Using mobile filmmaking to engage New Zealand school students in science.
Reversing the downward-trend seen in science engagement for school-aged students around the world and in New Zealand has been a main goal of the revised New Zealand curriculum. Establishing an early interest towards science will encourage New Zealand’s future leaders to enjoy the wonders of science as well as appreciate and participate in scientific arguments as they relate to public policy, health, conservation, and research. The use of technology in the classroom, and of video specifically, is seen as an effective way to engage students in science. By using a platform that students are already accustomed to in the digital age, they can express their ideas and explore complex concepts through the production of science films. By having positive and engaging experiences with school science, more students may incorporate science into their everyday lives, further studies, and careers. Using a mixed-methods approach, I am expanding current research on student engagement with science in New Zealand and exploring the effectiveness of a teaching intervention that has students creating their own science videos in the classroom.