EDUC 6542B - Agricultural Science Curriculum & Methodology B

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

The course aims to present information on a range of methodologies and develop a variety of pedagogical skills that will prepare students for the start of their teaching career in Agricultural Science.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code EDUC 6542B
    Course Agricultural Science Curriculum & Methodology B
    Coordinating Unit School of Education
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact 2 hours per week, in addition to a 2 hour common lecture focussing on Assessment and Reporting
    Prerequisites Pass in 6 courses of Agricultural Science
    Restrictions Available to GradDipEd students only
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mark Innes

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Introduce students to Stage 1 and 2 SACE curricula for Agricultural Science
    2 Discuss appropriate teaching/learning methodologies for SACE Agricultural Science
    3 Provide practical workshops for students to observe, gather, and share appropriate Agricultural Science teaching resources
    4 Investigate appropriate topics and depth of knowledge required to fulfil SACE requirements
    5 Support students in their teaching practicums where they involve the teaching of Junior and SACE Stage 1&2 Agricultural Science
    6 Provide workshops for students to gather and share appropriate Agricultural Science teaching resources
    7 Provide workshops for students to participate and observe a range of Agricultural practical assessment tasks
    8 Investigate appropriate assessment tasks and recording methods
    9 Opportunities for practical implementation of the concepts
    10 Give students opportunities to demonstrate their learning in front of their peers
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1,2,3
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3,4,5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 7,8
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 3,6
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 2,4
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 9,10
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1,2,7
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Students are required to attend all lectures which will include lecture material, practical demonstrations and problem solving / discussion time.  
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    There are eight, two hour contact times for this semester. Students should expect that an additional 1 – 2 hours will be required for preparation. At the peak time of assessment, students can expect more time commitment.  
    Learning Activities Summary
    Schedule
    Week 1 Introduction to Ag. Science Curriculum Stage 1 Review of teaching Practicum
    Week 2 Planning an agriculture program Completing a Stage 1 Ag. Assessment plan using SACE website
    Week 3 Here’s how I do it! Animal skills practical (Urrbrae Ag High)
    Week 4 Introduction to Stage 2 Ag. Complete stage 2 assessment plan
    Week 5 Here’s how I do it! Plant skills practical (Urrbrae Ag High)
    Week 6 Ag Committees/Associations Role of Associations: ATASA SACE, PIEF
    Week 7 Agricultural Teaching Information Animal Ethics
    OHS&W for Ag ie.SOPS
    Week 8 Final Session: Review School resources for Ag teaching Review of final teaching practicum
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome
    Individual participation Summative

     Due: End of Semester

    20%  1,2,4 ,6
    Assessment Plan (SACE) Summative  Due: Aug 20th 20%  1,4,5,7
    Individual research Summative Due: Oct 22nd 1000 words (20%) 3,8,10
    Teaching Unit Summative Due: Oct 29th (40%) 5,8,9
     
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment 1: Contribution and active participation in workshops and class exercises

    Assessment 2: Students will submit a SACE Assessment Plan for a stage 1 or Stage 2 agricultural semester subject.

    Assessment 3: Students to research the Animal ethics and OHS&W issues relating to teaching Agriculture in South Australia

    Assessment 4: Students Produce a unit of work that could be delivered by another teacher, to a Junior or SACE Stage 1 Agricultural Science class
    Select a topic from your professional experience which could be studied over approximately12 hours of contact time and homework.
    • Introduction-to provide an overview and identify the recipient group for whom the unit has been written.
    • The aims and essential learning outcomes.
    • Program outline including a suggested teaching sequence.
    • List of resources- include review of CD-ROMs, software packages and relevant Internet sites.
    • Practical activities and demonstrations.
    • Assessment items (include criteria to assess whether objectives have been met). For example a test, and marking scheme.  
    Submission
    Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
    All individual assignments must be attached to an Assignment Cover Sheet which must be signed and dated by the student before submission. Student’s results will be withheld until such time as the student has signed the Assignment Cover Sheet.
    Requests for extensions will be considered only if they are made three days before the due date for which the extension is being sought.

    Unless a Course Outline states otherwise, when an assessment is submitted after a due date, and without an extension, 5% of the total mark possible will be deducted for every 24 hours or part thereof that it is late, including each day on a weekend. For example, an essay that is submitted after the due date and time but within the first 24 hour period, and that has been graded at 63%, will have 5% deducted, for a final grade of 58%. An essay that is more than 24 hours late will lose 10%, etc. Hard copy submissions made after 5.00pm on a Friday will be assumed to have been submitted on the next business day and will be penalised 5% per day for every day including weekend days and public holidays. This penalty may be increased where the assignment is to be completed in a period of less than a week.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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