CQUni and Fitzroy Basin Association helping teachers find science education paradise in Gladstone for Science Week

Posted on June 25th, 2015

Pre-service and in-service teachers from around Queensland will converge on CQUniversity Gladstone in August, for a hands-on weekend to help them bring science to life in their classrooms.
The CQUniversity Science Education Experience event is available to teachers and university students studying Education in primary and up to year 9 in high school, in National Science Week, on Saturday and Sunday August 22-23.
This new event presents a unique opportunity for capacity building and is being organised by CQUniversity and Fitzroy Basin Association through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.
Coordinator and CQUniversity Research Fellow Dr Linda Pfeiffer said the Marina campus location was a perfect hub for teachers to gain practical experience by learning from Science and Natural Resource Management professionals to add to their classroom teachings.
“We’ll look at a number of aspects of environmental science– from water quality testing in a science lab, to a guided industry bus tour, a Botanic Gardens visit using a fantasy story app, and a networking evening to exchange resources and meet presenters one on one,” Dr Pfeiffer said.
The two-day experience will also include a boat trip and tour of Quoin Island’s Turtle Rehabilitation Centre with rotational activities including ecological surveying and an inspiring science studies performance called Mangrove Drama, and a great storytelling tool with character props about the life of a water drop in our catchment.
All sessions will be led by industry experts and local organisations including Gladstone Industry Leadership Group, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership, Conservation Volunteers Australia, Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre, and Rio Tinto.
“This is a great opportunity for teachers to experience first-hand how community organisations, industry and government departments are using science in the real world,” Dr Pfeiffer said.
Each session will be linked to the Australian Science Curriculum, and the $150 cost per participant includes all resources, sessions, boat and bus excursions and meals.
Participants also receive a certificate to meet Professional Development requirements.
Dr Pfeiffer and Fitzroy Basin Project Officer Kelly Smith visited Quoin Island to prepare for the event, and got their own real-life experience with a turtle.
Places are limited, book now by contacting Dr Linda Pfeiffer on 49707205 or l.pfeiffer@cqu.edu.au.