Science Week: Why all Aussie Children Must Have Access to Science Education

When you think of creative subjects, do you ever consider science? Or do you think about art, writing, and role-play, dress-ups and drama?

It might surprise you to realise that science is actually one of the most creative subjects within the school curriculum – it offers children the chance to unleash their curiosity and to explore and experiment. It balances process and logical thinking with inquiry and innovation.

Because science has the ability to engage the mind in so many different ways, it’s important for educators and parents to encourage our children’s interest in it by inspiring them to be curious and investigate all aspects of the world around them.

Interactive learning is really fun, and it’s highly beneficial because, when we do something ourselves, we retain the information we’ve learned so much more easily than we tend to when we read a book or listen to someone else’s explanation.

Flipping the Classroom
Science is also a perfect subject for teachers to trial the idea of flipping the classroom. By giving learners the basic information, instructions and theory of a task to complete as ‘pre-work’ at home, the teacher is then totally free during class time to be involved with the learners as they work ‘hands on’, putting what they know into practice.

‘Flipping’ the classroom in this way has shown really positive results, particularly in science. As they work together, students benefit from each other’s views and ideas too, which immerses them further into the learning experience.

Equitable Access to Technology
Of course, ensuring this generation of learners is prepared for a future driven by technology also means ensuring equitable access to education.

Education Perfect is currently trialing a tutoring programme with the Smith Family in Australia, pairing school learners with university students to work together via the platform. This initiative fits with the NSW Government’s plan to improve education equity by reserving more than 800 places at selective schools for ‘disadvantaged’ students.

These placements will be available next year in a move that Education Minister Sarah Mitchell says will address unintended barriers to education for some students.

We know that many jobs of the future will be based on the intersection between science and technology, STEM, which is offered as a subject in both secondary school and university.

STEM encompasses a broad range of subject matter including: aerospace engineering, astronomy, biochemistry, chemical engineering, computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, physics, and statistics.

STEM is becoming increasingly popular amongst students because of the broad subject matter – and because it offers so many opportunities for ‘hands on’ or ‘interactive learning’.

However, we need to keep encouraging both boys and girls down this path, because it is the gateway to the future. Many bodies of research and statistics show that girls are still slow to take up science-based subjects. Globally, while women make up roughly 49% of the workforce, they still only make up 29% of the STEM-based workforce. And women have a lot to contribute in this area – we know that men and women approach things differently, both are needed.

Great Ideas Come From Everywhere
Australia has always been known for innovation. The black box flight recorder was developed in Australia, the cochlear implant (bionic ear) too, along with electronic pacemakers, wifi, and ultrasound scanners which are widely used around the world to detect cancer and check on newborn babies as they grow in the womb.

None of these inventions would have occurred without those people behind them taking an interest in science. So, as a nation, if we don’t give all of our children an opportunity to receive an education, we’re doing ourselves a disservice, particularly as we face a technology-driven future with unlimited opportunities for exciting new and emerging ideas.

Global Education Perfect World Series Science Competition
To celebrate Science Week this year, Education Perfect is again running the Education Perfect Science Championships across Australia and New Zealand during the week of Monday 15–22 August 2022. This is a free event where students are encouraged to show off their scientific knowledge.

Kelly Hollis was a high school teacher for 13 years before joining Education Perfect. She is now the Australian Curriculum Specialist at Education Perfect.