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Science awareness is alive and well in Miami (With thanks to Candice Potgieter for the blog she wrote while in the US)
The Department of Science and Technology's Science Centre Capacity Building Programme, which is managed by SAASTA, specifies that local science centre people should be exposed to best practice at such centres abroad. Through local contacts and further networking at the 6th Science Centre World Conference in Cape Town towards the end of last year, a study visit was arranged to a science museum, science centre and zoo in Miami in February/March this year. Science centre staff members were invited to send proposals of why they should participate in the study tour. A panel then selected four people from the applications received. From the Old Mutual-MTN Science Centre in KwaZulu-Natal, it was Candice Potgieter who accompanied the group; from the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa it was Elize de Jager; from SciEnza Science Centre at the University of Pretoria Irene Schoeman was selected; and Norman Mthembi from the Giyani Science Centre. Shadrack Mkansi, manager of SAASTA's Science Awareness Platform and self-funded delegate Nomkhita Mona, CEO of the Uitenhage Despatch Development Initiative, accompanied the group to the US. Nurturing young entrepreneurs Their first stop was at the Miami Science Museum where the group was introduced to the museum's Entrepreneurship Career Day for learners in grades 10 to 12. "This is an excellent role-modelling programme that shows kids how to dream big and have heart in accomplishing all they can by hard work, study and a passion for a career in business, science or technology," says Candice Potgieter in her blog. The second day involved contrasting activities - from meetings and talks about collaborations with the Dean of Education and the President of the University of Miami, as well as Professor Mike Gaines who is involved in multiple informal and formal learning interventions, to a squid dissecting exercise with elementary school learners. Social media in the classroom Another highlight was a short course on the many different social media tools that can be used in the classroom to have a broader impact on educators, facilitators and learners. The University of Miami has introduced Twitter, Facebook and Wikispace in the classroom, allowing for students to interact on a real time basis with their classmates and teachers. "This type of participation is a good creative outlet and can be used as a tool for monitoring and evaluation. I was left inspired and have some new ideas on how to utilise these methods to increase learner and public participation at the Old Mutual-MTN Science Centre," says Potgieter. Learners get to test own scientific theories An interesting and unusual problem and inquiry based learning workshop they attended, was one where learners decide "what science they would like to test". In this case the learners tested the taste preferences of crickets, for example whether they would prefer to eat a banana or a granola bar. In the process learners get the opportunity to practice their own scientific theories. At the Miami Science Museum, which works closely with their Department of Education and the University of Miami, they were also introduced to an exciting programme that ensures an 89% pass rate of high school graduates who, thereafter, are accepted to local universities via a scholarship and funding model. "This programme is really worth replicating, especially since there are many similarities in socio-economic problems that exist between the disadvantaged populations of Miami and South Africa," comments Potgieter. At the Miami Zoo the South African group had the opportunity of studying worksheets developed by Grade R educators that were incorporated into teaching a group of four-year olds the different animals and the ecosystem. Don't miss the next issue of getSETgo for more feedback on this study tour. |
