In MyScience, primary students experience enhanced engagement and learning through authentic scientific investigation. The project provides structured support for primary teachers in science and technology as they teach their students to investigate as scientists do.
Teacher Training
Teachers receive professional learning in the processes that students need to use to investigate scientifically, including experimental design, data collection and analysis and effective communication.
Igniting Children’s Interest in Science
The TryScience website provides structured entry point activities and stimulation for students to engage with science and technology. In their classroom or at home, students are able to try any of the many online and offline TryScience experiments contributed by over 400 science centres around the world.
Authentic Investigation
As students gain confidence and independence, they move to designing their own investigations with teacher and mentor support, with the ultimate goal of submitting their work to an awards scheme, such as the Young Scientist awards.
Support from Scientist Mentors
Specialist content knowledge is provided by Scientist Mentors from universities, industry and school communities. Apprentice Scientist Mentors (secondary school students) team with the practising scientists to provide additional support to the primary students while reinforcing their own knowledge and understanding of the process of investigating scientifically. Students, teachers and mentors collaborate using IBM’s MentorPlace platform.
Celebrating Achievements
School-level presentation and judging provides the means to acknowledge and celebrate student achievement. Entering exemplary investigations into Young Scientist is a key step in extending motivation, recognition and potential rewards for quality work.
Research
A research project that was established in the initial 2006 pilot will expand and guide teaching and learning throughout the project, and contribute to broader national research to improve science and technology outcomes.
