Connection and fun are vital for Education lecturer named one of Australia’s best

Talking passionately about science teaching, Education lecturer at Southern Cross University, Dr Simone Blom is suddenly overcome by an involuntary sympathetic nervous system reaction, where muscles contract and hairs stand on end.

This is otherwise known as ‘goosebumps’, a term Simone prefers, just as she prefers everyday language to ensure her science classroom is inclusive.

“You get goosebumps, as a teacher, when the room is abuzz,” said Simone. “Students are having fun, questioning and challenging each other.”

“That is so rewarding, a total goosebump moment. I’ve got them again now!”

Simone’s infectious enthusiasm has led to her being recognised as one of the nation’s top educators in the 2023 Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).

The AAUT citation honours her ‘for sustained improvement in student confidence and success in science education by creating accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable content.’

With science, the key to building confidence in pre-service teachers, according to Simone, is connection.

“My teaching philosophy is ‘Relationships First’,” she said.

“If I went into a classroom, desperate to teach all this content, and didn’t connect with people, I wouldn’t enjoy the lesson and they wouldn’t either.

“I never sacrifice connection for content. Interestingly, when I focus on connection, the content flows.”

She starts by finding out about her students’ past experiences in science.

“If it was negative, we need to unpack why it wasn’t enjoyable. My students learn they don’t have to carry that anymore, because they’re in the driver’s seat now,” she said.

A lightbulb moment for many of Dr Blom’s students comes when they realise, they don’t need to be a fountain of knowledge to teach science.

As a teacher, “when you pretend to know everything, you put a dampener on your students’ natural curiosity and they don’t get to truly explore,” she said.

“A teacher has to be comfortable with being a learner, and learning alongside their students.”

Simone was part of the powerhouse team behind the Southern Cross University Electric Kombi Conversion Curriculum project.

This creative collaboration between industry, government, Southern Cross University academics, students and alumni is a great example of Simone’s teaching philosophy in action, where students are empowered to guide their own learning and have fun.

Have fun is also her advice to pre-service teachers, along with look after yourself.

“It can be easy to reflect on the bad points of the day,” she advised. “Suddenly they grow to become bigger than all the magic moments. Celebrating the great points is important.”

“Teaching is an intense job, but when your students graduate and you know you’ve inspired them, that is huge! I don’t know too many jobs like that.”

Simone's recognition follows AAUT citations for Dr Michael Whelan in 2020, Dr Mieke Witsel in 2019 and Professor Amanda Reichelt-Brushett in 2018.