High school students launch ‘Gali’ findings

Apr 27, 2007

A collaboration between the University of Wollongong’s Faculty of Science and three state high schools culminated today (Friday 27 April) with the launch of the Australian Schools Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics multi-media resource called Gali.

Gali is the indigenous Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay word for water. Participating schools were Gunnedah High School, Singleton High School and St Johns Park High School.

The launch concluded this phase of the project with the students’ experiences documented in the multi-media resource that schools can share.

The project began in 2006 with students undertaking ecological studies of Illawarra environments, interviews with local indigenous elders and combined excursions experiencing marine studies and water safety. Students learned the skills of ‘claymation’ and flash animation, creating storyboards and making characters.

Each group has been working on data recording, water testing, collecting and interpreting written and photographic data. Mathematics students took on the challenge of exploring the collected data and interpreting the results.

The overall project aim was to:

• Foster a culture of innovation in schools

• Develop the capacity and predisposition for innovation in school students

• Increase collaboration between Australian schools and science organisations, universities, business, industry and other organisations

• Improve teachers’ approaches and techniques

• Improve student learning outcomes

• Enhance student interest and engagement

Publication of the material has been developed as a part of the Australian Schools Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics Project.

Funding was provided by the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training as a part of the Boosting Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics Teaching Program.