Bringing expert science knowledge to Kiwi schools
Avalon Intermediate School teacher Rose Campbell spends time with Victoria University's School of Geography, Environmental and Earth Sciences as part of The Science Teaching Leadership Programme.
Rose Campbell, a teacher at Avalon Intermediate School, recently spent two school terms at Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Geography, Environmental and Earth Sciences as part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s, Science Teaching Leadership Programme .
The Science Teaching Leadership Programme (STLP) is part of MBIE’s ‘Curious Minds’ initiative. Managed by the Royal Society of New Zealand, it supports the enhancement of teaching science and sharing science knowledge within Aotearoa schools.
There are two phases to the programme. In Phase One Schools can nominate a teacher to spend two school terms at an organisation whose primary function is science research.
Phase Two sees the teacher return to their school to help develop and implement the school’s science curriculum, aided by their new found knowledge, and with ongoing support from the Royal Society for the next 12-18 months.
Rose Campbell, who already holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, chose to spend time in Victoria’s School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences because she wanted to understand the world of earth sciences that her father, a geologist, inhabited.
“The thing I loved the most about it the programme is watching the way scientists interact with each other—how they express uncertainty. It’s comforting knowing that there’s room for doubt, and that science encourages the exploration of these areas of doubt.”
Now in Phase Two of the programme, Rose is eager to maintain her relationship with Victoria and already has ideas of possible field trips and visits in mind. Rose’s pupils at Avalon Intermediate have big expectations from her too, “the kids just love science, its hands on and exciting.”
To find out more about the Science Teaching Leadership Programme,visit the Curious Minds website.