Page 15 - Journal 2018A

Mike Roach Space Education Centre
This Centre features a Mars simulation room in which students adopt the role of astronauts visiting Mars.
Details about the Centre and its program can be found at: www.hamcoll.sa.edu.au/curriculum/space-school/
South Australian Space School
Details of the South Australian Space School and Space Camp can be found at: www.spaceschool.com
What needs to happen next in space science education? What should primary and secondary teachers be doing?
The inclusion of space science and astronomy into years 6 and 7 as part of the National Curriculum has put a lot of pressure on Primary teachers. The curriculum is already big enough and I doubt that many teachers
of years 6 and 7 have a strong physics background that would give them the skills and knowledge to teach these important concepts without undertaking a solid professional development program. Having given many workshops over past years I have found that many have misconceptions that if transferred to students will leave them with misunderstandings that may confuse them and even put them off doing physics in later years.
Many secondary science teachers tend to teach to their strengths in the science areas, and this is understandable with an over owing content driven junior science program as dictated by the current Australian Curriculum.
I hope that I can continue to assist teachers
in giving their students activities that I have designed or adapted from other sources (such as NASA) for the southern hemisphere. I have written a few over the years for SASTA and ASTA journals in the past. They really work!
The year 8 and 9 science curriculum have placed a strong emphasis on geology and this is one of the reasons that we have (through the invaluable assistance of the Victorian Space Science Education Centre) established a “Mission to Mars Space” Program at Hamilton Secondary College. At this stage we are still in our testing phase, but the facility will be open to all science teachers who wish to stimulate and enthuse their students with
a hands-on journey to look for life signs on Mars.
All science teachers should be members
of their State science associations. Unfortunately, there is little money available for professional development but attending SASTA and ASTA Conferences will expand their contact base and stimulate new ideas and directions.
One of the messages from the International Astronautical Congress was that space is accessible to all Countries irrespective of size. What should SA (and Australia) be aiming for with its space science industry?
The news that the Federal Government would establish an Australian Space Agency was met with a standing acclamation from the 4,300 delegates in attendance.
A lot of work has gone on behind the
scenes for this to occur. Patronage is very important. Andy Thomas and Colonel Pamela Melroy were prime movers in the Federal Government’s decision to establish the Australian Space Agency. Pam has moved to South Australia for a year as Director of Space Strategy, for Nova Systems. She is also a Member, User Advisory Group, US National Space Council.
Space Industries have already begun to establish their of ces in this State and many SA start-up industries have been assisted by State and Federal government grants to join this new and vibrant move towards SA becoming the Space State.
Our students have a new challenge to be part of what will be an exciting future for space science.
Number 01 / 2018
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