;
2. Increase their understanding of the required teaching processes for science plus the concepts identified in the Australian Science Curriculum (F-6);
3. Improve their understanding of the nature of science, its relationship to everyday life and its social contexts;
4. Recognise the aims, place and significance of science education within an inclusive whole school curriculum;
5. Develop an appreciation of the contemporary issues in science education;
6. Enrich their understanding of the role that scientific institutions play in the teaching and learning of science; and
7. Heighten their confidence and interest in teaching science to primary school students.
Graduate attributes
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
Prerequisites
Students must have completed 48 credit points including either 12128 STEM Principles or 9899 Scientific Principles, AND 9867 Creative Science Specialist AND 9889 The Practice (PCK) of Teaching Science.Corequisites
Enrolment in the Bachelor of Primary Education (STEM), 322JA.Incompatible units
None.Equivalent units
None.Assumed knowledge
None.| Year | Location | Teaching period | Teaching start date | Delivery mode | Unit convener |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 16 February 2026 | Placement | Mr Benjamin Mudie |
| 2027 | Bruce, Canberra | Semester 1 | 15 February 2027 | Placement | Mr Benjamin Mudie |
Required texts
Recommended texts:
Fitzgerald, A. (Ed.). (2013). Learning and Teaching Primary Science. Cambridge University Press.
Gregson, R. (Ed.). (2012). Connecting with Science Education. Oxford University Press.
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, or if no submission has been made by the due date and time, a standard late penalty of 10% of the total marks possible for the task may be applied per day, for three days, after which the submission will receive a score of ‘0' in keeping with UC's Assessment Policy.
Artificial Intelligence
Students may use generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as indicated in the assessment instructions for this unit.
Additional text:
GenAI may only be used in authorised ways when completing assessments at UC. This means that GenAI can only be used for an assessment when:
- The Unit Convener has authorised its use for that assessment;
- The student uses it in the way that the assessment instructions allow for;
- The student fully acknowledges its use, with appropriate citations and references. Each referencing guide provided by the Library provides advice on how to appropriately reference the use of GenAI in-text.
Where the assessment instructions do not specifically state that GenAI may be used and how, then its use is not allowed for that assessment. If students are unsure, they should seek advice from the Unit Convener.
Students should be aware that the University of Canberra utilises GenAI detection software. Suspected instances of unauthorised GenAI use may lead to a Learning Validation Conversation' designed to provide assurance that a student is able to demonstrate relevant knowledge and skills to meet required learning outcomes. Students who are suspected of having misused GenAI in assessment may be required to attend a summary inquiry for suspected misconduct.
It is strongly recommended that students keep records of the development process for all works submitted for assessment, or drafts of work submitted for a work-in-progress review, in a learning portfolio or equivalent. Failure to provide evidence of the development process for assessment may influence a suspicion of GenAI misuse or other forms of academic misconduct.
The GenAI for Students Library Guide provides further information, including how to reference GenAI.
Special assessment requirements
A minimum aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the unit. In addition, students are also required to obtain an ungraded pass on their mentor's report to pass the unit.
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.
Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.
Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.
UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).
UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.
Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.
Learner engagement
Face to Face tutorials: 12 hours
Internship with external organisation: 21 hours
Reading, contribution to online discussion forums (3), internship related homework, assessment-related activities: 111 hours
Activities relating to administration of internship: 6 hours
Participation requirements
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).
Successful completion of the professional experience placement is critical to success in the whole unit. Students must make themselves familiar with the processes and policies of professional experience. Students must also participate in three Discussion forums as requested.
Required IT skills
It is an expectation of this unit that students 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 services 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.
In-unit costs
Purchase of text/s is the principal cost associated with this Unit, as well as related resource costs for the internship sessions, including transport costs.
Work placement, internships or practicums
This unit involves work integrated learning: Internship. Students must adhere to University policy during WIL activities, including the current Student Conduct Rules, the WIL Policy and WIL Procedure, and the Assessment Policy and Assessment Procedure.
This unit involves an internship placement and hence requires strict adherence to professional practice and principles and ethics. School, student, and/or research participant confidentiality must always be maintained, including for assessment items such as reports or essays etc.
Due to the professional nature of this unit students are expected to wear appropriate clothing/shoes that meet the requirement of the organisation you are working in, for example you may be expected to wear fully enclosed shoes etc. If you are unsure please discuss this with your mentor or the unit convener. Students are also required to wear their UC name badge whilst on placement.
As this is a professional experience/WIL unit and students may be required to undergo a Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) background check to undertake an internship for the unit. Students are responsible for arranging their own checks through the ACT Office of Regulatory Services and should nominate the Volunteer category so that there is no charge.
*Note: that the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act only applies to the ACT. For students undertaking placements in other states or territories, it may be that a Police Check or a Working with Children Check is required.
*Note that this internship is aimed at broadening the student's understanding and is not a paid position.
Additional information
Provision of information to the group
Notifications through CANVAS are deemed to be made to the whole class. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for announcements on the Unit's website (CANVAS messages are also emailed to student email addresses only). Students should ensure they check their student email regularly. Students should also participate in the CANVAS discussion forums which will be checked by staff regularly. NOTE: This is particularly important in this unit as students are off-site and must communicate progress on their internship regularly with the Unit Convener.
Use of student email account
The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes". Therefore all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account.
In all cases of absence, sickness or personal problems it is the student's responsibility to ensure that the unit Convener is informed. The minimum participation requirement must be met in order to pass the unit (regardless of supporting documentation).
Support
If you experience difficulties (professional or personal) associated with your internship, please let your Unit Convenor know.
Research Led Education: This unit involves research-led education and work-integrated learning. There are active researchers delivering this unit who are able to engage students in deep and active learning and transmit to students their passion for the research they are carrying out.
- Semester 1, 2026, Placement, UC - Canberra, Bruce (231562)
- Semester 1, 2025, Placement, UC - Canberra, Bruce (228925)
- Semester 1, 2024, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (218951)
- Semester 1, 2023, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (213007)
- Semester 1, 2022, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (205982)
- Semester 1, 2021, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (200949)
- Semester 1, 2020, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (194018)
- Semester 1, 2019, On-campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (190309)
