President’s Message
Science Extension
Extension has taken off around NSW. The number of students
is growing beyond expectation and it is so exciting to see their
passion for science and scientific understanding blossom!
Module 1 has been particularly insightful, and students are
constantly able to reflect on their practice with the Philosophy
of Science. To support our members we are holding a range of
twilight sessions during the year, so keep an eye out for dates.
We will add some to continue from last year’s as well as repeating
last year’s introduction to the Science Extension.
Margaret Shepherd
President STANSW
Teaching Standards
The BEEINS Conference
With the inclusion of the teaching standards for all of us, being
part of this Association is a perfect way to both keep up-to-date
with what is happening in science in NSW, and also to upskill in
our pedagogy and also our content area. We are all so time poor
that a single day each year is a great investment in professional
learning.
Our BEEINS Conference this year presented me with a relieving
pause; a delightful pause, as so many presenters were our up-
and-coming young teachers, who stood up there in front of a room
full of teachers and shared their practice. It was really invigorating
to all of us, and I hope that many experienced teachers will take
up the banner and offer to present their practice to others next
year.
Can I suggest that you really consider adding either Working
Committee participation or attending a conference into your PD
plan for 2019 (standard 6.1.2)?
‘Meet The Markers’ and the AGM
Primary
In a few weeks we will hold our ‘Meet The Markers’ and AGM
(May 25 th at ACU, North Sydney). It would be excellent to have
as many members as possible attend the AGM. This year we will
be including a whole lot of new workshops on assessment for the
new HSC syllabuses so do come along and share your ideas. We
will also look at using NESA sample questions to develop our own
sample exams, and will provide participants with opportunities
to discuss the content involved in the questions, as well as the
Marking Guidelines. It is important to remember that past HSC
exams can still be used to help prepare students, as long as the
content is targeted to the new syllabuses.
Professional Learning Events in Science will be boosted this
year, beginning with a new digital workshop that will be offered
free to those teachers who attended the first Primary Conference
this year. In 2019 we are running a dedicated Primary Stream
program alongside all STANSW events to give members even
more access to quality PD for sci-tech, with backup twilights as
support as well. So, taking part in committees and supporting
your colleagues helps contribute to the profession. Writing for
our journal, ‘Science Education News’ is one fine way, but we
also need more members helping us with putting on events – and
we also need venues! Do you have great school facilities to host
STANSW Conferences? If so, please get in touch with office@
stansw.asn.au to make an offer.
Physics
On June 21 st it will be time to time to explore Physics at our annual
Physics Conference. With much greater depth on mathematics,
many of us need to upskill in deriving formulae or teaching the
mathematics behind the physics. We have an amazing team of
volunteer teachers on the Working Committee putting together
the best program that we can.
STANSW Members’ Benefits
There are many major benefits for you to become a member of
STANSW. This year, in particular, we have had limited capacity in
some venues, so we have been giving members advance notice
to allow them to book in first for events. However, you still have
to take advantage of this and book in early to be guaranteed a
place!
Chemistry
September 23 rd will provide Chemistry teachers with a STEM
CHEM Conference at Macquarie University. This will allow
teachers to present both the Stage-6 syllabus with possibilities
to link it to a STEM context. Authentic chemistry is so much
easier for students to remember, so providing a context that is
both relevant and of interest to students is the best approach.
(Magwilang, 2016; King, Donna T. Bellocchi, Alberto, & Ritchie,
Stephen M . 2008; Jones, J. 2012; Seery, M. (2015)
Wishing you all an amazing term 2.
Margaret Shepherd
STANSW President
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 1