Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students (I2S2) case study evaluation report
The case study evaluation report PDF (5 MB) of the Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students (I2S2) program found that: the program led to increases in engagement and academic achievement among many students, particularly low achieving students; the hands-on, inquiry-based activities incorporating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges were engaging for the majority of students; and beyond school-based outcomes, the program also led many Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to feel more pride, sense of value, and belonging.
Case study: Glenala State High School
Glenala State High School is a secondary school in South West Brisbane. Students come from 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 results of the I2S2 program, students who previously hadn't engaged with science, have chosen to study science subjects at a senior school level.
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