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ICASE Position Paper: World
Conference on Science and Technology Education
Rationale
The World Conference on Science and Technology Education is a high
profile, high quality, premier event for ICASE to showcase the rich
diversity of science and technology education in schools, university
education faculties, in pre-school groups and in non-formal agencies
world-wide. It provides opportunities for practitioners and other
interested groups to collect and share experiences, skills and
knowledge within a networked community. It enables this community of
delegates to meet in good spirit and harmony.
Operation and procedures
The Conference will occur approximately every three years and be
associated with the ICASE General Assembly and Executive meetings
and elections. The community of delegates will use time within
discussion groups to develop a Conference Declaration on future
directions in science and technology education and the environment
and policy recommendations for ICASE and others interested in STE.
The conference will be for teachers of science in early childhood,
primary and secondary schools, science educators in universities and
external or non-formal agencies, scientists, curriculum and policy
developers, school administrators, science education associations,
student groups and laboratory technicians.
A wonderful social program of events will be provided throughout the
conference along with pre- or post-conference tours. The Conference
Dinner will be held early in the Conference so that participants can
get to know each other. A highlight of the Conference will be the
Chisman Oration and reception.
An evaluation will be conducted to provide feedback regarding
highlights of the conference, what participants felt they had
learned at the conference, what the participants were still thinking
about and improvements that could be made. This information is
passed on to the organising committee for the next World Conference.
The next World Conference will be open for Expressions of Interest
and voted on by ICASE Executive at least 8 months before the current
World Conference, so that the future Convenors can present
information at the current Conference. For each conference ICASE
will form a partnership with a host organization on the ground in
the country of the conference.
The World Conference will be budgeted and financed separately from
other ICASE accounts, audited and have its own website.
It is hoped that holding the World Conference regularly will not
diminish in any way the level of ICASE activities at the Regional
level.
Aims
The aims of a World Conference on Science and Technology Education
are:
(i) promoting the exchange of ideas, professional development of
teachers of science and science educators, maximising participation
and engagement in science and technology and its education,
developing partnerships and networks and contributing to life long
learning;
(ii) sharing latest science and technology, teaching strategies,
concepts, and thinking, curriculum, policies, education systems,
materials, resources, teacher training practices, assessment and
evaluation strategies
(iii) use of innovative activities, workshops, Keynotes and other
presentations, field trips, delegate led discussions, multi-media
sessions;
(iv) use of methods of exchange to maximize input, sharing, and
continued communication in science education between delegates and
others worldwide;
(v) promoting social values, the values of science and responsible
decision making alongside science conceptual and skills development;
(vi) co-construction of a Conference Declaration for the future
directions of science and technology education and promotion of
science education and the environment;
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