Handbook home
Informal Science Communication (EDUC90952)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Online
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
February
Overview
Availability | February - Online |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines the intersection between science and culture as it is experienced and communicated by individuals, groups and institutions, in particular, in settings such as museums, zoos and science education centres. Science communication is critical in these present times, for educators, media specialists, scientists, businesses and industries and for every citizen. At a time when there is increased participation in communication through personal, social and mobile technologies, an understanding of both your place and potential as an interpreter and communicator of science is essential. This subject will provide you with the benefits of skills that will assist you to interrogate our contemporary culture and the place of science within it. These skills would include the means by which to question and respond to the communication challenges inherent in such agendas as the promotion of science, the constructing of public awareness and knowledge of science and the developments of critical, scientifically literate citizens. These skills will be developed in settings that are set up to promote these agendas, that is, museums, zoos and science education centres, culminating in a personal understanding of your own capacities and opportunities in the field of science communication.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able to:
- Critique understandings of the range of cultural factors that can impact on everyone’s daily perspectives and experiences of science
- Evaluate and apply an informed understanding of the ways science is represented in a variety of informal settings
- Evaluate and apply a theoretical framework to critically interrogate issues identified as arising from the place of science in our culture
Generic skills
- Critical reasoning and thinking
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Evidence based decision making
- Creativity and innovation
- Teamwork and professional collaboration
- Self-reflection, career awareness and lifelong learning
- Active and participatory citizenship.
Last updated: 10 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students admitted to courses/entry points not specified below have no prerequisites for this subject.
Students in the 200-point program of the Master of Education, Master of TESOL or Master of Modern Languages Education, must have completed the following four compulsory subjects*:
All of
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
EDUC90929 | Understanding Education in Context |
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
Semester 1 (Online)
|
12.5 |
EDUC90930 | Local Literacies in Global Contexts |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
EDUC91029 | Understanding the Student as Learner |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
EDUC91030 | Research in Educational Relationships |
Semester 1 (Online)
Semester 2 (Online)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
*Students that commenced their course prior to 2021 may have completed EDUC90830 in place of EDUC91029, and EDUC90900 in place of EDUC91030:
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
EDUC90830 | The Student as Learner |
Term 3 (Online)
Term 1 (Online)
|
12.5 |
EDUC90900 | Resilience and Relationships |
Term 1 (Online)
Term 3 (Online)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 10 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
3 structured response tasks (500 words for seminar 4, 1000 words for seminar 5, and 500 words for seminar 6)
| From Week 4 to Week 7 | 40% |
Oral report (equivalent to 1000 words)
| Mid semester | 20% |
Final report
| End of semester | 40% |
Hurdle requirement: Minimum of 75% attendance at all tutorials, seminars and workshops. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 10 February 2024
Dates & times
- February - Online
Principal coordinator Jan van Driel Coordinator Susan Long Mode of delivery Online Contact hours 24 hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2022 to 9 April 2022 Last self-enrol date 7 March 2022 Census date 11 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 1 April 2022 Assessment period ends 30 April 2022 February contact information
Last updated: 10 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of TESOL Course Master of Modern Languages Education Course Master of Education Specialisation (formal) Mathematics and Science Education - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 10 February 2024