28 Feb 2023
“Science, and science education are continually evolving, which means new technologies and pedagogies are becoming available to educators and their students.”
A teacher with more than 20 years experience, Scott Carter teaches physics to the curious minds of students at Lake Tuggeranong College.
Scott’s love of the field of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – has inspired him to expand his knowledge and to study science at the ANU, thanks to assistance from the ACT Education Directorate’s Teacher Scholarships Program.
“The program acknowledges that formal academic study is a valued component of teacher development,” Scott said.
It was a series of positive experiences that led the science teacher to expanding his knowledge and teaching skills in STEM, beginning in 2010.
Scott was impressed with the content and delivery style of a series of lectures he downloaded from the MIT OpenCourseWare platform on the topic of the History of Modern Physics.
“Further inspiration came from the STEM Professionals in Schools program. This is a CSIRO program that connects students with a suitable mentor. Our Year 12 Flight class partnered with Bill Welling, a flight test engineer who first served with the Australian Navy before moving into industry. Bill worked closely with the Year 12s to mentor them through the research and development process as they designed and tested a new aerofoil. I found the partnership as rewarding as the students did, and it motivated me to explore the field of STEM more thoroughly through formal study.”
Scott hopes to incorporate the use of browser-based platforms like Onshape (CAD) and Simscale (CFD) – which are already embedded in university courses – into his teaching to provide his college physics students with a head start should they continue onto further study in the field.
“There’s an opportunity to incorporate these technologies in college-level physics, which will only enhance the relevance and authenticity of curriculum.”
The Teacher Scholarships Program will open for new applications in term 3 this year. It provides ACT public school teachers and leaders with financial support to undertake further education, training, and research. Find out more, including eligibility criteria, on the Teachers Scholarships page.