In this course, participants will develop comprehensive, specialized knowledge of current research and innovations in the development of scientific literacy (content, procedural and epistemic knowledge) and metacognitive skills (planning, monitoring, and evaluating). Participants will also learn to synthesise research-informed strategies to assess scientific literacy progression and be able to critically analyse their effectiveness in their own professional practice environments. Specialised knowledge in assessment strategies will be further developed by developing a critical awareness of best practice of formative and summative assessment. Interns will also build awareness of science concept and skill progression through the development of novel classroom-based assessment strategies that adhere to the relevant UAE standards. Participants will then learn how to critically evaluate assessment and evaluation strategies and how to integrate assessment evidence generated through these strategies into the teaching and learning improvement processes in their professional contexts.
Week 1
Course Overview
Introduction to practical work in science:
Making good practical work happen
Investigation skills: Planning and setting up science investigations in preparation for meaningful assessment.
Required Reading
Week 2
Metacognitive strategies and science assessment
Metacognition and self-regulated learning
Developing metacognitive strategies in science for and through assessment
Required Reading
Avargil, S., Lavi, R., & Dori, Y. J. (2018). Students’ metacognition and metacognitive strategies in science education. In Cognition, Metacognition, and Culture in STEM Education (pp. 33-64). Springer.
Recommended Reading
Tanner, K. D. (2012). Promoting student metacognition. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 11(2), 113-120. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.12-03-0033
Week 3
Analyzing practical activities for learning and assessment potential
Does this activity develop conceptual knowledge, investigative skills and epistemic knowledge?
Required Reading
Recommended Reading
Week 4
Assessing inquiry and investigation skills
Procedural and epistemic knowledge.
Required Reading:
Recommended Reading:
Week 5
Formative assessment /AfL strategies in Science:
What does a Formative-Assessment Centred Classroom look like?
Written and Verbal Feedback linking to effective Success Criteria
Required Reading:
Week 6
Formative assessment Strategies in Science:
Self-regulation and metacognition
Peer and Self-Assessment
Required Reading
Week 7
Formative assessment Strategies in Science:
Reliability and validity of teacher assessments
Required Reading
Chapter 6: Validity in Classroom Assessment: Purposes, Properties, and Principles
Chapter 7: Reliability in Classroom Assessment
Week 8
Summative Assessment Strategies in Science
Designing effective tools
Required Reading
Week 9
Summative Assessment Strategies in Science
Internal and external science exams in the UAE
Preparation for exams
Required Reading
Recommended Reading
Week 10
Using examples for the Science Classroom
Required Reading
Recommended Reading
Week 11
Assessment Informed Teaching and Learning
Integrating assessment evidence into teaching and learning improvements.
Required Reading