2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC2107 Science Education: Issues and Challenges

10 creditsClass Size: 25

Module manager: Professor Jim Ryder
Email: j.ryder@education.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students will normally be expected to have at least one A-level (or equivalent) science qualification.

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

In this module you will explore a broad range of issues, and associated challenges, within science education. You will learn about historical developments in science education, how young people think about science concepts, and approaches to teaching/learning science. You will examine these issues will be examine in school, university and informal education contexts (e.g. museums and science centres).

Objectives

The objectives of this module are to enable students to:
1. Explore a broad range of issues within science education, and locate these in an historical context
2. Examine these issues in a range of contemporary formal and informal science education contexts
3. Consider different approaches to teaching/learning science
4. Engage with the design and findings of seminal research studies in science education
5. Explore a specific issue within science education of interest to them, by visiting either a school, university or informal science education context

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students will have an increased understanding of:
a) Key issues in science education curriculum and assessment
b) The historical development of science education
c) Science education within formal school science contexts and informal education contexts (e.g. museums and science centres)
d) The different ways in which young people understand science concepts and alternative approaches to teaching/learning science
e) The design and outcomes of research in science education contexts

Syllabus

The content of the module comprises:
- Science education in an historical context
- The school science curriculum
- How young people think about science concepts
- Assessment in science education.
- Approaches to teaching/learning science
- Science education in informal education contexts (e.g. museums, science centres)
- Insights from science education research

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	1	4.00	4.00
Group learning	2	2.00	4.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	2	2.00	4.00
Private study hours			78.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Pre-reading tasks will be provided for each lecture. The two seminars and educational visit will also require preparation time.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	Based on an educational visit to school, university, information education setting	50.00
Essay	2000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

For resits, the verbal presentation will be replace by a written submission only.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/02/2018

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