The Way Forward
This statement has provided evidence of my initiatives to promote student learning in the early stages of my career as a university teacher. It highlights my use of the adapted 5 E model to promote increased STEM engagement. It has provided evidence of curriculum development, resource production and my scholarship of teaching and learning including 12 current publications, leadership in professional organisations as well as collegial interaction with Curtin staff through the open door and peer review programmes. I have shared my practice with colleagues through conferences and also engagement seminars. I am currently a HERDSA associate fellow reviewing my practice to create the first digital portfolio to be submitted to HERDSA
My focus into the future is two-fold. It is on meeting the needs of the 21st century learners at University which include new learning platforms, sifting and processing vast amounts of information, being continually in touch with their colleagues and peers, who want to learn what they ‘need to know for right now’, and who juggle multiple commitments in increasingly noisy and frenetic lives. It is also on teaching science in under-resourced schools, particularly in Laos and regional WA. I leave the last words to my students:
I have learnt so much from her classes and am looking at pursuing a more science-based teaching career…am excited about being able to use the skills and knowledge when I start teaching (Student eVALUAte, 2014)( (Support Material 1).
My focus into the future is two-fold. It is on meeting the needs of the 21st century learners at University which include new learning platforms, sifting and processing vast amounts of information, being continually in touch with their colleagues and peers, who want to learn what they ‘need to know for right now’, and who juggle multiple commitments in increasingly noisy and frenetic lives. It is also on teaching science in under-resourced schools, particularly in Laos and regional WA. I leave the last words to my students:
I have learnt so much from her classes and am looking at pursuing a more science-based teaching career…am excited about being able to use the skills and knowledge when I start teaching (Student eVALUAte, 2014)( (Support Material 1).
Description of Photographs
All the photos chosen and included throughout this portfolio have all been chosen for their significance to me. I have included photos of the inquiry websites I have created including the tertiary, primary and secondary sites (www.inquiringabouttheworld.weebly.com). These sites address the inquiry skills and processes identified in the Australian Curriculum, and combines these with the technology tools (Web 2.0 tools) in each individual context. There are photos of the activities in the classroom showing students participating in hands-on investigations and enjoying playing with Oobleck, circuits and body systems. Also included is a photo of young children playing with the Oobleck, both early childhood and tertiary groups were genuinely engaged and exited when participating in the activity. There is a photo of my presentation at the 2014 Curtin University awards where I received the Teaching Excellence Award to recognise my enthusiasm and commitment to my teaching.
The flowers and other Laos photos are from the Laos From the Garden to the Classroom Project in 2014 and 2015 where two University lecturers, four teachers and six pre-service teachers ran classes for the children at the Deaf Mute Center in Luang Prabang, Laos with a science focus. The programme in Laos was facilitated through the Perth based charity Global Hand Charity. The landscape on the Home page is a photo of the Mekong and relates to my service as Chairperson and Project Manager for the charity Global Hand Charity (www.globalhandcharity.org.au ).
The flowers and other Laos photos are from the Laos From the Garden to the Classroom Project in 2014 and 2015 where two University lecturers, four teachers and six pre-service teachers ran classes for the children at the Deaf Mute Center in Luang Prabang, Laos with a science focus. The programme in Laos was facilitated through the Perth based charity Global Hand Charity. The landscape on the Home page is a photo of the Mekong and relates to my service as Chairperson and Project Manager for the charity Global Hand Charity (www.globalhandcharity.org.au ).