Learning objectives

Upon completion of the Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students (I²S²) program, participants will be able to:

1. utilise knowledge, understandings and resources from the program to increase the engagement and achievement of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in science
2. appropriately and effectively link Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledges and histories to the science curriculum
3. utilise Science Inquiry Skills (SIS) and apply them to the I²S² program
4. demonstrate and understanding of the critical importance of schools in building strong and positive relationships with parents/carers and community.

Participants will be expected to continue to develop all learning objectives beyond the confines of this course.

The Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students program has seen a strong improvement in academic achievement and student engagement.

Case study: Glenala State High School

Glenala State High School is a secondary school in South West Brisbane. Students come for a variety of backgrounds with different values towards education. Almost 23% of students at Glenala State High School identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Teachers identified the need for further training in engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in science. Participating in the program since 2016, one of the immediate results the school saw was students who had previously not submitted work had become actively engaged with the content, handing in work which showed critical thinking.

Teachers actively started using the resources and engaging with both the science and cultural components of inquiries. Teachers used the Dandiiri Schools and Community Library to get resources such as videos on starting fire and fish traps as well as having spears and woomeras for students to examine and handle. Many of the teachers had previously not known the library existed until the I2S2 program.

Adopting I2S2 has seen Glenala State High School incorporate Indigenous perspectives into other science subjects including Year 11 and 12 subjects.

As a result of I2S2, student who hadn't previously engaged with science, have chosen to study science subjects at a senior school level.

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