Teaching notes
How to use this resource
The Paul Willis master class and interviews form part of Science talk, a web-based resource which aims to inspire students and promote the opportunities science, technology and maths-based careers can offer.
This section contains video segments in which, Paul Willis speaks about dinosaurs, palaeontology and the role of media in promoting science. Each video has a series of questions or comments as a starting point for student discussion.
Students can develop an awareness of the nature and practices of palaeontology and the importance of communication in science by:
- discussing how groups of animals have changed over long periods of time (Stage 2 science and technology)
- identifying how conclusions from scientific investigations are subject to change (Stage 3 science and technology)
- predicting what dinosaurs looked like and how they behaved (Stage 2 science and technology)
- identifying the importance of communication about scientific ideas using an appropriate medium to the wider community (P13 biology)
- analysing the relevance of skills learnt in the study of science to other fields of endeavour (P11-14 biology)
- discussing the importance of the contribution of palaeontology to our understanding of the impact of changing environments. (P10 biology)
NSW Board of Studies syllabuses for K-6 science and technology and Stage 6 biology can be found at: www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au
Teachers may find it useful to combine this resource with others listed in the Related resources section to enhance students’ learning.
Quality teaching
This resource provides opportunities to incorporate the following elements of Quality teaching in NSW public schools by:
- highlighting the importance of working scientifically with first-hand investigations and the provisional nature of scientific knowledge (Deep knowledge, Narrative, Problematic knowledge)
- providing opportunities for students to consider the nature and practice of palaeontology (Deep knowledge, Knowledge integration)
- stimulating thought about current and future biological research and what benefits there might be for society (Connectedness, Deep knowledge, Higher-order thinking).
- focusing on the importance of communication of scientific ideas as a way of improving scientific literacy in the braoder community (Knowledge integration, Problematic knowledge).