Course Resources Archive

This module provides students with the opportunity to develop a strength in Science Education through engagement with the following strands:

Subject knowledge

• Develop an enhanced knowledge of science at their own level
• Develop a good knowledge of science primary school curriculum content

Subject pedagogy

• Develop a good understanding of children’s learning in Science 
• Develop a good understanding of barriers to children’s progress in Science

Critical reflection and analysis

• Develop a critical approach to literature about children’s learning in Science
• Develop a critical and analytical approach to discussing children’s learning in Science

Subject knowledge

• An audit of subject knowledge
• Scientific Enquiry
• Materials and their properties
• Life and living things
• Physical processes

Subject pedagogy

• Critical consideration of constructivist learning theories and theorists, e.g. Bruner, Vygotsky, Holt, Harlen, Naylor and Keogh
• Critical reflection on the limitations and relative strengths of constructivism
• Review research into children’s alternative conceptions, e.g. Nuffield SPACE projects, Selley, Concept Cartoons

Critical reflection and analysis

• Collection of, and reflection on, ‘critical incidents’ from practice that provide insights into children’s learning
• Critique of journal articles related to teaching and learning in science
• Discussion of assignment

On successful completion of this module all participants should have:

1. An understanding of their own strengths and areas for development in science subject knowledge
2. An enhanced level of subject knowledge
3. An understanding of learning theories related to primary science
4. A good understanding of the strengths and limitations of constructivism as a learning theory related to primary science
5. An ability to engage critically with literature about primary science
6. An ability to reflect critically on the learning process

In addition, students operating at Masters level should have:

1. A well developed ability to engage critically with the issues, analyse significant aspects of teaching and learning and synthesise ideas
2. A well developed ability to discuss and critique theories of teaching and learning within science, based upon a wide reading of relevant sources

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.