Conference 2016

Innovation 3: Science specialisations within primary pre-service programs

Part 1

The importance of effective learning in science and mathematics by primary school students is widely acknowledged. How can pre-service teachers best be prepared to enable this and improve their impact on science and mathematics education in primary school teaching environments?

This session explores the opportunities and challenges of several approaches to science specialisations within primary pre-service programs in various regional and metropolitan settings. Our improved understandings of effective practices through the ReMSTEP opportunity is summarised, and illuminated with case studies illustrating different approaches. These include our preparation of STEM education specialists who may better enable the integration of STEM education within the current curriculum expectations;  and leveraging the support of partnerships with diverse external facilities.

Innovation 5: Opportunities for students to interact with scientists in world class research environments.

Part 1

Increasing incidence of interactions between the scientific community and schools has flowed from a concern to increase students’ engagement with STEM. Students interacting with scientists and mathematicians can inspire and enrich their experience and their knowledge of creative practices in the STEM fields.

This session will describe a range of models linking pre-service teachers (PSTs) with scientists engaged in cutting edge research, as a way of introducing them to contemporary science concepts and practices, and scientists’ lives, and to explore ways of incorporating these innovations into school science.

Findings will be presented of the resources developed, outcomes for PSTs and scientists, and challenges for creating productive interactions. Discussion in the session will centre on the implications of these experiences and findings for schools.

Innovation 1: Contemporary science and maths in integrated science and pre-service units of study

Part 1

This innovation is about integrating the specialist knowledge of practicing scientists, researchers and STEM specialists into the school curriculum and teacher classroom practice with the aim to create greater engagement and subject relevance for students.

A range of approaches will be described that provide pre-service teachers (PSTs) greater competence and confidence in their teaching of science and mathematics.

In particular, two case studies will be presented that will demonstrate PSTs interacting and learning about contemporary science and maths practices.

Innovation 3: Science specialisations within primary pre-service programs

Part 2

Following an overview of Innovation 3 and presentation of further case studies, participants in this session will be invited to engage the presenters in a guided discussion.

The aim will be to critically examine the findings and lessons learnt from the innovation. In this way, practical aspects of implementing these programs can be examined from the perspective of key stakeholders in the primary pre-service teacher (PST) training process.

Innovation 5: Opportunities for students to interact with scientists in world class research environments

Part 2

Following an overview of Innovation 5, participants in this session will engage in a science drama activity that exemplifies this innovation.

One of the challenges of teaching science is how to represent contemporary advances and controversial issues in the curriculum. Stem cells are now key knowledge under cell growth and cell differentiation in the Biology Unit 2 Study Design.

This presentation will introduce and illustrate a range of activities and resources around the teaching of stem cells that were developed by pre-service teachers (PSTs) and teacher educators with the cooperation of a scientist working in the area. These activities draw on contemporary pedagogies such as the use of drama designed to engage students in dealing with scientific practices and ideas as well as stem cell related controversy.

Innovation 1: Contemporary science and maths in integrated science and pre-service units of study

Part 2

Following an overview of Innovation 1, participants in this session will have the opportunity to watch short segments of video about a contemporary mathematical theory and discuss aspects of the mathematics and educational applications in secondary school mathematics.

Preliminary findings on how these videos from both pre-service and in-service secondary maths teachers will be discussed.

Innovation 2: Undergraduate science students engaging with schools

This innovation is about building a pipeline of prospective science and mathematics teachers. Several approaches were taken to give science undergraduate and postgraduate students a taste for teaching, and to gain an insight into a career in teaching.

Two case studies will be presented where undergraduate science and mathematics students were involved in the delivery of outreach activities in primary and secondary schools.

These opportunities gave students a taste of teaching and skills in communicating about STEM. The impact of these programs on various stakeholders – science students, school teachers and students - will be presented.

Innovation 4: Specialist Science and Technology Centre collaborations

Specialist Science Centres are an important feature of the Victorian science and mathematics education scene.

This session describes initiatives under REMSTEP Innovation 4 in which pre-service teachers (PSTs) from the REMSTEP universities have worked with Specialist Science Centres and scientists to explore contemporary science perspectives.

As an exemplar, ‘Reconceptualising Rocks’ involved PSTs working with Melbourne Museum scientists and teacher educators to explore the science of geology and the role of the museum in conservation and communication. The session will present two different models whereby PSTs developed multimedia resources for schools through their interactions with the museum.