Networking with other STLP teacher participants

As part of the STLP2018 phase one, it is a good idea to network with other participant teachers to learn from their experiences.  

Helen (a STLP2018a fellow participant teacher) and I visited Catherine Shipton at Churchill Park School and Tina Joshua-Bargh at Willowbank Primary School.  We had candid discussions with both teachers, particularly focused around the initiatives that worked well for them in their phase two,  when they returned to the classroom and started to develop/update their school's science strategic plan.

One of Tina's science initiatives was to develop a self watering device using funding from Curious Minds.  She found the organisation very sympathetic and helpful throughout the funding process, which is very encouraging.

The completed self watering device at Willowbank School

I have also visited Helen Armstrong from East Tamaki School, a fellow STLP2018a participant teacher, at her host organisation, the School of Biological Sciences at UOA where she is involved in a project to study the impact of  drought on kauri.

In addition, I hosted Sophia Douglas at Manaaki Whenua for a morning.   Sophia is another STLP2018a participant teacher from Terrace End School, Palmerston North.  We had a walk through of the Landcare Research laboratories, fungi fruiting chamber and New Zealand arthropod collection.  We also had morning tea with a group of scientists from the Mycology Team  who were interested to hear more about the programme, and offer their ideas.