WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY v 2017- PP3 Rationale NAME: | STUDENT ID: Isabelle King 18616763 Contact Phone Number/s: 0424983367 | Your METHOD(S): SCIENCE (HSC Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Placement Name: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) Placement Address: 500 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 Placement Phone Number: 9217 0676 Placement Email Address: VolunteerCentre@maas.museum Contact Person: Cate Purcell (Monday - Friday), Jasmine Chan (Monday — Friday), Dawn Rose (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday) ‘CHECK THAT YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THIS PLACEMENT BEFORE SUBMITTING THIS RATIONALE DATE OF SUBMISSION: INTENDING COMMENCEMENT DATE 31/07/17 Induction day 05/08/17 Student Teacher's Signature: ba _ Date:3!/942017 Ihave read the information sheet on the VUWS site about the PP3 Research project: Community ‘engagement and professional practice three: beyond the institutional walls, @ 1 Agree To allow the written documents | produce in my PP3 (Rationale /self reflections) to be used in the research project. CHECKLIST @ This form is to be lodged ONLINE in InPlace. © You will need to save a copy of this document for your records. Coordinator will then approve your strand as soon as possible. You will be notified via the InPlace site.Rationale (500 words) This Is a Voice is a scientific exhibit at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS). It explores the importance of voice in our culture, how voice can be expressed as well as the scientific underpinnings of voice in the fields of audiology and biomedicine. As a future science teacher this exhibit offers an interesting insight into communicating science through different mediums, including video, art and interactive displays. Being involved with the museum team and gaining an insight into their ideas on communicating science through different media will be really relevant and useful for me. Likewise, the program will be catered towards the public and therefore a diverse range of learners. Seeing how the activities and displays interact with and are interpreted by different members of the public will give me a useful insight on a variety of fronts. This includes; activities that engage learners, activities that foster deeper understanding of targeted concepts, and modes of representation (such as different types of visuals) that capture attention and facilitate learning, Aside from the exhibit and the museum staff who have orchestrated it, the volunteer role itself will require me to communicate ideas about the exhibit with members of the public. As a volunteer I will be assisting families and adult audiences with the concepts, hands on interactives and will lead visitors through visible thinking strategies (such as a see, think, wonder thinking routine in which | will be trained). Engaging in this work will improve my scientific communication ability as well as my general ability to communicate with a diverse range of people. Further, it will improve my confidence in working as an educator in different environments and my classroom voice. | believe these things will help me address standards 1.5 (differentiate teaching to meet the specific learning needs of students across the full range of abilities), 3.1 (establish challenging learning goals) and 4.1 (identify strategies to support inclusive student participation and engagement in classroom activities). In the lead up to the interview | researched what exhibits are currently on at the museum, who works for the museum and the types of work associated with the various roles within the museum. | likewise visited the museum and walked through the exhibits to familiarise myself with the museum and it’s layout. These activities all strengthened my interest in the placement and it's applicability to the skill requirements of teaching, In brief | hope to learn how to organise explanations and speak with clarity and confidence. Likewise, Ihope to develop my ability to engage diverse members of the public. The museum has a strong educational focus and | would really lke to observe and implement their ideas on educating science concepts and knowledge. In order to teach others | wish to gain a breadth of knowledge on educational approaches from different areas. Undertaking this placement will provide me with a new experience and enrich my teaching toolbox of strategies and skills.