Master in Education - Science Education Specialism – (M.Ed.)

Contents

The taught component contains four modules, with each module containing approximately 25 hours of contact time. Classes are delivered in Trinity College Dublin and are usually taught at weekends. Those students who have attained a satisfactory level in their module assignments progress to the dissertation year. Students are required to submit their dissertation within twelve months normally. This is a research year and the student will be involved in the writing of a dissertation under the guidance of a supervisor.

Course Modules

* Module One: The context of science education

This module will focus on the following themes as applied to science education:

* Characteristics of science education at 1st, 2nd and 3rd levels.
* Examinations and assessment, including the nature of the Junior and Leaving Certificate courses.
* Influences from the history and philosophy of science on science teaching and curricula.
* Relation of school science to the economy.
* Roles of the DES Inspectorate, the Examinations Commission and the NCCA.

* Module Two: Learning theories in science education

This module will focus on the following themes as applied to science education:

* Behaviourist, and constructivist theories.
* The influence of Piaget.
* Curriculum innovations, such as ISCIP, CASE and PEEL.
* Language and learning.
* Information and communication technologies applied to teaching and learning in science.

* Module Three: The student and science education

This module will focus on the following themes as applied to science education:

* Skills and processes in science education.
* Formative and summative assessment.
* Purposes of practical work, its assessment, and its relation to learning.
* Science, technology and society in science curricula.
* The attitudes and opinions that young people have about the science they study in school and about science and technology in wider society.
* Ways in which boys´ and girls´ responses to science vary.
* How students´ responses vary within European and other countries.

* Module Four: Research methods in science education

This module will focus on the following themes as applied to science education:

* Research methods, including questionnaire design, statistical methods for analysing data, ethical issues.

* Examples of large scale international studies, such as ROSE, PISA and TIMSS, and their relevance to Irish science education.
* Critical evaluation of recent research literature.

Teaching and learning strategies

A variety of teaching and learning strategies that may be used include: lecture presentations, group discussion, individual presentations, individual reading and research. Assessment of the taught component is by four written assignments. Throughout there is an emphasis on the critical analysis of issues in science education and the ways in which theory relates to practice.