Video Series to Help Embed Science Thinking and Analysis

Across the Victorian Curriculum and recent VCE exams, students are expected to think like scientists, not just recall scientific facts. Skills such as questioning, analysing evidence, comparing models and justifying conclusions are at the core of assessment, reflecting how science is practised today.

Channel 7 meteorologist Jane Bunn has partnered with Australian education resource company Edrolo to launch a new video series, named Like a scientist, to help schools embed science skills alongside content knowledge in the new Victorian Curriculum, which has become mandatory in schools across the state as of the start of this academic year.

The Like a scientist video series draws from Jane’s extensive scientific knowledge to teach year 7-10 students these fundamental skills, something that VCAA past exam data reveals students are struggling with when they face VCE exams.

Like a scientist aims to address this by teaching science skills, such as evaluating, explicitly rather than assuming students will pick them up subconsciously. Thinking processes are modelled step-by-step through real-world examples, creating a consistent whole-school approach that builds progressively from Year 7 to Year 10 and into VCE.

“As a scientist and meteorologist, I know first-hand the importance of critical thinking and data analysis skills,” said Jane. “Fun fact - I actually do the data analysis and interpretation for my 7NEWS weather reports and some of what I present on air is unscripted as I am looking at the latest data right up to the last second.”

Peter Goldsworthy, CEO at Edrolo says, “We want to help teachers foster the next generation of scientists, or science loving adults, and support schools to better align junior science learning with senior science exam expectations. This series will assist schools in teaching the new curriculum and having consistency across the entire learning journey.”

The Like a scientist series was launched on Monday, February 9th, to coincide with an International Day of Women and Girls in Science event, hosted at Jane’s former school Firbank Grammar. Bringing together over 350 girls from seven schools across Melbourne.