1997 QUT Handbook

will use such things as local and wide area networks, electronic
information services, Internet, and the World Wide Web
to participate in global and local communities and contribute
to the resources available to these communities.
Courses: ED52, ED51
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB394 CHOOSING SOFTWARE FOR
EDUCATIONAL CONTEXTS
Through an examination of specific items of educational software,
students will develop a set of criteria for evaluating such
software. Software will include computer-based learning and
computer-based managed learning materials, multimedia
materials delivered via CD-rom or other computer-based media,
and software designed to promote the development of
higher order thinking and communicative skills.
Courses: ED52, ED51
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB395 MARINE STUDIES
An understanding of interactions between humans and the
marine environment are crucial if we are to maintain a viable
ecosystem. We use the marine environment for both pleasure
and for survival. As individuals we obtain food, leisure and
relaxation from the sea, as a society we exploit its resources,
use it for transport and deposit effluent in it. This unit explores
in a theoretical and practical way the development of
curriculum that helps learners come to understand the issues
concerned with marine studies.
Courses: ED50
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB411 EARLY CHILDHOOD MATHEMATICS
TEACHING, LEARNING & ASSESSMENT
Theoretical background and research; logical sequence of
mathematics and children’s cognitive development; content
and learning experiences for early childhood; integration and
application.
Courses: ED26, ED61
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB414 LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS USING
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
In this unit, students will explore the contribution that advanced
information technologies can make to teaching and learning.
Students will gain exposure to applications of technology such
as multimedia materials and authoring software, the Internet,
the World Wide Web, and CD-rom based materials. They will
be required to apply these to a variety of curriculum settings.
Courses: ED50
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB417 ASSESSING THE MATHEMATICAL &
SCIENTIFIC ABILITIES OF STUDENTS
This unit focuses on the identification, investigation and assessment
of the mathematical and/or scientific abilities of students
and the examination and implementation of strategies for
enhancing and modifying those abilities. This unit has a major
practical and research oriented component generally undertaken
in a school setting. The mathematical and/or scientific abilities
of studies can be related to any secondary subject.
Courses: ED50
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB418 CREATING MULTIMEDIA
ENVIRONMENTS FOR TEACHING & LEARNING
The use of interactive technology in the teaching/learning processes;
approaches to and uses of computer aided learning including
hypermedia authoring systems such as Hypercard and
Toolbook and their application in multimedia environments. Students
will be involved in designing and producing an interactive
learning environment using appropriate authoring software.
Courses: ED51
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB419 MAPPING CHILDREN’S LEARNING OF
MATHEMATICS
This unit will focus on strategies and techniques for mapping
children’s range of knowing, knowledge building and reason-
ing in mathematics; and for using this to provide a framework
for guiding future learning. Students will act as teacher-researchers
in a school based context, working with children to
gain insight into their conceptions of mathematics and its learning
and developing, and implementing programs to enhance
learning.
Courses: ED51
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB429 INITIATIVES IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
In this unit students will have the opportunity to explore alternative
practices in science education, particularly through the
development of research-based project work for children, the
extended excursion or field trip and involvement in community-sponsored
and/or related science activities and events.
An emphasis will be placed on catering for the individual and
providing experiences which fully extend each child, including
the exceptional child.
Courses: ED51
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB440 COMPUTERS & EDUCATION
An overview of microcomputer hardware and software with an
emphasis on the usefulness of various components in schools;
use of educationally valuable application software; critical examination
of a variety of uses of computers in education; the
impact of computers on society and education in particular.
Courses: ED26
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB446 SCIENCE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
Young children are naturally curious and enthusiastic about
their environment. This unit aims to help teachers to develop
the child’s interest in science and to enable children to become
scientifically literate citizens of the future. Topics covered
include the development of process skills and manipulative
skills, theories of learning and development relevant to
the science education of young children, learning experiences
and resources.
Courses: ED26
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDB447 MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM
Recent developments in the teaching and learning of mathematics;
identification of effective curriculum models and
teaching strategies for mathematics; understanding the content
of school mathematics; developing assessment strategies.
Courses: ED26, ED61
Credit Points: 12 Contact Hours: 3 per week
■ MDN619 TECHNOLOGICALLY SUPPORTED
TEACHING & LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
Computer-based software, equipment and educational settings
as technological environments; models of interpreting technological
environments; historical perspective of learning/
teaching technologies; design of technological environments.
Courses: ED13, ED11
Credit Points: 12
■ MDN623 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IN
EDUCATION
The design and development of educational communications
technologies; building World Wide Web, electronic mail, interactive
document and synchronous conferencing servers for
use within educational contexts; managing and adapting client
software for instructional use; policy issues in providing
network-based educational resources; managing innovation
within technological change.
Courses: ED13, ED11
Credit Points: 12
■ MDN624 CURRICULUM STUDIES IN
MATHEMATICS
In this unit students will examine the design, implementation
and evaluation of mathematics curricula. Consideration will
be given to former and current trends in mathematics education
including content, pedagogy and assessment and the roles
of language, technology and affect in the teaching and learn-
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UNIT SYNOPSES