Primary teachers make connections through specialist science training

The Australian Academy of Science’s education program, Primary Connections, is this week training 55 Victorian primary school teachers to become science specialists.

In conjunction with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Primary Connections facilitators will spend three days training teachers in how to bring hands-on, inquiry based science education into classrooms from school entry through to year six.

The training is part of the Victorian Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists initiative which aims to build teacher capacity and boost primary students’ engagement and achievement in mathematics and science.

"We know that most Australian primary school teachers do not have any science training: Primary Connections is making a huge difference in boosting teachers’ confidence and engaging students of all abilities in science," said Academy President, Professor Suzanne Cory.

"We are pleased that Primary Connections has been invited to be involved in this important initiative of the Victorian Government, which will ensure schools have trained mathematics and science specialists working both with students and with other teachers."

"I understand that the first 60 maths and 40 science specialists to have been trained are already making considerable contributions to increasing the engagement and performance of Victorian students."

More than 350 schools applied to participate in the second round of training under the initiative, indicating a strong interest in schools to improve maths and science outcomes.

"The Academy is very pleased that Victoria, like South Australia, has shown such strong support for primary school science education," Professor Cory said.

"We encourage other states and territories to empower more teachers to bring high quality, engaging and hands-on science education into primary school classrooms around Australia."

Once trained these new specialists will join more than 800 Professional Learning Facilitators trained by Primary Connections across Australia since 2006 who are implementing science in primary classes across all states and territories.For more information on Primary Connections visit http://primaryconnections.org.au/