A glimpse of ICASE World Conference 2007
(Part 6)
The fifth and the final day of the World Conference 2007 witnessed the final document embargoed for release on Thursday, 12th July 2007 at 4.00 p.m. Western Time. More than 1000 science teachers and academics from 50 countries attending an international conference in Perth have agreed that urgent action is required to bridge gaps between science, technology and the public. The identified five key reasons for a global decline in the level of interest in science were:
Difficulty finding, training and retaining well-qualified science teachers
Lack of resources devoted to science and science education in some countries
Difficulty keeping up with emerging science and changing teaching practice
Public perceptions related to science
Difficulty maintaining a relevant science curriculum at all levels
At the conclusion of the conference, delegates issued the Perth Declaration on Science and Technology Education which calls on governments around the world to:
Promote critical awareness of the contribution of science and technology to personal, social, economic and environmental wellbeing through building partnerships with national stakeholders and the media;
Initiate revisions of the curriculum for school science and technology that will increase student interest in and recognition of the roles of science and technology in society;
Promote from the primary years onwards the career opportunities that stem from the study of science and technology;
Recruit graduates into science and technology teaching and to value, support and retain them with appropriate rewards;
Resource and promote continuous, effective professional development for science and technology teachers in order to meet changing student needs and societal aspirations;
Recognise and support the significant role of teacher associations in building a quality professional learning community for science and technology;
Resource the development of relevant and effective assessment processes so that learners achieve essential life skills, meet academic and vocational standards and personal aspirations;
Engage in greater international cooperation to ensure the provision of well-trained science and technology teachers to meet current and future challenges;
Call on UNESCO to integrate its science and technology education endeavour as fundamental to achieving educational, environmental, cultural, social and sustainable development goals.
The declaration concludes with a pledge that the participants are committed to ensuring that students are scientifically and technologically literate and able to contribute to sustainable, responsible, global development in their respective nations.
Groups of delegates raised more than 30 significant issues, the conference convenor said; but there was strong agreement that the top five issues would have to be addressed at international, national and local levels to build interest in the crucial role of science and technology in the 21st century. Mr. Robin Groves said that the conference had noted a widespread lack of student interest in current school science and technology education in many countries because they did not consider it relevant to them. Concern was expressed about the lack of recognition of science and technology education as a vehicle for meeting national educational goals, and social and economic needs.
Mr. Groves also said that the conference noted a significant shortage of specialist teachers of science and technology in many countries. “Science educators consider that the rapid changes taking place in science and technology and their applications must be reflected in the planning, teaching and learning of science and technology,” he added.
The Conference Convenors for 2nd ICASE World Conference 2007 were Robin Groves (Curtin University of Technology) and Elaine Horne (Curriculum Council of WA). The ICASE World Conference Standing Committees were:
- Robin Groves (Chair), Australia
- Azian Abdullah, Malaysia
- Ben Akpan, Nigeria
- Karl Brachtl, Austria
- Michael Brookman, UK
- Denis Burchill, New Zealand
- Dennis Chrisman, UK
- Dk Hjh Siti Fatimah, Brunei
- Jane Gamble, UK
- Satyendra Giri, India
- Lucille Gregorio, Philippines
- Orlando Hall-Rose, France
- Jack Holbrook, Bangladesh
- Elaine Horne, Australia
- Mary Loveless, New Zealand
- Ben Sangan, Brazil
- Lynne Symonds, UK
- Sue Dale Tunicliffe, UK
The representative countries at the ICASE World Conference 2007 were Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cyprus, DR of Congo, Estonia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA and Zambia.
The 3rd ICASE World Conference 2007 will take place in 2010 at Estonia; convene by Ms. Mia Rặnnikmặe. I call upon local educators to experience the best of the next world conference and present their findings in the sharing sessions. Everyone who participated in the 2nd ICASE 2007 World Conference agreed that this conference had been their biggest conference, enabling a large networking platform amongst participants. I look forward to represent Brunei Darussalam again in 2010.
“Give meaning to Science” – Facilitated Group 25, ICASE 2007
Let’s communicate Science!
(Part 6)
The fifth and the final day of the World Conference 2007 witnessed the final document embargoed for release on Thursday, 12th July 2007 at 4.00 p.m. Western Time. More than 1000 science teachers and academics from 50 countries attending an international conference in Perth have agreed that urgent action is required to bridge gaps between science, technology and the public. The identified five key reasons for a global decline in the level of interest in science were:
Difficulty finding, training and retaining well-qualified science teachers
Lack of resources devoted to science and science education in some countries
Difficulty keeping up with emerging science and changing teaching practice
Public perceptions related to science
Difficulty maintaining a relevant science curriculum at all levels
At the conclusion of the conference, delegates issued the Perth Declaration on Science and Technology Education which calls on governments around the world to:
Promote critical awareness of the contribution of science and technology to personal, social, economic and environmental wellbeing through building partnerships with national stakeholders and the media;
Initiate revisions of the curriculum for school science and technology that will increase student interest in and recognition of the roles of science and technology in society;
Promote from the primary years onwards the career opportunities that stem from the study of science and technology;
Recruit graduates into science and technology teaching and to value, support and retain them with appropriate rewards;
Resource and promote continuous, effective professional development for science and technology teachers in order to meet changing student needs and societal aspirations;
Recognise and support the significant role of teacher associations in building a quality professional learning community for science and technology;
Resource the development of relevant and effective assessment processes so that learners achieve essential life skills, meet academic and vocational standards and personal aspirations;
Engage in greater international cooperation to ensure the provision of well-trained science and technology teachers to meet current and future challenges;
Call on UNESCO to integrate its science and technology education endeavour as fundamental to achieving educational, environmental, cultural, social and sustainable development goals.
The declaration concludes with a pledge that the participants are committed to ensuring that students are scientifically and technologically literate and able to contribute to sustainable, responsible, global development in their respective nations.
Groups of delegates raised more than 30 significant issues, the conference convenor said; but there was strong agreement that the top five issues would have to be addressed at international, national and local levels to build interest in the crucial role of science and technology in the 21st century. Mr. Robin Groves said that the conference had noted a widespread lack of student interest in current school science and technology education in many countries because they did not consider it relevant to them. Concern was expressed about the lack of recognition of science and technology education as a vehicle for meeting national educational goals, and social and economic needs.
Mr. Groves also said that the conference noted a significant shortage of specialist teachers of science and technology in many countries. “Science educators consider that the rapid changes taking place in science and technology and their applications must be reflected in the planning, teaching and learning of science and technology,” he added.
The Conference Convenors for 2nd ICASE World Conference 2007 were Robin Groves (Curtin University of Technology) and Elaine Horne (Curriculum Council of WA). The ICASE World Conference Standing Committees were:
- Robin Groves (Chair), Australia
- Azian Abdullah, Malaysia
- Ben Akpan, Nigeria
- Karl Brachtl, Austria
- Michael Brookman, UK
- Denis Burchill, New Zealand
- Dennis Chrisman, UK
- Dk Hjh Siti Fatimah, Brunei
- Jane Gamble, UK
- Satyendra Giri, India
- Lucille Gregorio, Philippines
- Orlando Hall-Rose, France
- Jack Holbrook, Bangladesh
- Elaine Horne, Australia
- Mary Loveless, New Zealand
- Ben Sangan, Brazil
- Lynne Symonds, UK
- Sue Dale Tunicliffe, UK
The representative countries at the ICASE World Conference 2007 were Australia, Austria, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, China, Cyprus, DR of Congo, Estonia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA and Zambia.
The 3rd ICASE World Conference 2007 will take place in 2010 at Estonia; convene by Ms. Mia Rặnnikmặe. I call upon local educators to experience the best of the next world conference and present their findings in the sharing sessions. Everyone who participated in the 2nd ICASE 2007 World Conference agreed that this conference had been their biggest conference, enabling a large networking platform amongst participants. I look forward to represent Brunei Darussalam again in 2010.
“Give meaning to Science” – Facilitated Group 25, ICASE 2007
Let’s communicate Science!
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