Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb today launched a new Australian Academy of Science DVD designed help teachers engage primary school students in the thrill of learning science.
The DVD, filmed in schools in Canberra, Brisbane and Perth, is the first resource released by the Academy’s successful PrimaryConnections program to help teachers across Australia implement the new Australian Curriculum: Science.
Professor Chubb joined the Academy’s Secretary for Education and Public Awareness, Professor Jenny Graves, at Fadden Primary School in Canberra to launch the DVD: The PrimaryConnections 5Es.
“As science underpins many aspects of modern life, science education becomes more and more important. It equips children and adults to engage in meaningful debate about issues which affect them directly – such as health, climate change, and water security,” Professor Graves said.
“PrimaryConnections is a proven effective program that helps teachers to engage students in fun inquiry-based, hands-on science learning and to teach them critical thinking skills.”
Australia is slipping behind internationally when it comes to scientific literacy. Moreover, the percentage of high school and university students studying science subjects has been in steady decline for the last decade.
“PrimaryConnections, which is a joint initiative of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Government, helps primary school teachers to integrate science with literacy,” Professor Graves said.
“It has been proven to increase student engagement, improve literacy and even increase student attendance at school.
“The program is now used in more than half of all Australian primary schools.
“This new resource fully complements the new Australian Curriculum, and uses footage of children in classrooms across the nation, along with insights from education professionals, to take the viewer through the learning journey of the 5Es – Engage; Explore; Explain; Elaborate; Evaluate.”
On 2 June the Australian Parliament passed a motion recognising the effectiveness of PrimaryConnections in supporting teachers to engage students in science education.
More information about PrimaryConnections is available at http://primaryconnections.org.au
Copies of the DVD are available on request.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
