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90% of readers believe that mobile technology and increasing online access make social media an ideal platform for attracting younger generations of South Africans to SET fields of study. |
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5% of readers say they are not sure. |
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5% of readers say that this time and money could be better spent on outreach projects. |
Exoplanet extraordinaire… Only a few weeks into the new year and already four new exoplanets have been discovered. An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star in a solar system other than that of the earth. It looks as though 2012 is going to be a year filled with discovery.
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OUT AND ABOUT
Bright sparks come out tops at Primary Science Day competition
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The team from Zanemfundo Primary School showed their skills were the best, winning first place in the competition. |
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Second-place winners were the team from The Hague Primary School. |
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Third-place winners at the Primary Science Day competition were the team from Itsita Primary. |
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Sparks were flying at iThemba LABS in the Western Cape in October, when more than 100 learners tested their electrical knowledge and skills at a Primary School Science Intervention (PSSI) competition.
Educators from the participating schools had all attended a PSSI workshop earlier, where they were equipped with resources and information on a science topic (in this case electricity) which they covered in their classrooms with learners. Using the PSSI kits, the learners were required to develop products that will serve their communities (for more information, see the October issue of getS.E.T.go! at www.saasta.ac.za/getsetgo_october2011) and compete with other schools for prizes for the best projects.
“With the support of the Western Cape Education Department, particularly Suanne Rampou and Mike Cameron, SAASTA and the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) implemented the project in all eight districts of this province, reaching teachers in both urban and rural areas,” says Sivuyile Manxoyi, Manager of the SALT Collateral Benefits Programme at SAAO. Ambrose Yaga, education officer at iThemba LABS assisted with the workshops and competition and his organisation provided the venue for the competition.
The judges had a tough time choosing the winners, based on the learners’ presentations, one-on-one interviews, and the quality of the projects. The victor was Zanemfundo Primary School, closely followed by The Hague and Itsita Primary Schools.
SAASTA and SAAO will be using chemistry kits for the PSSI project for the intermediate phase and EU UNAWE booklets on astronomy for the foundation phase in 2012. EU UNAWE aims to educate children aged 4-10 years, especially those from underprivileged communities, about astronomy. The SAAO is looking into extending the project to the Northern Cape in 2012.