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"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
- Nelson Mandela -
Zyno Allie
I am a lecturer at the School for Science and Mathematics Education (SSME), Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
I am involved in the undergraduate (BEd) and postgraduate science education modules (PGCE & Honors).
Biosketch
Ms Allie’s professional career started as a biological scientist full time and a science educator part time. The path of her destiny as an inspirational science educator and researcher in science education started when these roles were swopped driven by her passion for teaching and learning. While doing biological sciences, her role as an educator with exemplary teaching for understanding was indicative of the numerous awards she won for best poster and oral presentations at national and international conferences. This was further emphasized as her role as lecturer by her consistent positive student feedback showing the good relationship she had with students. In 2009 she quit her lecturing post and research in biological sciences to pursue a formal profession in science education. She is currently a permanent lecturer (since 2015) and part time doctoral student in science education at the School of Science and Mathematics Education, Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape in the beautiful town of Cape Town, South Africa. In 2017 she was awarded the faculty’s Emerging Lecturer's Award of Excellence in Teaching and Learning. This can be attributed to her innovative skills in the effective use of technology in education as well as her current research based lecture topics in her classrooms. She is particularly interested in the identification of alternative misconceptions (of science education students and teachers) on challenging science topics and instructional tools to address it. Furthermore, her research also include the role that alternative conceptions play in the conceptual understanding of science topics.
Her compassion for community spans over nearly twenty years of involvement in educational outreach programmes for high school learners and teachers specifically in previously disadvantaged schools where she engages young minds through science. Her enthusiasm for science teaching and learning serve as an inspiration for future generations in the fields of science research and education as responsible human beings that will contribute not only to the acquisition of knowledge, but to the acquisition of knowledge as a responsible professional towards the upliftment of your community and country.
Research interests in short: science education; alternative conceptions; conceptual understanding; technology in the science classroom
I love nature (and not only the nature of science). So, the beauty of nature I face with a lot of respect of course - cliff jumping, level 3 rapids when river rafting, nappy run in the rapids, skiing down a semi-active volcano (that was great). Hence, during my school teaching experience I would create various opportunities to take my classroom outside (literally & figuratively). I only need to get some funding to have some of my classes on my favourite beach - see below and you will agree with me!
Something personal
So while I wait in setting up a natural science classroom, there were a couple of things I have done e.g. explore the school grounds for investigating the natural habitat of animals as part of the Natural Sciences curriculum (Grades 7-9); investigate FET mechanics (Grades 10-12) with the use of a shopping trolley in the school parking grounds; doing the G12 ester preparation practical outside; running up and down the school stairs as a G12 Work, Energy & Power investigation. These are the opportunities where I can connect scientific concepts to everyday events and things around us thereby creating science as a value added subject that the learners can relate to.
I started as a researcher in Biological Sciences, with a bit of Chemistry and Polymer Sciences applications. And while doing that I was always tutoring high school kids and undergraduate students. Outside the lecture halls and labs I was also involved in science education programmes until a couple of years back I decided to make my passion my profession. So, I formally changed to Science Education and here I am today!
Due to my diverse professional background, I believe I have been uniquely successful in integrating science with other subjects. My undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in science (biological and polymer sciences) provided me with opportunities to link science to human and microbial development as well as natural and man-made concepts. In addition, I am one of eight children which, by design, has instilled within me the appreciation and values of teaching – in a family this big with an age gap of approximately 2 years, you are forced to be the learner (from your older siblings) and the teacher (to the younger siblings). This has led to the organic process of me becoming a science educator.
My students and colleagues are familiar with my passion and enthusiasm I have for science, science understanding and knowledge gain. My drive to always want to learn new things (the lifelong learner) has created a natural curiosity and enthusiasm in me– or is it vice versa – my curiosity and enthusiasm has driven me to learn new things?? Irrespective of the order, those characteristics I take to the classroom and convey it to my students which have led me to engage students in the process of science and their own learning.
Exemplary educators are those that have enthusiasm and curiosity about teaching & learning AND sharing it
- with peers, learners, students and the greater community -