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1.7 Scientific investigation with primary students

Description

This is a continuing activity focusing on developing primary teacher's understandings of and skills for scientific investigation in science. The activity will engage a new cohort of teachers in examining their current practices of using scientific investigation with primary students. Teachers will engage in reflective practice and be supported through networks of professional learning teams to effectively implement scientific investigation.

The activity will be managed by a designated officer who will take responsibility for meeting the professional needs of teachers participating in the activity.

Science educators from external organisations such as CSIRO and higher education institutions will be involved in assisting schools in designing school-based projects and to support teachers in working with science investigation within the context of the classroom.

Contacts

Outcomes

Through participation in an AGQTP project, teachers will have strengthened the currency and depth of their learning area knowledge and understandings.
Through participation in an AGQTP project, teachers will have strengthened the currency and depth of their pedagogical knowledge and skills.
Through participation in an AGQTP project, teachers will have engaged productively in collegial networks that extend and support knowledge and skills.

Access

Primary teachers

Design

The professional learning strategy for this activity includes:

• school-based projects to engage teachers in workplace learning that is based on a cycle of continuous improvement


• clusters of schools working in collegial networks


• workplace mentoring and coaching aligned to meeting the NSW Institute of Teachers' professional teaching standards


• flexible learning that includes components such as self-paced and facilitated online learning, face-to-face workshops, video and teleconferences, online mentors, and discussion groups


• local, regional and state workshops and conferences that enable participants to have their work publicly celebrated and critiqued


• partnerships with professional associations and higher education institutions to provide expertise in the development, design and/or implementation of professional development activities.

Implementation

The implementation of the activity will be supported by the following personnel: designated project officer, academic partners, school-based professional learning team, external providers.

Delivery

workplace learning, mentoring, action learning project, workshops/course, resource development

Timeline

By May 2007:

• formulation of advisory group


• training of mentors from 2006 participating schools


• identification of participants for 2007


• initial professional development on scientific investigation


• support for schools in project design and management for professional learning


• design of school-based plans in consultation with academic mentors


• submit progress report in May.

• establishment of networks to support learning and practice in scientific investigation


• use of project review and evaluation techniques to monitor relevance and effectiveness of projects, and redesign project as required


• participation in learning forums


• development of a range of materials to support primary schools in improving the quality of scientific investigation


• submit annual report in November.

Sectors