Rūaumoko to Tātai Aroraki - Our place in Earth and Space

The University of Canterbury has recently opened  a new rock garden (with  website ). Several schools have already contacted UC with interest in visiting the garden. I am working with several faculty members to develop teaching resources that can be used with a range of age groups. We will be focusing on Science Capabilities rather than specific subject knowledge and I am using the lesson planning template shared with us during PLD 1. The aim is to develop lesson plans that can be used by visiting schools either as stand-alone activities or as components within a larger learning programme. During week 17 I had meetings with School of Earth and Environment staff where we discussed possible activities, learning outcomes, extension work and supporting materials. From week 18 I will be taking the lead in producing plans to share with UC to add to their website. We will also make the resources available to the Science Learning Hub.

 Investigation - 'How many washes are needed to get the sulfur smell out of your clothes?' Day 1 - travel to Rotorua + Waimangu Volcanic Valley visit. It would be GREAT to bring a school trip here! Logistically 'challenging' (plus rather expensive) but somewhere SO different to Chch that it is worth the effort. Lesson from university - look for FUNDING; find organisation(s) that are sufficiently aligned that we can get money from them... First thoughts - Gateway and/ or STAR funding from school (possibly some tourism US?) AirNZ might do us a deal? Can incorporate Earth Science and Te Ao Māori. Probably needs significant lead-time = plan for next year. To do: Find best time of year for trip. Definitely makes sense to include for senior students. Mid/ late Term ONE? Funding - check at school + UC for possible contacts Contacts in Rotorua - ask Kura Day 2 - Wananga/ whakapapa From chat with Pete - variety of forms for wharenui + where are 'our' school marae? Rotoru...

The lack of time to think about how your new learning relates to your practice and how it can be incorporated in your lessons is often a major challenge in teaching PLD.  One of the wonderful aspects of being a participant teacher with the STLP is that we have the time to stop, think about and reflect on the material we have covered. I have been giving some thought recently to various theoretical, philosophical and observational views of leadership, from Machiavelli to Jung and how these are displayed in various cultures. The Otago leadership course was clearly influenced by Jungian philosophy/ psychology, with an emphasis of self-awareness, authenticity and the integration of different parts of our personality, and of course through the use of MBTI testing. The idea of trustworthy, honest leaders with a clear sense of purpose and direction, and a vision for the future is very appealing - the leaders we want. The considerably less rosy view of Machiavelli is that there is a tendenc...

Using the Nature of Science : Understanding about Science   these are the aspects that I have seen / experienced in my  host placement in the University of Canterbury School of Earth and Environment (Geology department): •  being curious Is the starting point to geology - "What can I see? Why is it like that?" •  making careful observations,  asking questions and exploring ideas Is the core skill in geology. There are limited options for 'experimental investigation' in geology - the majority of the lab work and field measurements I have seen have been observations, from microscope examination of the mineral content rocks through to landforms spanning 10s or 100s of kilometers. The starting point for many of the investigations I have taken part in or observed has been asking 'what can you see?' There has been a very heavy emphasis on collecting reliable observations - establishing a very clear baseline of what is being observed before trying to explore how / w...

"It's a very intensive week" they said. They did not lie! My first thoughts regarding any learnings about myself as a leader are that there were no major surprises. I am given to a fair degree of introspection at the best (and worst) of times! I have completed MBTI tests in the past, although interestingly I seem to have shifted from INTJ to INTP - of course true MBT believers would say that you don't really change type, so the apparent change is more due to the fact that I have several traits that are VERY strongly 'out of type' - but then "not wanting to fit into other people's categories" seems pretty typical for an INTP personality, so I guess I can live with it. I did have to chuckle when I searched online for information on MBTI tests and one of the top results was a site discussing whether MBTI or astrology were more reliable... On "Character Strengths" tests I usually show "honesty" and "appreciation of beauty...

LAYER 1: Using the Nature of Science: Understanding about Science statements below, what have I been seeing / experiencing in my host placement? Where was I when I saw them, what happened, what was I or the scientists doing/saying? The majority if the following observations fall out of conversations with faculty and students within the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. These observations or conversations happened both during 'break times' at university, during laboratory sessions and on field trips. • Science is based on observation of the natural and physical world around us . Geologists do this ALL THE TIME - including visual observations during field trips, examining photographic records of sites and also seismographic measurements. • Scientists critique other scientists methods and ideas . I have seen less  of this - most work is ongoing, and critique seems to be more active during review than on a day to day basis - PhD students decide on a...