Primary Science Teacher Fellowships

The Primary Science Teacher Fellowships have been designed to support the development of effective science teaching in individual primary schools. This programme has been created in response to the NEMP report released in 2008 which identified a downward trend in the attitudes of primary aged students towards science. In 1999 15% of surveyed year 8 students indicated a dislike of science, which grew to 37% in 2007. The numbers of students at both year 4 and year 8 who reported “never doing good things in science” also grew significantly during the same period. Our aim is to reenergise the teaching of science by exposing teachers to a variety of experiences which will promote improved outcomes for their students.

There are four key elements to the 23 week programme: firstly, placement in an organisation working alongside people who use science on a daily basis; secondly the fellows will attend curriculum development days where they work with facilitators to learn more about effective science teaching and the Nature of Science strand; thirdly the teachers will participate in a leadership programme which is tailor-made to enable these teachers to return to school in a position to take on the leadership role in science, and finally school support for up to 12 months post fellowship to ensure the changes become a part of new school practise.

Selected teachers will not be science experts, but will show a willingness to develop their skills and understanding in order to lead change in their school. Recent research has indicated that primary aged children are receiving around one hour per week in science education on average. We are working to address this imbalance by offering up to 60 fellowships throughout the country each year in the hope that through this programme, many more teachers will be better prepared to teach science. The ideal candidate will be a teacher in the primary sector who is keen to take on a leadership role within their school in science, and who comes from a school willing to commit to science development in 2011.

The successful applicants will be seconded for a period of two school terms on full pay to be immersed in the world of science, and to engage in new understandings about effective science teaching. They will return to school ready to lead the development of their schools current units of learning, improving the outcomes for many young New Zealanders.

More information and applications forms for the Primary Science Teacher Fellowships can be found on http://tinyurl.com/lxwrch, via e mail on PSTF@royalsociety.org.nz or by phoning Joanna Leaman or John Auty 04 472 7421.

Applications for the 20 positions available in terms 3 and 4 close on 12 March, 2010.