Person

Symington, David John (1935 - 2021)

Born
29 December 1935
Nyah West, Victoria, Australia
Died
4 August 2021
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Science educator and Teacher

Summary

David Symington always felt fortunate that he was able to follow his chosen career as a science educator. His engaging curiosity was readily passed on to his students both secondary and tertiary. He graduated from the University of Melbourne (BSc (1956), Dip Ed (1957), BEd (1962)) and from Monash University (MEd (1975), PhD (1981)). Symington was a science teacher in the Victorian Department of Education from 1958 to 1971 when he was appointed a Lecturer at Toorak Teachers' College: there he taught and researched science education. During his time at the College it was amalgamated with other colleges to become Victoria College before becoming part of Deakin University in 1992. Symington retired from Deakin as Dean of Primary Education in 1997 and worked for CSIRO as a science communicator until 2001. From 2001 until his death in 2021 he was an Adjunct Professor of Science Education at Deakin University. Symington had a long involvement the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Environmental Education Research Group (STEME) at Deakin. In later years he was heavily involved with SiMERR (National Centre of Science, ICT, and Mathematics Education for Regional and Rural Australia) and ASISTM (Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics), Australia-wide programs both of which aim to improve teaching and learning outcomes in schools.

Details

Chronology

1956
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne
1957
Education - Diploma of Education, University of Melbourne
1958 - 1964
Career position - Teacher, Leongatha High School
1962
Education - Bachelor of Education, University of Melbourne
1965 - 1971
Career position - Teacher, Mirboo North High School
1971 - 1988
Career position - Lecturer in Science, Toorak Teachers College (later Victoria College)
1975
Education - Master of Education, Monash University
1981
Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Monash University
1988 - 1991
Career position - Head of School at Toorak Campus, Victoria College
1992 - 1994
Career position - Head of School at Toorak Campus, Deakin University
1994 - 1997
Career position - Dean of Primary Education, Deakin University
1997 - 1998
Career position - Manager, Communications, CSIRO Division of Molecular Science
1998 - 2001
Career position - Manager, Public Affairs and Communication, CSIRO, Office of the Deputy Chief Executive, Minerals and Energy
2001 - 2021
Career position - Adjunct Professor of Science Education, Deakin University

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Books

Journal Articles

  • Biddulph, F.; Symington, D.; and Osborne, R., 'The place of children's questions in primary science education', Research in Science & Technological Education, 4 (1) (1986), 77-88. Details
  • Griffin, J.; and Symington, D., 'Moving from task-oriented to learning-oriented strategies on school excursions to museums', Science education, 81 (6) (1997), 763-79. Details
  • Hayes, D.; Symington, D.; and Martin, M., 'Drawing during science activity in the primary school', International journal of science education, 16 (3) (1994), 265-77. Details
  • Symington, D.; and Spurling, H., 'The "Draw a scientist test": interpreting the data', Research in science & technological education, 8 (1) (1990), 75-7. Details
  • Tytler, R.; Symington, D.; and Smith, C., 'A curriculum innovation framework for science, technology and mathematics education', Research in science education, 41 (1) (2011), 19-38. Details

Newspaper Articles

Resources

Tom Spurling and Helen Cohn

EOAS ID: biogs/P006839b.htm

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