ESS744 - Teaching Science: Middle Years
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Seamus Delaney |
| Cohort rule: | Students must be enrolled in D304, E779, E763, E765, E377, E762 |
| Prerequisite: | D304 students must have passed 24 credit points of study at levels 1, 2 & 3 with a minimum WAM of 60% E763 and E765 students must have passed: EEE754 plus 1 unit from EEE755, EEE756, EPR721, EPR731, EPR751, EPR781 E377 students must have passed: 4 approved Science units including SLE010, SLE111 All students must have passed ESL010 or SLE010 |
| Corequisite: | Students enrolled in course E765 must complete EPR754 or EPR784 Students enrolled in E377.6, E779: ESL010
|
| Incompatible with: | Nil |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 3-hour on-campus scheduled seminar per non-placement teaching week (approx. 6-7 weeks) 1 x 1.5-hour hybrid online scheduled seminar per non-placement teaching week (approx. 6-7 weeks) |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour online scheduled seminar per non-placement teaching week (approx. 6-7 weeks) 1 x 1.5-hour online scheduled seminar per non-placement teaching week (approx. 6-7 weeks) |
| In-person attendance requirements: | Students who are completing professional experience (placements) are not required to attend lectures or scheduled synchronous sessions during their professional experience (placement). For the most up-to-date advice regarding your professional experience (placement) please see here. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Note:E762 Internship students should not be enrolled in this unit. Please contact Student Services to confirm your course map. | |
Content
This unit focuses on the teaching and learning of middle years science (years 5-10). The principle aim of this unit is to prepare students to teach the intended core science strand content of both the Australian and State-based curricula. Each aspect of this unit will complement other units taken by both the Master of Teaching Secondary and Primary cohorts, including specialisms offered in the Science Education Senior Years units.
Guided and facilitated by your educator, you will explore and critique the literature as it relates to research on students’ understandings of science and implications for best practice in the teaching of concepts and skills in contemporary science classrooms. You will apply your knowledge of structured inquiry approaches to teaching and learning to develop appropriate activities and curriculum for effective science classroom.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Curriculum: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, substance and structure of the content and teaching strategies of middle years science in designing and executing coherent and engaging learning sequences. Apply knowledge of contemporary curricular and pedagogical models and student learning challenges in science to focus on the development of meaningful science knowledge and practice for all students. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving |
| ULO2 | Pedagogy: Communicate and flexibly apply a range of disciplinary-specific teaching strategies (e.g., structured inquiry-based learning, differentiated instruction, practice pedagogies) to develop a positive and supportive learning environment that supports student engagement with and demonstration of deep science learning consistent with curriculum expectations. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Assessment: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the effective design, implementation and interpretation of a variety of student assessment practices including informal and formal, diagnostic, formative and summative approaches. Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of providing timely and appropriate feedback to support student learning. Develop approaches to assessment analysis and reporting to effectively support robust student learning of key science concepts and their application. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication |
| ULO4 | Resourcing: Demonstrate knowledge and competence in selecting, evaluating and strategically using a range of material resources and digital teaching and learning tools to expand learning opportunities to effectively support student engagement and learning in middle years science. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO3: Digital literacy GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO5 | Evaluation: Demonstrate the capacity to critically interpret and evaluate a variety of student assessment data relating to student learning to modify teaching practices. Reflect on and (re-)design effective learning sequences in science utilising contemporary theories of curriculum and pedagogy | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1: Review and Presentation of a Teaching Resource | 3-minute Presentation (1000 words or equivalent) | 20% | Week 4 |
| Assessment 2: Digital Concept Map | 1000 words or equivalent | 20% | Week 7 |
| Assessment 3: Unit Development and Literature Review | 3000 words or equivalent | 60% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for ESS744 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list.
Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.