Dr Christine Howitt

Dr Christine Howitt is a Lecturer in Science Education who holds a PhD from Curtin.

Telephone: +618 9266 2328

Office: B220.210

Research and Thesis Topics

Young children’s science learning.
(Young children refer to those from birth to eight years of age.)

What does young children’s science look like? How do young children develop their basic science skills, such as observation and classification? How can improved discourse through strategies such as concept cartoons and puppets increase engagement in science? How can this science be effectively recorded? What is the place of a socio–cultural perspective in understanding our youngest learners? How can more meaningful science experiences be incorporated into early learning centres?
Finding identity and space in science.

How can authentic and contextual experiences allow learners to make more meaningful connections with science? How do these connections contribute to improved confidence and attitudes towards science? What is the role of creativity in developing such science learning experiences? What is the role of challenging learners’ thinking and ideas of science in helping them to connect with science? How important is self–reflection within this process?
Interpreting science learning experiences through the learners’ eyes

How can qualitative methods be used to describe and interpret learners’ individual experiences of science? How can this inform teaching and learning practice?

Selected Publications

Howitt, C. & Venville, G. (2008). Dual vision: Capturing the learning journey of pre–service early childhood teachers of science. Submitted to International Journal of Research & Methodology in Education.

Howitt. C., Rennie, L., Heard, M. & Yuncken, L. (2008). Evaluation of the Scientists in School Pilot Project. Submitted to Teaching Science.

Howitt, C. (2008, January). "Science is unimaginative and uncreative!" Challenging pre–service primary teachers’ views of science through explicit reflections. Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, Udon Thani, Thailand.

Howitt, C., Morris, M., & Colvill, M. (2007). Science teaching and learning in the early childhood years. In V. Dawson & G. Venville (Eds.), The art of teaching primary science. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.

Howitt, C. (2007).Pre–service elementary teachers’ perceptions of factors in an holistic methods course most influencing their confidence in teaching science. Journal of Research in Science Education, 37(1), 41–58.

Morris, M., Merritt, M., Fairclough, S., Birrell, N., & Howitt, C. (2007). Trialling concept cartoons in early childhood teaching and learning of science. Teaching Science, 53(2), 42–45.

Howitt, C., Acledan, M., Ramos, S., & Sulanting, H. (2007, August). New eyes: International students’ changing perceptions of how to conduct educational research. Paper presented at the annual research forum of the Western Australian Institute for Educational Research, Perth, Western Australia.

Howitt, C. (2006, July). Interpreting science learning experiences through pre–service primary teachers’ eyes. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Australasian Science Education Research Association, Canberra, Australia.

Howitt, C. (Ed.). (2005). Investigate this! Natural and processed materials. Lower primary. Osborne Park, Perth: STAWA.

Howitt, C. (2004). The use of critical incident vignettes to share a pre–service primary teacher’s science learning journey. Proceedings Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Forum 2004.
http://education.curtin.edu.au/waier/forums/2004/howitt.html