A Rostrata Primary School teacher’s love of science and technology has seen him make the top 10 of the $1 million Global Teacher Prize, the world’s most prestigious award for educators.
Eleven years ago Richard Johnson established a laboratory at the school to teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and since then it has become one of the most innovative learning spaces for children in the state.
Students now use robotics, 3D printing, augmented reality and a host of other tools, real and online, to engage with STEM subjects.
He said he loved the curriculum but sometimes rigidly teaching to it stifled creativity.
“My way of teaching to the curriculum is to bring in anything high tech, the futuristic resources if you like, including the 3D world, augmented reality and virtual reality,” he said.
“This room we’ve created is almost like a futuristic classroom.
“We love to research and develop how we can use those ideas in the classroom.
“The whole idea is to make learning exciting for kids and the greatest focus is on hands on work, it’s pretty much the most effective way of teaching anything.
“Every single year it’s evolved into something better and better and it doesn’t stagnate, it’s sustainable.”
World-renowned physicist and cosmologist Professor Stephen Hawking on behalf of the Varkey Foundation announced the top 10 teachers last week.
The other nine teachers represented nations including the United States of America, the United Kingdom and India.
Mr Johnson said his jaw dropped when he found out he had made the top 10.
“The reaction was one of absolute surprise,” he said.
“I’m not the best teacher in Australia, I do what pretty much every other teacher does.”
The winner, who will be announced on March 12 in Dubai, receives $1 million to spend on improving education.
Mr Johnson said he would spend it on a solar project for WA children and taking the technology he uses in the school’s lab to WA remote schools.
Rostrata Primary School principal Barry France commended Mr Johnson for his commitment.
“He is an absolute legend of science,” he said.
Year five student Brianna said Mr Johnson was a really good science teacher and it was fun doing science.
“You can build things and do experiments (in his classroom) to find out things you didn’t know before,” she said.
Mr Johnson will travel to Dubai from March 10 to 13 to participate in the Varkey teacher ambassador’s leadership summit and the global education and skills forum 2016.
For more information visit varkeyfoundation.org.
