Acting Education Minister, Brendan O’Connor, today announced extra funding for three school science programs, working towards providing Australian students with a world-class science education.
Primary Connections will receive an additional $4.4 million to deliver exemplary curriculum resources and professional learning to support primary teachers to teach science. These include curriculum units which model how to implement the teaching and learning approach in the classroom, and interactive CDs.
Over the next two years, the Science by Doing project will receive $2 million to improve the teaching and learning of science in junior secondary years by exciting students’ interest in science. Science by Doing provides web-based units of inquiry for secondary students to investigate science topics and connect what they know to further study and learning.
Funded by the Rudd Government and led by the Australian Academy of Science, these programs will give Australia’s school students fresh opportunities to learn science in engaging ways.
The Academy will work with state and territory education authorities to roll out these innovative programs.
The Government is also providing further funding of $750 000 for the Scientists in Schools project, run by CSIRO.
Through partnerships with teachers right across Australia, practicing scientists will bring the excitement of cutting-edge, real world science to the classroom through joint projects, visits to science labs and participation in lessons.
Science education forms a core part of the Australian Government’s Education Revolution.
A sound knowledge and understanding of science is essential for the future of Australia’s productivity and innovation.
Further information about these projects can be found at:
www.science.org.au/primaryconnections.
www.scientistsinschools.edu.au
www.sciencebydoing.edu.au/
Professor Julie Campbell, Secretary for Education and Public Awareness of the Australian Academy of Science will address the National Press Club on ‘Inquiry-based science education in Australia: a national curriculum’ on Wednesday 2 July