Year 6 students undertake daring 'mission'

November 02, 2007

A record number of 276 Year 6 students from around the region responded to the challenge of rescuing a kidnapped President when they met for the annual "Mission Possible" science and technology day.

Students from Inverell Public, Glen Innes Public, Guyra Central, Uralla Central, Carinya Tamworth and Tamworth Public, as well as Armidale schools Sandon, Armidale City, Newling, St Mary's, The Armidale School and PLC, accepted the challenge of rescuing the fictional President.

"Mission Possible", a joint initiative of the University of New England and The Armidale School (TAS), was held at TAS on Friday 26 October.

Teachers from TAS and staff and students from UNE combined to guide the students through a number of strategies for investigating and solving the problems, and designing and making "mission" equipment ranging from stealth gliders to alarm systems.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNE, Professor Alan Pettigrew, the Head of UNE's School of Education, Professor Ian Hay, and the Principal of TAS, Mr Murray Guest, reviewed the progress of the rescue operation, and were impressed by the collaborative interaction within the small groups undertaking the mission.

During their morning break, the students were treated to the added stimulus of several successful test firings of solid-fuel-propelled rockets by senior TAS students.

Dr Keith Fleming from the Faculty of the Professions at UNE, who (together with Gordon McClennan from TAS) organised "Mission Possible 2007", said the students had responded magnificently to the challenge, the winning team rescuing the President in record time after solving six separate "mission" problems.

Dr Fleming said the students' level of interaction in planning, designing, making and testing their "mission" strategies and equipment had been very high. Both he and Mr McClennan emphasised the close link of the day’s events with the NSW Science and Technology Syllabus and the importance of these outcomes for Australia’s future.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Dr Mike Littledyke, a Senior Lecturer in Education at UNE, working with students on their rescue mission.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at November 2, 2007 01:30 PM