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USC teams up with schools to promote science
The University of the Sunshine Coast has teamed up with three local State high schools in a bid to provide better professional development for science teachers and inspire more young people to study science.
A consortium of staff from USC, Maroochydore High School, Beerwah High School and Chancellor State College will receive $470,000 over the next three years to develop a Sunshine Coast Science Centre of Innovation and Professional Practice.
USC education lecturer Dr Juhani Tuovinen said news of the funding, announced recently by State Education Minister Rod Welford, was exciting because the science centre would benefit all schools in the region, and possibly the whole State.
“That money has been given to the schools and the University consortium to really look at science educator development issues,’’ he said.
Mr Tuovinen said the science centre’s priority would be to develop specific programs to meet the needs of newly-appointed science teachers, primary principals and Heads of Curriculum.
He said other key objectives would be developing resources, providing science teachers with remote access to these resources and surveying the opinions of those involved in science programs.
“We will be sharing the views of teachers and students to get into the underlying issues that make or break good science teaching,’’ he said.
“We need to be looking at new kinds of developments in science education and look at what’s really effective and see how these can be introduced into schools.”
Mr Tuovinen said he expected the science centre to become the key hub of teacher activity to develop links between schools, teachers, the University, industries and community organisations progressing science education in the region.
“This will include a vibrant Web presence, where the relevant creative science education work of teachers, students and University students and staff will be actively enabled, promoted and shared,’’ he said.
The consortium, led by Maroochydore High School teacher David Samaha, will be one of six groups developing Science Centres of Innovation and Professional Practice thanks to funding from the Queensland Government’s 2006-09 Science Education Strategy.
This strategy aims to increase the number of school students studying science and to attract and retain skilled science teachers, according to the Education Department website.
“The plan recognises that skilled teachers are the ones who will ultimately bring about positive changes in science education,’’ the website states.
“Each new initiate is designed to manoeuvre Queensland to the forefront of the knowledge economy and underpin the creation of a skilled and dynamic workforce.”