Ian Milne from the Faculty of Education has been awarded the inaugural Peter Spratt Medal by the NZ Association of Science Educators (NZASE) in recognition of his sustained contribution to science education. The award was presented at the SciCon 2008 Conference at Te Papa, Wellington.
Ian, who is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Science Maths and Technology, lectures in primary science, maths, and early childhood education to students in the faculty’s teacher education programmes. "I have the best job in the world," he says, "which is motivating students to get out there and teach science."
Peter Spratt was a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and involved in science education prior to his death in 2007. Ian worked with Peter in developing innovative conferences for primary teachers of science, and together they came up with the idea of a travelling conference serving the four main centres around the country. The third conference will be held in July 2009, and attracts speakers from around the world who are experts in primary science education.
Ian has also been involved in the development of a primary science support group for teachers in New Zealand. A former primary teacher, he set up the Primary Maths Association in Auckland, and in 2006 worked on a Ministry of Education contract associated with the introduction, development and use of assessment exemplars in science.
Ian believes that it is important for adults, and especially teachers, to retain their ability to look through the eyes of a child. He has developed an approach called ‘creative exploration’ which was presented at a conference in Canberra earlier this year. This method gives children opportunities to wonder about the world and test their ideas scientifically in a classroom setting.
"The challenge teachers have," he says, "is to capture and enhance that sense of wonder and the natural curiosity that children bring to the classroom and get alongside children and explore the world. They need to retain the ability to look through the eyes of a child."
Photo: Ian Milne with Faculty of Education students Josh Hurn and Kin Davys.
