Media releases
Big tick for Academy primary science education program
20 November 2009
Two research reports on the Primary Connections education program approved for release today by the Australian Government Minister for Education, the Hon Julia Gillard, show the program is having a positive impact on schools, teachers and students.
Teachers who use the program feel more confident about teaching science. Students have not only enjoyed learning science but have a better understanding of science processes and concepts. Students’ attitudes to science are more positive as a result of their experience, and it has increased the amount of science taught in schools.
Primary Connections units have activities to engage indigenous students. Preliminary research findings indicate that indigenous students in particular have benefited from teaching based on Primary Connections with its integration of science and literacy.
The reports recommend that the approach be used as a means of bridging the gap between the science achievement of indigenous and non-indigenous students.
Academy of Science President, Professor Kurt Lambeck, said the Academy stood firmly behind the project, with guarantees of quality and independence. It would ensure that the program aligned with the development of a national curriculum in the sciences to be released next year, making the approach a high-quality option to improve student learning in science and literacy.
He noted that within a relatively short period Primary Connections had touched and influenced science education in almost 50 per cent of Australian primary schools.
Primary Connections: Linking science with literacy is an initiative of the Australian Academy of Science funded through a partnership with the Australian Government Department of Education which has provided almost $10 million in funding 2005–11.
The reports
Primary Connections Stage 3 Research outcomes: 2006–08 and Science is primary: A review of Primary Connections Stage 3, 2006–08 are available from www.science.org.au/primaryconnections
Media contact: Robyn Bull, Primary Connections Project Co-ordinator, (02) 6201 9427
