News Archive

Trapping mice at the Abrolhos Islands, time for reflection and interacting with researchers are among the highlights for the four recent Teachers-in-Residence (TiRS) at UWA.

Bob Fitzpatrick, from Armadale Senior High School, and Warwick Mathews, from Shenton College, will continue their part-time participation in the SPICE program whilst Brett Boughton (Willetton SHS) and Dawn Smith (Churchlands SHS), have finished their 10-week full-time residencies.

However, all former TiRs continue some participation in SPICE in the hope of seeing their ideas come to fruition.

The SPICE program welcomes two new full-time TiRs for the third school term: Jenny Gull and Stan Koios, two experienced teachers who have come from the Curriculum Council.

SPICE, a secondary teachers' enrichment program, gives teachers a chance to update their skills and access the latest scientific equipment and techniques. It is a collaboration between UWA and the Department of Education and Training.

All the participating teachers agree that the major benefit of the program is the interaction with UWA research scientists and students. They said it was interesting and enjoyable to talk to people who were so passionate and knowledgeable about their work.

Discussions have ranged from the habits of tiny honey possums to the beaching of whales; from isotope use to the development of magnets that are used to heal damaged retinas – fascinating and interesting topics!

As well as talking to researchers, the TiRs have enjoyed quite robust discussions with members of the SPICE team regarding pedagogical issues, such as the five "E" models and what goes into producing a learning object.

Having time to read and reflect is also a luxury for teachers who, in their usual professional life, are "constantly on-the-go".

Giving science teachers an opportunity to be in residence at UWA is a key part of the SPICE program but it is also a chance to showcase UWA research. Although much of the research is beyond the level that teachers (and their students) need to know in terms of science content, UWA research provides an engaging real-world context and demonstrates to the teachers opportunities for further study, for both themselves and their students.

The TiRs have been drawn from both physical and biological sciences, although the current focus is physical science. Curriculum areas addressed include mechanical waves, electromagnetic radiation and atomic physics.

The two new TiRs, Jenny and Stan, will focus on forces in motion and solution chemistry respectively.

The SPICE team will soon move into refurbished and purpose-built premises off the foyer in the Physics building and its new home should be ready for the start of the 2007 academic year.

The SPICE team very much looks forward to continuing its interactions with research staff and students a UWA.

Photo credit: Paul Ricketts – DUIT multimedia