EDUC 7070 - Contemporary Issues in STEM Education

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

The skills and understanding to engage with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are essential for a prosperous society. This course focuses on contemporary issues in STEM education across a diverse range of contexts. Students will analyse and evaluate how STEM education can stimulate innovation and create knowledge-based learning communities. Students will assess the efficacy of a range of approaches to STEM education and their impact on educational engagement and learning.

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Course Details

Course Code	EDUC 7070
Course	Contemporary Issues in STEM Education
Coordinating Unit	School of Education
Term	Semester 1
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assessment	Literature Review 40%, Essay 60%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Brendan Bentley

School of Education
Faculty of Arts
The University of Adelaide
Level 8.22, Nexus 10 Tower
Adelaide SA 5005
T: +61 (0)8 831 36824
E: brendan.bentley@adelaide.edu.au

View Dr Brendan Bentley's Researcher Profile here

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to: *APST (Lead)

1	Analyse and evaluate contemporary issues in STEM education.
2	Analyse and evaluate how STEM education creates innovative knowledge-based communities.
3	Compare and contrast the efficacy of different approaches to STEM education in created positive learning outcomes.

* Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST): https://www.aitsl.edu.au/teach/standards

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)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1, 2, 3.
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	1, 2, 3.
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	1, 2, 3.
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1, 2, 3.
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1, 2, 3.
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	1, 2, 3.

Learning Resources

Required Resources

All readings for this course will be made available upon enrolment via Leganto course's MyUni page.

Online Learning

This course is delivered in blended mode and MyUni will be used extensively in this course for announcements, resources, and assessment. Students are expected to be actively checking the MyUni course page regularly for announcements, lecture slides, general course information, assessment details, intensives preparation, additional readings and suggested links. Please ensure you access the MyUni course page before the start of semester. This is your responsibility.

Learning & Teaching Modes

This is a blended course delivered in two two-day on-campus intensives on Fridays and Saturdays (9 – 5pm) with regular online activities to support student learning. Before and after each intensive, weekly discussion forums will strengthen your critical thinking skills and create class community. Intensives are highly interactive and may include expert guest speakers.

Workload

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

Delivery or Engagement Mode	Hours
Face-to-face intensive workshops (4 full days)	30-32 hours
Online discussion	6-8 hours
Assignments, reading and research (Approx 12 hours per week)	120 hours
TOTAL	156 hours

*A total of 80% attendance at both intensives is a requirement for students to pass this course. Attendance at Intensives is a coursework requirement.

Learning Activities Summary

Intensive 1
Module	Topic
1	What does the 'STEM' in STEM education mean?
2	Why has STEM and STEM Education become so important-the big issues?
3	National and international STEM and STEM education influences-policy and curriculum.
4	A policy review of your own STEM education program.

Interactive Online Activities
Modules 5 - 9 (Interactive discussions on MyUni) Topics include: 21st century skills-what does this mean? Developing a STEM education conceptual framework, Problem based learning versus direct instruction, integration versus Silo teaching

Intensive 2
Module	Topic
10	Constructivism/Cognitive Load Theory/Problem Based Learning.
11	What is happening in your pedagogical backyard-an interrogation of your own practices?
12	The pedagogical 'Sweet Spot' in approaches to teaching STEM education.
13	Future Directions in STEM education.

Interactive Online Activities
Modules 14 - 18 (Interactive discussions on MyUni) Topics include: Sharing best STEM education practice, building a STEM Education rich innovative knowledge-based community.

* PLEASE NOTE: This course is taught in blended intensive mode.
Modules are not weeks and may be subject to change. Refer to MyUni for
the start date for the course.

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

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

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Learning Outcome	APST (Lead)
2000-word Literature Review	Summative	35%	1, 2
2000-word Research Essay	Summative	45%	1, 2, 3
Discussion Forum (x4)	Summative	20%	1, 2, 3

Assessment Related Requirements

*A total of 80% attendance at both intensives is a requirement for students to pass this course. Attendance at Intensives is a coursework
requirement.

Assessment Detail

Assessment Task	Description	Due Date
Literature Review (2000 words; 35%)	After reflecting on the many discussions and initial readings/articles/reports during the first intensive choose in consultation with your lecturer a contemporary topic/issue from the field of STEM education (schools and/or higher education) that interests i.e.policy, pedagogical approaches. Articles and reports should identify only historical documents that are post 1980 and should predominantly detail contemporary content, which is considered within the last 10 years. Your literature review should contain only peer-reviewed articles. Your review should determine: What has already been written on a topic Provide an overview of critical concepts Identify major relationships or patterns Identify strengths and weaknesses Identify any gaps in the research Identify any conflicting evidence About the task: A literature review: provides an overview of information available on a subject identifies the main authors in the subject area evaluates the ideas in the sources included (rather than just describing them) includes your own interpretation of the findings. Please note: APA, Harvard, Vancouver or style can be used for referencing. Ensure you are consistent with your chosen referencing style throughout your paper. Please refer to the University of Adelaide Referencing Guides for assistance. Refer to MyUni ng rubric. Students will complete a total of 6 hours’ worth of discussion boards over the duration of the course.	Refer to MyUni
Research Essay (2000 words; 45%)	You are required to present a position paper (Research Essay) to be presented at the next International STEM conference comparing and contrasting the efficacy of different models/approaches that are currently adopted by STEM education programs in schools and/or higher education either nationally or internationally. Write your paper critiquing at least three (3) approaches that aim to impact and create positive STEM learning outcomes, putting forward the case to support or reject the integration of these STEM approaches in your own school and/or classroom. A topic developed in consultation with your lecturer. About the tasks: A common form of university assessment is the essay. The purpose of essays is for you to demonstrate your understanding of certain key concepts associated with your course and communicate this understanding in a formal, structured way. Essays involve more than simply repeating information from your readings and lecture. They require analysis rather than description, as well as an evaluation of the material and the formation of an argument or interpretation of the set topic. Please note: APA, Harvard, Vancouver or style can be used for referencing. Ensure you are consistent with your chosen referencing style throughout your paper. Pleaserefer to the University of Adelaide Referencing Guides for assistance.	Refer to MyUni
Discussion Forums (20%)	There are eight (8) discussion forums for this course. Four (4) discussion boards will be assessed where your comments will be assessed using a marking rubric. Students will complete a total of 6 hours’ worth of discussion boards over the duration of the course. The focus of the discussion forums is to analysis and evaluate the role STEM education plays in creating and nurturing innovative knowledge-based communities.

Submission

You must submit an assessment task in accordance with the specified deadline, format and lodgement instructions, except as provided in the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy. All submissions will be via MyUni. Specific information will be provided in the Assessment instructions for each item online. Students will be required to upload all written Assignment via Internet-based plagiarism detection service turnitin on MyUni.

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
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator