INS4401: Topics in Biological Science for Primary Science
This course deals with the content knowledge of the topics in Biological Sciences from the Primary Science (2008) curriculum. The topics to be studied include basic biology, classification and diversity of organism (reproduction and life cycles), structure and functions of plant system, structure and functions of animal system, ecology and environmental issues.
INS4402: Topics in Physical Science for Primary Science
This course deals with the theoretical and practical aspects of Physical Science topics from the Primary Science (2008) curriculum. The topics include matter and materials, forms of energy and conversions, heat, light and the solar system, magnetism and electricity and forces.
INS4403: Diversity in Primary Science
The course is designed to equip teachers with the skills to promote pupils’ understanding of key scientific concepts in ‘Diversity’, one of the five themes of the Primary Science (2014) syllabus. It aims to integrate the essential content knowledge with the pedagogical skills of making the knowledge relevant and easy to understand for the primary school students.
INS4404: Cycles in Primary Science
This course seeks to equip participants with the essential content knowledge and pedagogical skills in the teaching and learning of "Cycles", one of the 5 themes of the Primary Science (2008) Syllabus. In addition to the theory, which is inquiry-based, there will be engaging hands-on and minds-on activities on the topics of cycles in plants, animals, matter and water. Practicals will include the life cycles of interesting small organisms like the sea horse and butterfly.
INS4405: Systems in Primary Science
This course seeks to equip participants with the essential content knowledge and pedagogical skills in the teaching and learning of "Systems", one of the 5 themes in the Primary Science (2008) Syllabus. “Systems” involves the teaching of the important concept that a system is a whole consisting of parts that work together. A repertoire of inquiry-based activities and practical examples such as interactive models of plant and animal systems will be used.
INS4406: Interaction in Primary Science
This course seeks to equip participants with the essential content knowledge and pedagogical skills in the teaching and learning of "Interaction", two of the 5 themes in the Primary Science (2008) Syllabus. For the topics in interaction of forces, participants will be given guided-inquiry activities to gain deeper understanding into the world of physical forces and their interactions. Interactions among organisms, interactions between biological, physical and environmental forces, the effects of these interactions on living communities and habitats are very important for the building of a generation with awareness of environmental issues.
INS4407: Energy in Primary Science
This course seeks to equip participants with the essential content knowledge and pedagogical skills in the teaching and learning of "Energy", one of the 5 themes in the Primary Science (2008) Syllabus. This course deals with the topics of energy forms, the uses and conversions of energy. A wide repertoire of inquiry-based activities will be used to enthuse the participants to appreciate the nature and importance of energy in our daily lives.
INS4408: Assessment in Primary Science
This course deals with the theoretical and practical aspects of holistic assessment in the Primary Science classroom. Participants will gain valuable insights on how holistic assessment can support science teaching and learning. The topics to be discussed include purpose of assessment and the principles and strategies for both assessment for and of learning. Participants will also have the opportunity to apply their learning to design and review different assessment tasks.
INS4409: Integration of Primary Science Content Knowledge, Pedagogical and Assessment Practices
This course requires participants to have successfully completed all eight content-cum-pedagogy/assessment courses in the programme. The successful completion of this course is the final criterion for the award of the Diploma. In this course, participants will be tasked with working in small groups to collate and share their collective school-based teaching and learning experiences which are related to the applications of new knowledge and skills gained or mastered when they attended the earlier eight other courses. They will be assessed on the quality of their collaborative group work and a presentation of an individual learning portfolio documenting the various pedagogical evidences of their ability to integrate knowledge and skills into their routine classroom science lessons.