Strengthening links between science and teachers in Australia is the aim of a new website created by the School of Education and Professional Studies.
The Teaching with Apps website focuses on strengthening communication networks between science and education by linking to Australian apps, developed to support the communication of scientific information, to the Australian Curriculum.
Inspired by Griffith School of Environment’s Professor Catherine Pickering, who designed the Australian appGrows@Griffith,Dr Alison Sammel conceived of a website that linked Australian Educational Apps to the Australian Curriculum.
Working withDr Geraldine Townend, a website was designed and developed that illustrates how teachers can use these Australian apps to teach across the differentlearning areas, and differentyear levels.
“The site covers all year levels and all learning areas, including general capabilities and cross-curriculum priorities,” Dr Sammel says.
“Science plays a role in all Australian’s lives, everyday, but it can remain largely invisible.
“Teaching with Apps aims to make this link visible in order to engage teachers so they can inspire their students.”
By providing this vital, innovative infrastructure that builds teacher and student capability to engage in science from a very early age, Teaching with Apps aligns with national STEM and Educational strategies.
These strategies seek to create a more scientifically literate community, a more technologically-skilled workforce, and more scientifically informed [future] decision makers, name says.
“By improving access for all teachers to engage with technology that enhances knowledge of up-to-date science in our region, Teaching with Apps has the potential to get teachers and students excited about science.”
Dr Sammel recently attended the 2015 Science meets Parliament event in Canberra.During her visit she met with Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb; Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Dr Adam Bandt; Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ian Macfarlane; and Leader of the Federal Labor Party , the Hon Bill Shorten.
“They all commended and supported the Teaching with Apps website, and the role Griffith University plays in raising the profile of the vital links between Science and Education in our communities,” she said.
Visit the Teaching with Apps website at: http://www.griffith.edu.au/education/teaching-with-apps.