| CODE | MSS1008 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Science in the Community 1 | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Mathematics and Science Education | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit explores the learning opportunities and communication methods that are found in spaces that are typically defined as leisure venues rather than learning spaces. As informal learning gains in prestige and relevance, alternative sites for learning, such as gardens, zoos and aquaria, have extended their educational provision beyond the basic visitor information available on site. Participants will be introduced to philosophical, historical, psychological and sociological dimensions of informal sites for education. The study-unit examines museums and other sites as educational institutions, the historical development of such education, strategies for teaching and learning from material culture and the formation of museum collections and their diverse audiences. The study-unit includes field experiences through which the participants will review and evaluate the potential of selected sites as locations that may offer opportunities for informal learning. Study-Unit Aims: - To fully appreciate that a lot of learning occurs in out-of-school settings. - To consolidate the participants’ interests in informal education and learning that occurs in community places such as museums, science centres, animal parks and botanical gardens. - To explore and critically appraise the educational potential of community sites. - To provide a practical experiences at local informal settings. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - distinguish between informal, non-formal and informal leaning; - categorise the various informal learning sites and events; - examine the informal learning potential of various sites in Malta; - discuss how individuals and other organisations can be effective in making museums and other sites as places for interactive informal learning; and - review effective communication strategies in informal learning sites. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - criticality assess communication and learning in informal educational sites; - evaluate the design and provision of educational programmes in such sites; - critique traditional views of learning in informal contexts and to offer modern alternative perspectives on such learning; and - design and evaluate a short survey study to assess the effectiveness of communication and learning at a selected exhibit or area in a site of choice. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text: Patricia G. Patrick (Ed),(2017) Preparing Informal Science Educators: perspectives from science communication and education. Springer International Publishing. Supplementary Reading: Simon Beames, Peter Higgins & Robbie Nicol (2012). Learning Outside the Classroom. London: Routledge. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Placement | ||||||||
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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