It was at the age of 6, as part of the Nuffield Primary Science Project that Jane first fell in love with science. Nowadays she helps both primary teachers and their pupils to discover the wonder of science too: “When I first started teaching, I realised the enthusiasm that children had for science, and the fear which teachers had towards it, and I made it my mission to make them love it again.”
When I asked what it was that persuaded Jane to apply for the inaugural CSciTeach awards, she explained that there were two main factors: “As a Primary Science Educator, our role can get a little forgotten sometimes, and I felt the acknowledgement of my contributions would help promote Primary Science again”. The combination of excellent teaching informed by strong research and scholarship underpins the requirements for CSciTeach: “I still come across people in HE who say they don’t need to do research, that they just want to teach, but I like that CSciTeach promotes this as something we should all aspire to.”
When the news reached her that her application was successful, Jane was a little surprised. “I had hoped, of course, but as someone who isn’t primarily a classroom teacher I wasn’t sure how I would be received”. But Jane has very strong links with practical teaching – with both teachers and children – and she is pleased that this was recognised in her award. “If you look at the breadth of disciplines encompassed by the five initial Chartered Science Teachers, you can see the inclusivity of the award.”
Jane is Reader in Education at Bishop Grosseteste College Lincoln, which was celebrating its new status as a University College when I visited her. While it is a momentous time in the history of the College, which was founded in 1862, Jane has experienced this before having been at Nottingham Trent University when the Privy Council granted their University status in 1992.
Bishop Grosseteste is very focussed on the quality of its teaching, and the Principal, Muriel Robinson, was very proud of Jane’s achievement and the positive impact it would have on the College: “This is a very significant award and we are extremely proud – though not surprised – that Jane has been honoured in this way. We are lucky to have such a high quality member of staff inspiring future generations of teachers and early childhood professionals.”
One of Jane’s main fields of expertise is in Emergent Science, something she explores as part of the Science Learning Centre East Midlands. Over the years she has encountered some resistance to the role of Science Educators at Primary level: “I have been in situations where we are observing classes of 5 and 6 year olds exploring what happens, say, when you mix sand and water, and someone will say “Don’t be silly, that’s not science”, but it is, it’s emergent science. Primary science is all about allowing children to develop the ideas, skills and attitudes needed in science – you can’t afford to neglect any of them.”
As part of her role at the SLC, Jane runs around 6 primary courses a year. Her eyes light up as she tells me about a course she will be holding on ‘creative investigations’: “Do you know what an ice balloon is?” (I confess that I don’t). “You basically fill up a balloon with water and freeze it, and you can do all sorts of wonderful things with it – there’s chemistry, physics, we investigate sliding friction, and how water freezes…”
Jane is concerned that Primary science in this country has become too preoccupied with imparting facts to achieve good SAT results, and is no longer skills-based. I wondered how she felt this could be addressed? “Through setting a good example, enthusing people, being a good role model in the classroom”. To this end, her new Chartered status will be valuable. She also feels that the SLC could work with the ASE and the Science Council to link their courses with CSciTeach.
Jane completed her application form in June from the flat of her friend and colleague of 12 years, Maija Ahtee, in the heart of Helsinki, enjoying the long light evenings. Their relationship goes back about 14 years to a chance meeting at a European Science and Technology conference. Since then they have been involved in much collaborative research exploring topics such as teachers’ attitudes to primary science, and are currently looking at science skills in the primary context – what they are and how they can be developed. “It is curious how perceptions of science differ according to the social and political history of a country. In Finland, primary science is very ecologically driven – mainly Biology and Geography, and almost no Physics or Chemistry – because of their concerns about environmental issues”.
Jane is clearly passionate about primary science and about the benefits that Chartered Science Teacher can bring to her own niche, as well as to science education as a whole, and her new status is already inspiring others: “One of my colleagues approached me when I got the award, saying they had thought about applying, but weren’t sure that they were suitable given their role in FE/HE. When she heard of my award, she decided to think again”.
Ali Orr
October 2006
