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My Science Wins B-Hert Award

Making a 'big bang' in primary science

When educational institutions partner together with big business, big things are bound to happen! A science project piloted in 2006 is having an explosive effect on primary-age students and their teachers in Western Sydney. The impacting partnership of the Australian Catholic University, the University of Sydney, the Western Sydney Region of the NSW Department of Education and Training and IBM is changing science education and the results are in – it is a winner!

Education lecturer, Ms Anne Forbes from ACU, Strathfield campus has been pivotal in developing the project while working in partnership with a dedicated team comprising members from the Science Foundation for Physics at the University of Sydney, Western Sydney Region Department of Education and Training, and IBM. Enhancing and supporting the teaching and learning of science in primary schools is a key goal of the MyScience program. Beginning in NSW in 2006 with two primary schools (130 students), this year it is implemented in eight primary schools (480 students) and two secondary schools (30 students) in NSW, with schools in Victoria set to take up the program next year.

Ms Forbes, who is also a member of the Science Teachers Association of NSW, believes that important foundations for science learning are laid in the primary years. "It is where students make connections between classroom activities and everyday events." She is passionate about giving young learners the opportunity to understand and practice investigating scientifically using real issues that students care about and select for themselves - hence the name MyScience.

Using the website, www.tryscience.org which is aimed at younger learners, teachers introduce the skills of investigating scientifically. Applying these skills with the support of Scientist Mentors drawn from IBM and secondary schools gives primary students an insight into the importance of posing questions, considering possibilities and testing hypotheses. They learn to measure, critically analyse and draw evidence-based conclusions. Year 9 and 10 students – known as MySTics (MyScience Trainees In Classrooms) - work alongside the Scientist Mentors providing scientific guidance to younger students. This element of MyScience is anticipated to develop primary-secondary communities as well as inspire latent science interest in school students.

Critical to the success of the program is the professional development for teachers that underpins it. Teachers are challenged to move from a directive teaching model to an enquiry learning model. Preliminary research undertaken indicates that teachers have increased confidence, interest and competence in effectively engaging and teaching primary school students in the Science and Technology KLA and that students experience increased success in conducting and presenting valid and reliable scientific investigations.

Another element of MyScience is the inclusion of pre-service secondary science teachers as Scientist Mentors as part of their teacher education programs at ACU and the University of Western Sydney. In the words of Mrs Margaret Shepherd, a tertiary educator and practising high school science teacher, "This is an extremely useful experience for them all as the transition from Stage 3 to Stage 4 has always been somewhat of a mystery to high school teachers. The teachers now know from their own experiences what Stage 3 students are capable of achieving and hopefully set higher expectations in teaching in their own classrooms in the future."

The Scientist Mentors and MySTics add a valuable dimension to the program by providing expert advice to teachers and students as they work through the investigative process. Mr Greg Erdman, a volunteer science mentor from IBM, hopes he can make a difference. "I do enjoy teaching and mentoring. MyScience gives young kids the chance to discover something they might not have considered doing on their own."

This project proves that it only takes one good idea backed by passionate people to make a difference to young learners and their teachers. The collaborative approach to the development and implementation of MyScience exemplifies the best in community-based partnerships. Everyone wins!

The MyScience team was successful in winning the 2008 B-HERT Award for Best Education & Training collaboration.

MyScience is a collaboration between Australian Catholic University, IBM, NSW Deptartment of Education & Training (NSW DET), Western and Northern Sydney Regions, The Science Foundation for Physics based in the University of Sydney, University of Western Sydney, ResMed and BASF.