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Teachers Love People's Choice
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Teachers love the Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award, a recent survey by the Australian Museum has found.
According to the survey, teachers found the Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award fills a gap in addressing contemporary Australian science and scientists, and it fits easily into the science curriculum.
Surveyed teachers also said the Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award was useful because it covered a range of science disciplines and provided information about science careers in an interesting format.
With the winner of the Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award decided by popular vote, it's a bit like Australian Idol or So You Think You Can Dance, except its free, voters choose between real-life working scientists, and students are likely to learn something along the way.
Surveyed teachers found this voting process was an engaging and interactive learning experience for students - and a welcome change from regular classroom and laboratory activities.
In fact, one teacher from Queensland went on to say "We'll use it forever. People's Choice is so powerful. It's about science that is happening now."
The survey involved 28 in-depth interviews with science teachers, plus data from 800 online questionnaires completed by voters in the 2007 Eureka Prizes People's Choice Award.
Dr Kathy Belov from the University of Sydney was voted Australia's favourite scientist in the 2009 People's Choice Award. Learn more about Kathy and her work here.
Register your interest now and we will remind you when voting is about to start.
Teachers can download posters and lesson plans here.
