Diversifying Science Classroom Practice – Engaging with the ‘Youtube Generation’
by Brendan O’Brien
What is www.60secondscience.net?
60SecondScience is a fully online International Video Competition sponsored by the Department of Education (DEECD-Innovation Next Practice Division), Victoria, Australia. Since its first iteration in 2008, it has enjoyed continual growth and appeal, from 30 Victorian school-only participants, to well over 300 science videos uploaded in 2012, with over 1100 registering from 40 countries. The competition is Free to Enter and links directly to required student outcomes over a number of Science, Citizenship and ICT Learning Standards. $10,000 in cash prizes is distributed each year, as determined by a prestigious International panel of judges. There are Divisions which cater for students of different ages.
Why is www.60secondscience.net used in Science Classrooms?
Teachers can engage the interests and skills of students in a way that increases the depth of their science knowledge as they hone their multimedia skills. Many of today’s students are an entrenched part of the ‘youtube generation’ and are more than comfortable with being producers of content, whereas other generations were comfortable as mere consumers of content. Many students are ‘over’ powerpoint reports by the time they get to secondary and High School settings, and are happy to shoot video on their smart-phones, flipcams, videocameras or webcams. The competition is easily adapted to be used not as an add-on, but as a contingent element within the existing science curriculum
How is www.60secondscience.net used in Secondary/High School Science Classrooms?
- Teachers give students the option of making a 60second video to demonstrate their understanding of a topic or unit of work they are studying/researching in any area of the senior science curriculum. Eg Chemistry-physics: Sublimation, Doppler Effect, Newton’s Laws, Occipital Lobe, Projectile Motion, Chemical Bonding, Hot air balloon physics
Making a short explanatory video is often done as an alternative to producing a written report, poster or Powerpoint.
- Teachers give the student teams the option to make a ‘prac report video’ instead of the standard ‘written’ prac report. Eg. Photosynthesis, The Law of Reflection, Heart-rate, Thermal expansion, Displacement Reactions.
In both cases, students are required to research deeply and collaborate closely to refine their understandings and condense their knowledge to convey their key concepts and ideas into the 60second format.
How is www.60secondscience.net used in Primary/Elementary Science Classrooms?
Students work with their teacher on a particular science topic or integrated study unit, and produce a video over a number of weeks as part of their weekly routine. This can be used as a science teaching strategy at any grade level.
eg. Grade 3/4: The Mpemba Effect, Grade 5/6 Lemon Battery, Grade 1 Temperature, Grade 6 Plant Osmosis
How does www.60secondscience.net support Multicultural Classrooms?
The LOTE Divisions encourage entrants to use Languages Other Than English. Eg Cantonese, Indonesian, Italian, Chinese, French, Cantonese, Malayalam,
Divisions:
International primary / elementary school division – $400/$100
International secondary / high school division $400/$100
International Open – $400/$100 professional/amateur film-makers, teachers.
International LOTE –$250 with English sub-titles, spoken in a Language Other Than English.
Best Cinematography – $250 for videos in any Division
Best Animation – $250 for videos in any Division
Worst Cola-Candy-Mint-Lolly video – All Cola-Candy-Mint-Lolly videos are AUTOMATICALLY registered in this Division) and the ’Winner’ gets a Certificate + offer of free online video production and science workshop for teachers and students
The competition website has had well over 700,000 video downloads
2013 Deadline: register by 5 August 2013, Upload videos by 5 August 2013
Contact:
Brendan O’Brien
Science, eLearning | DEECD, Hume Region, Victoria, Australia |0438 420 027
Convenor: www.60secondscience.net
Twitter: @Brendano http://twitter.com/brendano
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/60SecondScienceVidComp
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