1997 Teacher Winners
Categories:
Primary
Julie Short
Modanville Public School, NSW
Julie is one of four teachers at the school at Modanville near Lismore on the beautiful far north cost of New South Wales. She and her young environmental science students have been involved in a concerted effort since 1995 to save an endangered butterfly, the Richmond Birdwing, whose habitat extends from Queensland's Sunshine Coast to Grafton in NSW. Julie devised an innovative program which creatively integrated dance, music and video to teach her students about ways to save the Richmond Birdwing. The enthusiasm of Julie's young charges was then harnessed to inspire the local community to take up the cause. Judges praised the high degree of student motivation and community involvement Julie was able to encourage.
Secondary
Anthony Isaacson
Hallett Cove R-12 School, SA
Tony has a passion for learning about and preserving the sea life in the waters near his community and generally in the southern temperate waters of Australia. Last year, Tony designed and built a 2000 litre refrigerated aquarium and marine showcase at the school to display South Australia's marine life. He has devised and promoted SEAWEEK, an annual program to involve students throughout the school in learning about marine life. This year, Tony's students joined Port Vincent Primary School in presenting a 'Coastal Caretakers" theme at the Royal Adelaide Show. Tony devised a presentation using live marine creatures, as well as video and computer technology.
The Judges were impressed by Tony's high degree of innovation. Judges also commented on his outstanding level of professional involvement over many years in efforts to promote knowledge of the marine environment at his school and the wider community.
Curriculum Development
Peter Langley
Norfolk Island Central School, NORFOLK IS.
Peter has been praised by the judges for his inspirational development of a range of science-related programs both at his current school, on Norfolk Island, and in his previous posting at Kingscliff High School near the Tweed River in New South Wales. At Norfolk Island Central School, Peter has established an Environment Club, involving students throughout the school in a range of projects. He has encouraged students to become involved with local scientists on projects such as monitoring Asian Paper Wasp populations, water quality testing and algal growth measurement on the local coral reef. He is supervising six 'Open Learning' students working on regeneration of native vegetation in a project with the University of Melbourne. Peter also runs astronomy awareness evenings, an out-of hours physics class and new marine studies courses in the Junior and Senior High Schools. The judges praised Peter's dedication over an extended period of time and said the strong curriculum program Peter has developed could be widely used.
Science Teachers with up to three years experience
Denis Murphy
Griffith East Primary School, NSW
Denis is an inspiring teacher who has developed a range of innovative science education programs for students at all levels in his school. These programs have been developed and implemented over a number of years. For example, over the past two years, Denis devised a 'Super Science Quiz' run as part of the weekly assembly. Rockets were launched in the assembly hall, ping pong balls were floated above the heads of gathered students and chemical reactions of all sorts were demonstrated. The winner of the quiz question each week is presented with a certificate and canteen voucher. All this is part of what the judges said was a strong motivational program that enthused students at all levels and got them interested in science.