EMS407 Highly Effective Teaching: Primary STEM (8)

STEM education integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in an interdisciplinary and applied approach to learning and teaching. STEM draws on knowledge and skills of the scientific and technical disciplines to pose, ponder and solve complex, real-world problems. To be successful in STEM, children need to be skilled investigators, innovative thinkers, problem solvers and communicators, as well as have confidence in their abilities in STEM, and view STEM as personally relevant and important. In this subject students will be required to develop engaging STEM learning experiences that integrate syllabus content which is applied in project, problem or inquiry-based learning situations that are authentic and contextual. Students will also explore a strengths based approach to differentiate their practice and strategies to integrate the general capabilities such as: critical and creative thinking, information and communication technology capability and personal and social capability into STEM learning experiences.

Availability

Session 1 (30)
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: EMS407. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Education

Enrolment Restrictions

This subject is only available to students enrolled in courses:
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary),
Bachelor of Education (K-12),
Bachelor of Educational Studies, 
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary).

This subject is not available to students enrolled in the Master of Teaching (Primary) course and this subject is not available to students who have completed EMS501.

Students who are undertaking an extended primary curriculum area study in Science and Technology or in Mathematics should complete (EMS207 or EMS406), (EMM209 or EMM418) and EMM410 prior to enrolling in EMS407.

Assumed Knowledge

This subject has assumed knowledge from the following subjects (EMS207 or EMS406), EMM410 and (EMM209 or EMM418).

Incompatible Subjects

EMS501

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to discuss the importance of STEM and STEM education, and the emergent research and policy directions in this field;
  • be able to identify cross-curricular links and describe pedagogical approaches to integrating the learning areas of Mathematics and Science and Technology, as well as the general capabilities, in STEM education;
  • be able to describe and reflect on factors and strategies that foster student and educator engagement and self-efficacy in STEM;
  • be able to describe effective strategies to foster children's STEM capabilities, including knowledge, creativity and innovation, and higher-order thinking skills, within authentic STEM contexts;
  • be able to develop and evaluate quality learning experiences in STEM that use integration, inquiry and project-based learning strategies;
  • be able to design STEM units of work using a framework for effective STEM education and incorporating appropriate use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT), digital technologies, and assessment to facilitate and evaluate learning; and
  • be able to design STEM units of work that support diverse learners and inclusive student participation in STEM learning activities, applying a strengths based approach.

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • STEM and STEM education - real world, authentic, integrated and problem driven
  • STEM educator capacities and dispositions - the importance of educator's own competence, confidence and positive dispositions
  • STEM capabilities - knowledge and higher-order thinking skills, such as critical and creative thinking, innovative thinking and problem solving, and the Australian Curriculum general capabilities
  • STEM engagement - STEM learner motivation and dispositions
  • Opportunities in the primary curriculum for integrating STEM - focus on mathematics/numeracy, science and technology content, processes and skills
  • STEM pedagogies - inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, problem-based learning, conducting investigations, and using ICTs and digital technologies to support STEM education
  • Programming and Assessment in STEM
  • Equity in STEM education and a strengths based approach
  • STEM learning environments, educational leadership, and STEM across the learning journey

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of EMS407 in Session 1 2021. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
The stem learner and a stem learning experience
40
2
The stem classroom and planning for stem education
60

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: May 2022. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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