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Space Camp a big step for science education
The University of the Sunshine Coast is about to send two local educators off on an experience that could be best described as “out of this world”.
A teacher from one of the region’s primary schools and a pre-service teacher from USC will travel to the NASA Space Camp in the United States from 5-16 July this year in an effort to boost science education on the Sunshine Coast.
The trip – funded by the Nambour Rotary Club, Education Queensland’s Science and Engineering Education Centre and the University of the Sunshine Coast – will see two lucky applicants involved in activities that NASA astronauts and support crews would experience in their training.
USC’s Lecturer in Primary Education Beverly Lowe said applications to attend Space Camp, officially called the US Space and Rocket Center’s Space Academy for Educators, would remain open until 30 March.
Ms Lowe said she was expecting plenty of interest from local teachers and USC students, as Education Queensland was urging primary school teachers to take a greater interest in science.
“In response to the new National Curriculum and the recent focus on science education, we offer this great opportunity,” she said. “The activities will provide experiences in the physical sciences in which teachers can return to their classrooms to employ.”
Ms Lowe said the two-week trip would include one week of participating in Space Camp activities, followed by a week of helping educate the next group of participants.
Activities are likely to include building and launching rockets, taking part in anti-gravity and G-force simulations, attempting to fly jet propulsion jackets, listening to guest lectures by astronauts, and viewing real and replica space shuttle equipment.
“They will get to experience first-hand through activities rather than from books, papers and forms,” Ms Lowe said.
“We want applicants to have an interest in science and a willingness to come back here and relate the activities that they have experienced. They will be required to present here at the University about what they have been through and to speak to their peer groups.”
USC education students and primary teachers interested in attending Space Camp can contact Beverly Lowe at blowe@usc.edu.au or on 5459 4766.
— Terry Walsh