Introduction
This course introduces constructivist learning theories and conceptual change theories as well as methods to determine alternative conceptions in the context of science learning. It will create greater awareness of the difficulties in learning science, how to diagnose these difficulties, and how to design interventions to address them.
This course is mutually exclusive to MSC904A-C.
This course is part of:
- Graduate Certificate in Science Education
- FlexiMasters in Science Education
Learners must complete the following courses to attain the Graduate Certificate in Science Education (12 AU):
• MSC906 Representations and New Media in Science Education (or MSC906A-C)
Upon completion of the fourth course, MSC902 Science Curriculum Change and Curriculum Evaluation (or MSC902A-C), learners will fulfil the AU requirements to attain the FlexiMasters in Science Education (16 AU).
Course Availability
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Date(s): 18 Jan 2024 to 18 Apr 2024
Time: Thursdays, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Venue: NIE
Registration is closed.
- Understand constructivist learning theories, how learning impediments and alternative conceptions arise, and how conceptual change can be effected
- Use appropriate assessment methods to determine students’/individuals’ alternative conceptions
- Review the research literature on alternative conceptions and conceptual change in selected science topics
- Develop and implement a small-scale study to determine students’/ individuals’ alternative conceptions of selected science topics
- Analyse data and present findings from the small-scale study
- Develop an intervention to address the alternative conceptions of the selected science topics determined
- Constructivist learning theories of students’ knowledge
- Nature of alternative conceptions and learning impediments, and discussion on studies on alternative conceptions in science education
- Approaches to Identify alternative conceptions
- Development and implementation of a small-scale study to identify students’/individuals’ alternative conceptions
- Presentation on the small-scale research study on the identification of alternative conceptions
- Conceptual change and approaches to effect conceptual change
- Discussion of articles on promoting conceptual change
- Development of an intervention promoting conceptual change to address the alternative conceptions identified in the small-scale study
Participants with background and/or experiences in areas related to science education will better appreciate the course contents.
Participants are recommended to take the courses in the sequence A, B, and C as the contents of the latter courses build on the foundations of the earlier courses.
Standard Course Fee: S$4490.80
SSG Funding Support | Course fee | Course fee payable after SSG funding, if eligible under various schemes | |
BEFORE funding & GST | AFTER funding & 8% GST | AFTER funding & 9% GST | |
Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Permanent Residents (PRs) (Up to 70% funding) | S$4,120.00 | S$1,334.88 | S$1,347.24 |
Enhanced Training Support for SMEs (ETSS) | S$510.88 | S$523.24 | |
SCs aged ≥ 40 years old |
- Standard course fee is inclusive of GST.
- NTU/NIE alumni may utilise their $1,600 Alumni Course Credits. Click here for more information.
Note: Course fee payment made before 1 Jan 2024 will be subject to GST at 8%, and payment made on or after 1 Jan 2024 will be subject to GST at 9%.
COURSE TITLE | ACADEMIC UNIT |
MSC902A Lessons from the past: Science curriculum reforms and science learning* | 1 |
MSC902B Overcoming challenges for meaningful science curriculum* | 1 |
MSC902C Evaluating science curriculum for improved outcomes* | 2 |
MSC903A What is science? - Demystifying science | 1 |
MSC903B Drilling deeper: Theories of science as practice | 1 |
MSC903C Overcoming the tensions and challenges for authentic science learning* | 2 |
MSC904A Understanding alternative conceptions in science | 1 |
MSC904B Ways to diagnose alternative ideas in science* | 1 |
MSC904C Investigating and addressing alternative ideas in science* | 2 |
MSC906A Exploring different modes of representing complex ideas in science | 1 |
MSC906B Making sense of science: Unpacking how science is represented | 1 |
MSC906C Constructing representations for teaching science* | 2 |
MSC902 Science Curriculum Change and Curriculum Evaluation | 4 |
MSC903 Science as Practice* | 4 |
MSCC904 Alternative Conceptions and Conceptual Change in Science Learning* | 4 |
MSC906 Representations and New Media in Science Education* | 4 |
Listed courses are:
- Credit-bearing and stackable to Graduate Certificate in Science Education (total 12AUs) and FlexiMasters in Science Education (total 16AUs)
*SSG funded and SkillsFuture Credit approved