Considering the Role of Modules

What are the advantages/disadvantages of using modules in teaching

• Modules provide a platform for the teaching that can integrate the goals, content, approach, assessment etc.

• Textbooks are limited to content/concepts and ways to approach these (exercises, practical work, tests).

• Modules allow flexibility - e.g, teacher modification w.r.t change of emphasis, students prior learning, degree of student-centredness

• Textbooks are fixed (the way they are used is controlled by the teacher, but material and its sequence cannot be changed)

• Modules can cater for specific teaching styles (ef degree of student self-development, self-evaluation.

• Textbooks standardise; modules can cater for student’s readiness to learn.• Creating/modifying modules is time-consuming and extracting student specific

materials is expensive (although education technology can overcomes this at the expense of addition teacher load)

• Textbook can provide extensive background/history, and draw on extensive resources. (perhaps crucial for the beginning teacher)

What can a module provide?

• Learning targets for the teacher to consider.• Ideas for initiating the teaching.• Guiding teachers to focus on ‘education through

science’/responsible citizenship/career guidance.• Ideas on student involvement (inquiry-based?).• Ideas/suggestions for the teaching.• Ideas for the assessing (formative/summative).• Additional information/website references.• Student opportunities for self-development; self-

evaluation.

Promoting STS

• Do textbooks have limitations re-STS

• Should learning provide for – relevance, interest, motivation, self-development, familiar, meaningfulness, enjoyment, attitude?

• Can/should modules provide a STS context?

Do Module titles matter?

Can/should a title be motivation?

If so, does it need to be relevant and familiar to students?

Does a title need to include scientific. technologic/informatics concepts?

A motivational title?

What about being - (a) gender bias (b) grade level dependent (c) culturally dependent (d) STS encompassing?

A purely scientific module title

Is this motivational for students?

What do you suggest might be a better title?

Heat Insulation

A possible title – good/bad?

Is this a relevant and interesting title?

Plastic: Good or bad?

Is the title sufficiently socio-scientific?

Mouthwash – Does alcohol really make a difference?

Considering the use of the word ‘best’?

Is this title suitable for a socio-scientific title?

Further considerations for the title

• Can the teaching topic be made motivational by the way the title is expressed?

• Take a look at the TITLES of the next 2 slides• Do you think the topic could be motivational

for students (grade 8 perhaps)?• Do you think one slide is more motivational

than the other?

Should athletes undertake high altitude training?

Running at high altitude High altitude training of football players

A grade 8 biology module on the blood circulation system

Why athletes need high altitude training?

Running at high altitude High altitude training of football players

A grade 8 biology module on the blood circulation system