AAU Department of Science and Mathematics Education

AAU Department of Science and Mathematics Education

AAU Department of Science and Mathematics Education – Check Below:
The Academic Year 2003/04 had been a turning point in the history of the Faculty of Education (now College of Education) at the Addis Ababa University. As per the national Teacher Education scheme, the faculty of education restructured itself to house eight more new Departments four of which (Departments of Biology Education, Chemistry Education, Physics Education, and Mathematics Education) are headed by an Assistant Dean for Science and Mathematics Education (SMED) stream (at Arat Kilo Campus). This restructuring was an opportunity for development in the history of teacher education. It mainly created a fertile ground for Mathematics and Science teacher educators to appropriately integrate their subject area knowledge with modern pedagogical skills which the teaching profession demands. This restructuring created and allowed the stream for SMED to address the educational function of the science and mathematics fields. Currently, there are about 14 academic staff members in the Department of Science & Mathematics Education (SMED) of whomfive hold terminal (PhD) degrees and have ranks of assistant and /or associate professor. The rest are pursuing their PhD studies. In line with the national priority, the demand for professional teachers at all levels, researchers in the area of SMED, especially the need to expand and strengthen science and mathematics education requires the attention and collaboration of faculties beyond the college of education as well. Science and Mathematics Education is a potentially rich and virgin area for research and much more is expected of educators in terms of pursuing academic excellence in this regard. Currently, there are three programs, namely, Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (PGDT) in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and physical education; Master’s programs in mathematics education and physics education and PhD in Science and Mathematics Education (SMED).
The Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching is a program that ought to serve as a sequential professional training for those who are graduates in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and physical education and who need to do professional courses in teaching. The trainees have Bachelor of Science degrees in the respective fields, and the program is designed to train teachers in one year. But currently the program is given in two summer programs and one distance program.
The curriculaforMaster’s programs in Mathematics Education and Physics Education were designed to enhance the preparation of instructors for institutions of higher learning, instructional leaders at preparatory and secondary schools, Mathematics and Physics curriculum developers and instructional designers at federal and regional levels, and researchers in Mathematics and Physics Education. Since high quality preparation of the aforementioned Mathematics and Physics educators and experts requires the integration of Mathematics and Physics content, pedagogy and research, courses in the program are designed to extend candidates’ understanding of both mathematics and physics content and issues related to the teaching and learning of that content. Besides, the curriculum is designed to develop the research capability of the candidates.
Now the department is revising the curriculum of Master’s programs of Mathematics and Physics Education in such a way that the specialization courses are designed by integrating pedagogy, content and technology (PCTK). The curriculum of the Master’s program in Teaching Physical Education was designed to enhance the preparation of instructors for Preparatory Schools. In this direction, the department also planned to prepare the Master’s curriculum forChemistry Education and Biology Education.
The present PhD program proposal in the areas of Science & Mathematics Education (SMED), with four tracks, is, therefore, a natural continuation of the previous efforts as well as a response to the nationally-felt needs. This proposal also draws on the doctoral program expansion project of the Addis Ababa University in general and the College of Education in particular. The Government of Ethiopia/Ministry of Education (MoE) has already expressed that there is an increasing demand for qualified educators and researchers with Master’s and PhD degrees in the existing as well as the newly-opened Universities and institutions of higher learning. Moreover, there is an obvious need for high caliber and specialized labor force in the government, public, and private economic and development sectors. Hence, this program envisages addressing the aforementioned needs by offering terminal (PhD) degree in the areas of Science & Mathematics Education in four tracks: Biology Education, Chemistry Education, Physics Education, and Mathematics Education. This program is largely, but not exclusively, for those who have M.Ed or M.Sc degree in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics, and have been giving services in the Universities and / or institutions of higher learning. It also considers other candidates who have been teaching and / or researching in other private and/or public higher learning institutes, consultancy organizations, government and non-government organizations etc.
The objectives of the department are:

• To provide training in diverse fields including mathematics education, physics education, chemistry education, biology education and physical education and research in the area of science and mathematics education;
• To promote educational research in the area of science and mathematics education in the Ethiopian context;
• To produce professionals who can carry out teaching at all levels: researchers, curriculum developers, etc.;
• To provide consultancy and community services in the area of science and mathematics education;
• To meet the needs of clients for diversified, relevant and high quality training programs that contribute to the development of the nation in the fields of science and mathematics education;
• To contribute to the growing body of knowledge about the cognitive and meta-cognitive processes in scientific and mathematical understanding; and
• To influence educational policy and discourse in formal and informal settings through scholarly works in Science and Mathematics education.

AAU Department of Science and Mathematics Education Graduate Profile
a) Profile of the Graduates of Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching (PGDT) Programs
After the successful completion of the graduation requirements, the Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Science and Mathematics (PGDT) candidate will be able to:
1) Facilitate student learning;
2) Assess student learning and use the information for improving teaching practices and student learning;
3) Engage in continuous professional development;
4) Understand education policy and strategies and participate in curriculum and other program development initiatives;
5) Establish and maintain partnership with the school community.
b) Profile of the Graduates of M. Sc Programs
After the successful completion of the graduation requirements, the Master of Science in Mathematics Education candidate will be able to:
1)Conduct educational research on the teaching and learning of mathematics;
2) Conduct, direct, and evaluate issues related to the teaching and learning of mathematics;
3) Develop, implement and evaluate mathematics curricula at all levels particularly at primary and secondary levels of education and teacher education institutes;
4) Be policy analysts and consultants in the fields of mathematics education at regional, national, and international levels and at all levels of education (pre-school, primary, and secondary);
5) Be teachers and researchers in teacher education programs (CTE and PGDT program) specific to mathematics education and preparatory programs; and
6) Be designers of innovations relevant to the teaching and learning process of mathematics, policy formulation, and implementation in the context of Ethiopian education system.
After the successful completion of the graduation requirements, the Master of Science in Physics Education candidates will be able to:
1) Show competency in the teaching of physics content and methodology;
2) Guide and evaluate the work of trainee teachers in secondary schools and teachers colleges;
3) Conduct research on physics content and methodology independently as well as in collaboration and adapt and disseminate research findings on the teaching and learning of physics;
4) Play a part in transforming traditional physics teaching to a research-based physics instruction in schools, teachers colleges, and teacher educating universities;
5) Analyze and design physics curriculum based on sound research findings and ensure that the curriculum meets the requirements of national and international standards;
6) Be academically and professionally competent for advanced study and research in physics education.
After the successful completion of the graduation requirements, the M. Ed. in Teaching Physical Education candidate will be able to:
1) Teach in preparatory schools;
2) Promote skill development in learners who can understand and respect the social and cultural values of the people;
3) Involve their professional knowledge and skill to improve the health status of the society; and
4) Provide professional services for governmental and non-governmental organizations.
c) Profile of the Graduates of PhD Program
After the successful completion of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Science and Mathematics Education (SMED), the graduates can / will:
1) Conduct basic and applied researches in the teaching and learning of science and mathematics.
2) Conduct, direct, and evaluate issues related to the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in general and in their respective tracks of studies in particular;
3) Develop, implement and evaluate science and mathematics curricula at all levels, particularly in their respective areas of specialization;
4) Be policy analysts and consultants in the fields of science and mathematics education at national and international levels and at all levels of education (pre-school, primary, secondary, and tertiary);
5) Be instructors and researchers in teacher education programs at all levels; and
6) Be originators of innovations relevant to the teaching and learning process of SMED, policy formulation and implementation in the context of the Ethiopian education system.
AAU Department of Science and Mathematics Education

AAU Department of Science and Mathematics Education Programs in Science