Real-world science experiences for primary school teachers

News release from the Royal Society of New Zealand

12 September 2011

Real-world science experiences for primary school teachers

Twelve primary school teachers are part way through a teacher fellowship programme which has taken them out of their classrooms and into the world of science and research.

The teachers are all spending the last two terms of 2011 as Primary Science Teacher Fellows, under a scheme administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand and funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation.

Around 80 teachers have been through the Primary Science Teacher Fellowship programme, since it began in 2009.

Under the scheme, teachers take leave from their schools to work with researchers at host organisations and learn more about science and its application.

Host organisations for this group of teachers are UNITEC NZ Ltd, Lincoln University, The University of Auckland, Liggins Institute, Te Mahi a Taiao Ltd, AUT University, Forest and Bird, New Zealand Steel, Massey University, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Tapuae Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society and Taranaki Regional Council.

Their research topics range from aquatic ecology and food crops, to how steel is made and physical exercise in athletes.

Joanna Leaman of the Royal Society of New Zealand says the projects involve the teachers in some interesting hands-on fieldwork, as well as undertaking laboratory work.

“The fellowships are providing really valuable practical experience for these teachers who will take back a wealth of ideas to their schools.”

As well as working with their host organisations, the teachers have leadership and curriculum development days so they can become confident science education leaders in their schools.

“We’re finding that past teacher fellows have gone back to schools with renewed enthusiasm, especially for finding ways to use science to meet literacy and numeracy objectives.”

In addition to the initial placement with a host, the fellowship scheme also funds advisors to work with the schools on the programme for up to a year after the teacher fellows return to their schools.

The impetus for the scheme stems from a report (the National Education Monitoring Project) released in 2008 which highlighted a downwards trend in the attitudes of primary aged students towards science. This found that 37% of the year 8 students surveyed indicated a dislike of science, a sharp rise on the 15% reported in 1999. NZCER research showed only 2% of primary principals felt science was a priority area for their school.

ENDS

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