Fellowship

Since I have been to Auckland it has made me think a lot more about The Nature of Science. Also when I have been out in the field I have been asking the scientists why science. All have said 2 common things- science was something they were interested in at an early age (and because I am in the bug department most said collecting insects etc)but also things like mixing things etc and the second thing was that their parents supported their interests with things like:
taking them places
family activities like diving
presents (like bug catchers) that encouraged their interests
This is an aspect of science that I want to share with the staff. How can we get our whanau involved like this (and at the same time how can we find out our parents interests and skills and tap into that).
I cant get onto my photos here so I will do my blogging at home

Maori and Science

I watched WakaHuia on TV this morning and saw this programme about Wiremu Tawhai from TeKaha way. He passed away late 2010. He talked a bit about Maori and Science. It was an AHA moment for me. I now know that if want our Maori pupils (and their whanau) to be truly involved in science we have to truly involve their traditions. Why cant we do it (even simply )at school.
How could we work Te Arawatanga, science (even environmental things) by teaching in a more traditional way- bringing old wise people in, teaching kids (and teachers) about things Maori that are really about science.

Fellowship on line bookings

Boy am I struggling with booking flights and accomodation on line for my Fellowship stuff. I mucked up my Auckland one and instead of a simple flight with pick ups to Auckland I have to drive up and find everything myself. Luckily John said I can go up on Sunday and I used google maps to get directions.I didnt realise that if the cheaper flights have gone we can book the dearer ones. I had a cell phone call from John the other day and let him know I am struggling with the on line stuff.

Apart from this, I am really enjoying my Fellowship work. This past week I have really had fun being busy. I have liked going out with Amy and Phil from South Africa - I like it when I know what I am doing. Time for a Scion photo

Fellowship

Assembling the Sirex traps with Amy from South Africa

Fellowship

For the past 2 days I have been helping 2 scientists from South Africa assemble and set up traps to catch the Sirex . It is a wasp and when they get them they will dissect the wasp to look for a parasoid worm. The Sirex is damaging their pines. The scientists names are Amy - a Masters student in genetics and Phil who has a .PHD so he's DR. Stephanie from Scion gave me some information to read about Sirex and John showed me one in the HUGE insect collection.

Fellowship

A day of meetings and connections.Meetings
1: An interview and photo with Simone who produces intra newsletter.
2: Science in The Park. Each section has an area for display and hands on. I am involved in making bugs from recycling material. I have tasks.
3: I.T. orientation
Scion has good orientations

ConnectionsTomorrow I am going out in the field with the South African Scientists.Setting up traps to catch sirex (a wood wasp) and the connection was that as well as Stephanie giving me a paper to read, John took me into the insect collection and I saw real ones. He is really knowledgeable and pssionate (in a good way) about insects.

I am learning about the insect classification system to give me background to the simple one I will do later. Photo of cleopus (from a book so I could get a real good image- from Annual Report)

I recorded what I had already seen, experienced at Scion already and I could do it under the Key Competencies. I will do that later.

Did you know that 2011 is The Year of Forests- withits theme "Forests for People". Andrew said he has some work to do with it. I googled it to get some background.

Last thing on news just on it said that Ministries of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing will be made into a new super ministry called Ministry of Primary Industries. As it was announced by the PM as a cost cutting so I wonder what this will mean at Scion.

Fellowship

Another great day at Scion. Some more work with Judy in the Lab, a visit to the quarantine section with Margaret to open a special parcel from England (an opportunity to see the procedures expected from MAF.)Lisa told me where some buddleia plants are and told me that the cleopus 'bugs' are on the plant doing what they are meant to. Photo today is of them both.
I am being 'interviewed' for Scion's internal newsletter. I made sure I went through our media sheet so I don't get it wrong.
Some paper work came thru from John ( its for my tickets to Dunedin) I must keep on top side of this.
End of day not so good when I got my pay slip and I received only $72 for the fortnight. Sue will sort it out.

Fellowship

Before we go to Auckland 14 Feb for our CORE 2 days we have been asked to consider the following question
What are the biggest challenges that face teachers wanting to give their students quality science educational experiences? How do you think that they can be overcome?

I am going to brainstorm a bit here and come back later.Points I want to consider.
What ARE quality science educational experiences? how will I recognise one if it jumps out at me?
How do I make science relevant?I found this in 'Students' attitudes to secondary science and science teaching: A synthesis of findings comparing recent NZCER research with Scion research (Scion is my host organisation and it was great to see that they are interested in the school side of science) -A summary of research for Scion - Andrew gave me a copy -"What was most important was when science content was related to 'real life' or 'real life applications.' Students most memorable recollections of school science often related to experiential science such as field trips and science camps,practical and 'hands on'activities, memorable experiments such as dissections and playing with chemicals, and 'student lead work' such as science fairs and camps.
In the section of this report which asked students what comprises positive experiences of teachers in science ,things like teachers who have a passion for science/enthusiastic/fun, have teaching skills and knowledge of the subject, able to get the message across/variety of explanations/positive teachers offered a mixture of learning and teaching methods and teachers who were genuinely interested in students learning came out.

I will read more but this has given me a good start.
Picture today is Arhopalus ferus

Fellowship

I have met great people at Scion - in the Bio-security and protection team.They are passionate about their work and I am lucky to have this group as my host for my fellowship. This photo is of Tracey -she's a local who won the Scion Suffragette scholarship to help her attend Victoria University. Part of the scholarship is that she works at Scion in the Christmas holidays. Tracey looked after me when we went out in the field earlier in the week as its a bit nervous doing new things -(boy I sound like a real learner (another thing to remember about kids and their learning.)

Fellowship

I did some real science today (although it was at a very basic level.) I liked that it was hands -on. I am starting to think like a primary school kid. I like that!!!

Fellowship

I tried to send my profile to John but it keeps coming back as not being accepted.I am going to get a Scion PC soon.

Fellowship

Another great day and I arrived home absolutely tired as today I went out for 6 hours in the forest checking beetle traps.They were pine bark beetles Hylastes ater and Hylurgus Iigniperda and also the longhorn beetle Arhopalus ferus.
I also had a great conversation with Tracy the student from Victoria who is working at Scion over the holidays. I asked her why she likes science and she talked about her year 6 teacher and how she helped her like science. I will write some more about this later.