EDF5303 Digital foundations of STEM education

This unit builds your capacity in the purposeful and creative use of digital technologies as part of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. You will critically evaluate both practice and research in the use of digital technologies in STEM curriculum. Through practice, you will investigate and design appropriate strategies for the effective integration of digital technologies to support student engagement and learning. Throughout the unit opportunities will be made available to you to develop an understanding of how digital technologies can support STEM education. At the same time you will be exposed to contemporary research and debates regarding the role of digital technologies in STEM, STEM education and education more broadly, including significant issues such as access, equity, content representation, ethics and risk. Theory, research and practice will be brought together and you will be encouraged to practise a critical approach while designing the integration of digital technologies in your STEM education programs. Such an approach includes new and emerging approaches to engaging students in STEM education through digital technologies and practices such as 'making', coding programming, game-based learning, data visualisation and flipped classrooms. In-class activities may include engaging in STEM debates related to pre- and post-class materials as well as practical hands-on applications of digital technologies such as the programming of personal data collection devices or the creation of stop-animation. Pre- and post-class activities may include reading of academic texts, watching 'flipped' class materials such as videos, quizzes, and individual and collaborative creation of digital artefacts. You will engage in hands-on application of digital technologies in relation to STEM education. While the unit requires you to learn how to use digital technologies, it has been designed for all students regardless of your familiarity with digital technologies.