P006839 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2021-12-07 human Tom Spurling and Helen Cohn updated 2025-10-07 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P006839b.htm person Symington David John AACR2 29 December 1935 4 August 2021 Place of Birth Nyah West, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Science educator Teacher 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. 1956 1956 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Melbourne 1957 1957 Education - Diploma of Education, University of Melbourne 1958 1964 Career position - Teacher, Leongatha High School 1962 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 1975 Education - Master of Education, Monash University 1981 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 CSIRO Division of Molecular Science, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (1997 - 2005)

Manager, Communications, 1997 - 1998

 Deakin University (1974 - )

Dean of Primary Education 1994 - 1997; Adjunct Professor of Science Education 2001 -2021

 'Symington, David John', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Symington, David John Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: Catherine Money Spurling, Heather; and Symington, David Catherine Money Blackburn, Vic. Dove Communications 1986 Book: Joy Bear Spurling, Heather; and Symington, David Joy Bear Blackburn, Vic. Dove Communications 1986 Journal Article: Drawing during science activity in the primary school Hayes, D.; Symington, D.; and Martin, M. Drawing during science activity in the primary school 1994 International journal of science education 16 3 265-77 Journal Article: A curriculum innovation framework for science, technology and mathematics education Tytler, R.; Symington, D.; and Smith, C. A curriculum innovation framework for science, technology and mathematics education 2011 Research in science education 41 1 19-38 Journal Article: The place of children's questions in primary science education Biddulph, F.; Symington, D.; and Osborne, R. The place of children's questions in primary science education 1986 Research in Science & Technological Education 4 1 77-88 Journal Article: The "Draw a scientist test": interpreting the data Symington, D.; and Spurling, H. The "Draw a scientist test": interpreting the data 1990 Research in science & technological education 8 1 75-7 Journal Article: Moving from task-oriented to learning-oriented strategies on school excursions to museums Griffin, J.; and Symington, D. Moving from task-oriented to learning-oriented strategies on school excursions to museums 1997 Science education 81 6 763-79 Newspaper Article: An engaging curious educator: David Symington, December 29 1935 - August 4, 2021 Spurling, Tom; Tytler, Russell; Lenten, Tony; and Symington, John An engaging curious educator: David Symington, December 29 1935 - August 4, 2021 2021 The Age Resource: Farewell avid Symington Clark, John Cripps Farewell avid Symington Deakin University 2021