Ep.12 Teaching STEM lessons using maritime history

From shipwrecks & salvage to ship engines and sails, the maritime heritage of every country affords a context that students of all ages can relate to. We chat with Anne Doran, an education officer at the Australian National Maritime Museum and find out how her background as a teacher librarian and gallery attendant has helped her craft marine science lessons that grab student’s imagination. From oceanography to exhibits on the evacuation of Pompeii, Australia’s premier maritime museum is certainly an interesting place to visit… let's dive in! Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About Anne DoranAnne has been an education officer at the Australian National Maritime Museum since 2012. Prior to that role, she was a Teacher Librarian in primary schools. Anne has developed a passion for science recently through observing two of her children who are self-confessed “Science Nerds” and have recently embarked on their scientific careers. Through ANMM she has had the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of people in the scientific world and create science programs for schools that showcase the museum’s commitment to STEAM in education. One of the programs that she has been involved with since its creation is the annual Women in Symposium aimed to encourage girls into STEM careers. Top 3 Learnings Let students explore for themselves. As much as we like to be the ‘sage on the stage’ there is also a time when you just need to be quiet and let the students go for it… with the subsequent result in your role transforming to being a mentor & coach. Students will learn to find out things for themselves and our role as classroom practitioners will be richer for it.Explore museums! You would be surprised how much science can be found in museums of all types and the Australian National Maritime Museum is certainly brimming with exhibits that command the attention of learners. If your school is too remote to be viable for visiting a museum, you can always connect virtually with museum educators using web conferencing technology.Wherever possible try your lessons to weave history and science together. Not only does it produce a rich narrative for students to be engaged with, it also provides a context as to why a discovery or invention occurred in the first place.Further contact details & resources Contact for Anne Doran via email [email protected] or via phone on +612 9298 3626 Website: http://www.anmm.gov.au/ Contact Fizzics Education Web: http://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Phone: +612 9674 2191 STEM Teaching support resources NEW Primary STEM teaching book! http://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/be+amazing+book.html >100 Free Science Experiments http://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/Free+experiments.html >100 Free Science Ideas and Tips http://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/Blog.html Know an educator who'd love this episode? Share it!If something grabbed your attention in this STEM podcast please leave your thoughts below.