Humble Materials - Powerful Learning

Having retired from Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre nearly 4 years ago - I have spent my time trying to hone my craft - in both understanding, visualising, and communicating Science - science in the broadest sense of the word. Upon reflection my journey has been an evolution from "Making Science Fun" to "Making Learning Fundamental". Like a true nomad, I leave behind what is no longer essential - however nice it might seem, and carry forward that which makes the greatest impact. You pack your experience, your friends and partners first.

I have had the chance now to connect with 1000's of educators - formal and informal - in dozens of countries and explore and reflect on how education in the Science & Maths domains is practiced in diverse contexts - from the disadvantaged to the most advanced. In seeking to make a positive contribution - to have an impact - I have sought out "Points of Influence'' - where in such a turbulent system can I create a little momentum. This has seen me work increasingly with teachers, rather than students, and with organisations that also work to develop effective approaches to teaching.

These organisations have included:

Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, The STEM Education Research Centre at University of Canberra with Tom Lowrie, Kevin Larkin and team, Goethe Institut Thailand with Andreas Klempin, SEADSTEM, Exploratorium, UNICEF in North Macedonia, Agastya International Foundation, The Pomegranate Workshop, Petrosains Sdn Bhd, Science Centre Singapore, National Council of Science Museums, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Hisa experimentov and the Himalayan Science Foundation.

In forging these partnerships I have been most fortunate and deeply grateful to have been supported by many of Australia's Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) . Especially

Australian Consulate-General, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, Australian Embassy, Thailand, Australian Embassy to Croatia and Kosovo, Australian Embassy to Serbia, North Macedonia and Montenegro - and in past years - Australian High Commission in Malaysia, Australian Embassy, Cambodia, Australian Embassy, Vietnam, Australia in Brunei Darussalam, Australia in Timor-Leste, Australian Embassy - Jakarta, Indonesia, Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Vienna.

One of my many motto's is "Engagement is easy, Impact takes planning". Over the last few years I have studied and observed, trialled and reflected on how to help educators help students. This is more Art than Science - and I am a novice artist. YET, from time to time I do get clear signals back - that what I share can stick and translate not only into attitudes, but action.

A project that I am still involved with is seeking to increase the amount and quality of experiential learning in North Macedonian schools - esp in the early years. It is also seeking to integrate environmental science and sustainability concepts into general education. As part of this project I have had the chance to run teacher professional Development sessions with early years educators and teacher mentors. This week I received an update from one of my Alumni. This is not the first or only such "letter from the front '', it was enormously rewarding. To see that Elena Gogovska had not only carried and adapted the ideas, and integrated them into the class, but has taken the time to share and discuss these ideas and approaches with other educators within her facility.

I think that's impact.

From Elena Gogovska's FB post - shared with permission.

"Activities we already did last week with the children in our kindergarten. Great experiments, so much fun. Thank you Stuart Kohlhagen

You can see the children in action and how interested, excited, and committed they are. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills. So grateful...

The theme was about soil, water, and plant pollution where we did interesting and practical experiments with a group of children from 5 to 6 years of age. All this is a continuation of the training you gave us, and where we further shared the knowledge for protecting the environment and the planet with the children and other colleagues in our facility "Kokiche", kindergarten "Veseli Cvetovi".

#scienceeducation, #STEM, #environmentalscience, #teachers