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Playing,
Teaching and Talking
Jan
Dook - Lecturer - Science Communication
Co-ordinator SPICE - University of Western Australia
My
"science day" consisted of organising some science
activities. The first one was to meet with a Science Communication
student and the practicum host to discuss the student's placement.
This was successful and the student is
very excited about her project.
The second major organising task was getting a website up
and going for some professional development workshops being
run at UWA for science teachers. I didn't actually do the
programming but sorted out the text, registration forms etc.
The website is now live.
The third task was to finally get together my academic profile
that I plan to submit for
promotion. This has taken me a long
time, and I think it is now ready.
Yay!
The first task of the day is to do with my unit coordinator's
role in the Science Communication program at UWA. The second
is to do with a new responsibility that I have assumed. UWA
and the Department of Education and Training have formed a
partnership to enrich science teaching in Western Australia.
I have become the SPICE coordinator, and one of my first tasks
is to get the PD (professional development)
workshops at UWA
up and running. The website for
this new partnership is http://www.spice.wa.edu.au/index
The third task that I worked on will directly influence my
career path. Will my promotion application be successful?
Time will tell on that one.
I was very interested in sports when I was at school and played
competitively in a number of activities - netball, basketball
etc. As a consequence I went to university and completed a
BPE and a Dip Ed. After teaching Physical Education for a
number of years I went back to University and re-commenced
study. Why did I do that? Hmm... I think
the main reason was that I wanted to challenge myself as well
as get out of teaching in the sun. My family was supportive
and so I began student life again in 1992.
So over a number of years I completed a Masters of Applied
Science (Sports Science) and then a PhD (Exercise Biochemistry).
Although I did enjoy the lab aspect of science (I think women
are good at the bench -
methodical) ultimately I am more of a people person
so Science Communication has been a great extension for me.
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