Pedagogy Map Junior Science

General Capabilities Summary

Literacy

Students use literacy skills to comprehend and compose multimedia texts.

Students understand that language varies according to context.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Capability
Students use ICT capability to access information, collect, analyse and
represent data. Technology can be used to represent content to improve
understanding through animations and simulation.
Numeracy
Students are introduced to measurement and later consider issues
relating to uncertainty and reliability in measurement. Later, students are
exposed to statistical analysis of data.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Students develop critical thinking as they learn new knowledge and use it
to evaluate situations and solve problems. Students develop creative
thinking abilities by posing questions, making predictions and solving
problems.

Personal and Social Capabilities

Students develop personal and social capabilities through science as they
see content is relevant to their everyday lives. Learning scientific content
enhances students ability to question, explore and enquire which in turn
allows students to make better informed decisions.

Intercultural Understanding
Students learn to appreciate the contributions to science from a diverse
range of cultures. They become aware that scientist are working in teams
that are increasingly diverse culturally.

Ethical Understanding
Students judge the ethics of experiential science, codes of practice and
scientific information and use scientific information to evaluate ethical
issues.

Pedagogical Context
Literacy
Low end pedagogy: Students are shown scientific terms and asked to write
them down
High end pedagogy: Students explore the origins of scientific terminology
and derives insight from their research
ICT Connection: Students develop computer literacy in order to act as part
of the online scientific community, through online research, collaboration
and to use online scientific tools.
In my classroom: Literacy will be emphasised in my classroom by ensuring
students know the correct spelling of words, use correct grammar so as
not to confuse the scientific messages they are trying to convey. Students
will be taught the importance of using correct terminology in the right
context.
ICT
Low end pedagogy: a lecture is given to students about how computers
can carry out complex scientific calculations.
High end pedagogy: students explore various computer software packages
and/or apps to complete scientific problems and determine which ones are
best suited to solving various problems
In my classroom: Within the bounds of budget constraints students will be
given access to the technologies that make learning and using scientific
concepts easier. These can include apps, modelling software, excel and
hand held calculators to name a few.

Numeracy
Low end pedagogy: students are shown basic equations needed and how
they are used to solve problems.
High end pedagogy: Students research how various equations are used
together to solve real world problems.
ICT Connection: Students use equation solving software to develop a
better understanding of the numbers involved in scientific equations.
In my classroom: Numeracy plays a paramount role in scientific practice.
Without accuracy in number manipulation the end solution to not be
obtained successfully. This will be reinforced both verbally and in the
marking of summative and formative assessment.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Low end pedagogy: Teachers give examples of how creativity and critical
thinking can be used in science to solve problems.
High end pedagogy: students are presented with unfamiliar problems that
require leaps in thinking in order to determine what combination of
scientific equations and concepts are necessary to determine a solution.
ICT Connection: Students think creatively to use ICT tools in new ways to
assist them in solving scientific problems. Students increase the speed
with which they can solve problems by incorporating ICT tools in to their
study.
In my classroom: Students will be encouraged to challenge themselves
with difficult scientific problems, with key pieces of information being left
out in order to push students to make creative connections between
various scientific concepts.

Personal and Social Capabilities

Low end pedagogy: Teachers relate how students can use scientific
concepts in real life
High end pedagogy: Student relate to teachers how the concepts they
have learnt can be used in in their future lives, giving examples and
commenting on and improving other students ideas.
ICT Connection: Student use ICT tools to connect with the wider scientific
community to discuss ideas and solve problems.
In my classroom: Students will be given examples of where the scientific
content is used in real life, provided with real life questions to answer and
challenged to give their own examples of where content is used in
everyday life or in profession specific contexts. Students will be shown
how through science students can improve their own lives and the lives of
those around them.

Intercultural Understanding
Low end pedagogy: Teacher asks students to read text on the origins of
scientific concepts
High end pedagogy: Students research differences and similarities
between how scientific concepts are learnt and used in different cultures.
ICT Connection: Students are able to discuss scientific ideas with people of
different cultures and can have scientific texts from other languages
translated in an instant.
In my classroom: Students will be shown that the way scientific knowledge
is used in our culture is not the only way that science can be used.
Students will also develop an understanding that the way science is
viewed as a whole varies between cultures from being revered in some to
being shunned in others.

Ethical Understanding
Low end pedagogy: Teacher explains to students how science can be used
to assess ethical issues.
High end pedagogy: Students chose an ethical issue they would like to
explore and discuss how they can use scientific concepts to better
evaluate and ethical issue.
ICT Connection: Students have a wider range of scientific ethical issues to
comprehend and take a position on due to the infiltration of technology
into modern society.
In my classroom: Students will develop an understanding that with
scientific knowledge comes a greater ability to assess ethical issues.
Students will be pushed to relate the scientific content to ethical issues
within society and asked to comment on how their acquired knowledge
has changed their stance on particular ethical issues.