Curriculum Studies - Integrated Sciences

CRS441 Curriculum Studies - Integrated Sciences deals with science as it characterises primary and secondary school curricula. Science can be an uncomfortable topic in many Christian schools, sometimes being seen as the basis for a secular worldview that the school explicitly exists to challenge. The way that some people use science in irritating and distressing attacks on faith makes such suspicion understandable. However, many of these disputes rest on naïve and simplistic accounts of both science and faith. Science is an important part of contemporary life and a compulsory part of schooling, so those responsible for teaching it require a deeper understanding of such issues than may be the case for others, within the contexts of teaching and learning that they share with their fellow teachers. CRS441 integrates concern for such issues with teaching practice in contemporary Christian schools. 

Awards offering Curriculum Studies - Integrated Sciences

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Critically evaluate key policy and curriculum issues.
2. Analyse specific issues relevant to teaching science in schools according to one’s understanding of key curricular and system factors.
3. Defend practice within parameters set by school and system policies and current Education Authority mandates using the current educational literature.
4. Develop lesson plans and programs for teaching Science at the secondary level of National and local science syllabi, within schools sharing a Christian or alternate worldview
5. Consider the integration of aims, objectives, content, outcomes and banded statements of learner achievement in the planning of coherent science lessons.
6. Plan coherent science units of work that integrate objectives, content, outcomes and banded standards of achievement.
7. Assemble a range of appropriate strategies, technologies and resources for teaching and assessing Science units.

Subject Content

1. What makes ‘science’ different?
2. Teaching science Christianly 1: Science/Religion debates
3. ‘Curriculum’: Teacher planning within national, state and local prerogatives.
4. ‘Evaluation’: Assessment, reporting & accountability.
5. ‘Taxonomies’: useful tools for planning repeatably effective lessons
6. Literacy in Science
7. Teacher skills and science activities
8. Pupil misconceptions
9. Planning effective science units
10. Assessing science achievement
11. Integrating assessment and learning
12. Teaching science Christianly 2: Controversial issues in science classes

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Face to face (onsite)
• eLearning (online)

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

• Productive engagement in Forums and Tutorials (25%)
• Essay (15%)
• Forum posting of Lesson Plans (20%)
• Unit of Work (40%)

Prescribed Text

• References will include the most current curriculum requirements for schools.

Check with the instructor each semester before purchasing any prescribed texts or representative references.