1997 ASTEN Fellowship Report

1997 ASTEN Fellowship Report

This ASTEN Fellowship facilitated an exchange between Tim Byrne, Education Officer, Scienceworks, Melbourne, Australia and Neville Gardner, Senior Education Officer, The Science Centre and Manawatu Museum, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The exchange proved extremely rewarding for the two individuals concerned, as well as for the host institutions as a whole. At both places it was possible to compare different approaches to the delivery of school education programs. This was achieved through talking with staff, observing school groups in action, and taking part in presenting visitor activities.

Time was also spent studying different interpretive approaches in exhibitions, and exploring a range of resources. There were also opportunities for involvement in program development. The value of the visit was greatly enhanced by meeting, at work and socially, a range of staff, and discussing numerous problems and ways of doing things. While in New Zealand, Tim was able to visit a number of significant Maori cultural sites including a special dance performance organised by the local secondary schools. The contact made with the Maori Cultural Officer, Manu Kawani, was important and interesting as it may lead to a further exchange between the two institutions. Both Neville and Tim intend to use their networks at the Museums to facilitate a visit by Manu to Melbourne during 1998 in order to make a direct link between the two indigenous cultures.

In addition to spending time at Scienceworks, Neville attended sessions at the two-day Science Teachers Association of Victoria annual conference at La Trobe University. Useful contacts were made, and an insight into the Victorian teaching scene gained. It was also an opportunity to present two workshops based around 'Roamers'. These robots are available in Melbourne, but seem to be little known by teachers. At the Science Centre and Manawatu Museum they are extremely popular learning tools for a wide range of curricula, so this was an opportunity to introduce them and discuss their potential. A similar workshop was presented to Scienceworks staff.

As well as the immediate benefits of exchanging ideas and investigating alternative ways of doing things, it is envisaged that long-term communication will be maintained. The ASTEN Fellowship has played an important part in fostering links between science educators in the two countries, and has paved the way for closer links in the future.