7-10 Program and Presenters
9:20 - 10:00 am (RBG) / 8:45 - 9:20 am (online)
Keynote: Making the General Capabilities Work in Science 7-10
Dr Sham Nair - Science Advisor 7-12, NSW Department of Education
NESA describes the general capabilities to “… encompass the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours to assist students to live and work successfully in the 21st century”. This presentation explores the role of the general capabilities in science education, particularly in constructing deep knowledge. It also examines contemporary thinking on the teaching and assessment of some capabilities. The presentation incorporates teaching ideas that illustrate the importance of the general capabilities framework when teaching and learning science.
10:05 - 10:25 am (RBG) / 9:20 - 9:30 am (Online)
Morning Tea - Calyx Garden and Café
10:30 - 11:30 am (RBG) / 9:30 - 10:30 am (Online)
Critical and Creative Thinking only for the bright?
Dr Silvia Rudmann - Aurora College
Critical and creative thinking develop students' capabilities to think broadly and deeply using reason, logic, imagination, creativity and innovation. The focus of this workshop will aim to discuss what implies in the teaching and learning of critical and creative thinking and how to differentiate critical thinking for all the students. Critical and creative thinking has a myth around it that it is not only for the bright minds, which is not the case. Hence, different strategies to ignite higher order thinking will be demonstrated. Those strategies are based in the use of paradoxes, class games and differentiated teaching which cater for inquiring, organising and analysing information and ideas to reflect on the thinking process. In critical thinking not always, a solution to the problem is obtained and that is the key to generate more ideas and actions for further thinking. Teachers will participate actively in solving problems and they will take resources than can be adapted to their own classrooms.
Dr Silvia Rudmann has been teaching for over 20 years. Firstly at University and later on, in public high schools. Her passion for science and gifted education lead her to complete her PhD in Biology and the GERRIC certificate in gifted education with the UNSW. She is currently teaching at Aurora College, selective virtual public school for rural and remote students. Dr Silvia Rudmann is an active member of the Science Teacher Association of NSW presenting in conferences and training teachers in science education. She is the author lead of the award winner textbook series for year 11 and 12 Investigating Science in Focus and she has developed the new syllabus and textbook for the Biology Foundation Course for RMIT Melbourne.
9:30 - 10:30 am (Saturday Online)
Numeracy and ICT in Stage 5 Science – Investigating Wave Properties
Koko Dove & Linda Barker
Coomealla High School - NSW DET
Investigating Waves activity is a showcase of teaching practice in Stage 5 Science. The focus of the activity is to highlight the relevance of numeracy in Science, teach students ICT skills and get them thinking about how science is relevant in our world. The purpose of the showcase is to demonstrate one way to embed the general capabilities of numeracy and ICT but also to help students develop knowledge of concepts and thinking capabilities that are relevant in the Stage 6 sciences. The teaching activity involves students working with a small dataset of radio station frequencies, calculating matching wavelengths, graphing the variables, drawing conclusions about the mathematical relationships involved and commenting on how these are useful for everyday life and communication. Participants will benefit by seeing examples of embedding some of the general capabilities in Science and be inspired to apply similar ideas in their classrooms.
Miss Koko Dove
I come from Coomealla High School in the far west of NSW where I mainly teach Physics and Chemistry. As a local to this area, I know my students and community well. At the moment, my primary focus in education is raising student achievement in my subject area and promoting interest in science. Inspiring young people to pursue further study and work in scientific fields is important to me. I am currently completing a Master of Science in Astrophysics and am working on ways to share my favourite branch of science with my colleagues and students.
10:30 - 11:30 am (Wednesday only)
ANSTO: Connecting current science with your classroom
Mrs Julie Mulholland - Education Officer, ANSTO
Teaching about current and topical science and its applications is essential for students to truly understand the impact of science on their lives and our society. Workshop participants will investigate resources addressing current real-world science that have been developed by ANSTO Education Officers in conjunction with ANSTO scientists. These resources provide activities which enable students to improve literacy and numeracy skills, use ICT skills, problem-solving, and critical and creative thinking.
Participants will use data supplied by ANSTO scientists to construct graphs using MS Excel, basically producing graphs that appear in the papers published by the scientists. Participants will analyse their graphs to draw conclusions. Participants in this workshop will require a laptop with Microsoft Excel and access to the Internet.
Julie Mulholland is an Education Officer from Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). She is a highly experienced science educator, having over 30 years of experience teaching science, senior chemistry and senior physics in both TAFE and high schools, as well as 14 years as a Head Teacher Science. In 2013, she achieved a Minister’s award for excellence in teaching. Julie is instrumental in developing ANSTO’s data set resources for high school students.
11:40 - 12:40 pm (RBG) / 10:45 - 11:45 am (Online)
Help me I'm a science teacher and I need some strategies to teach general literacy
Mrs Robin Gordon - Inaburra School
Recent surveys have indicated that Science teachers lack confidence to explicitly teach general literacy. In this workshop a range of strategies for integrating explicit teaching of reading and writing in a scientific context will be described and practised. It will also be an opportunity for participants to discuss the challenges posed by the requirement in both the NESA General Capabilities and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers to use effective teaching strategies to support students’ literacy achievement. These acknowledge that all teachers are teachers of literacy and all students should expect to make progress in their development of literacy skills. The presenter is an experienced Science teacher of students in public and independent schools with a broad range of literacy needs and achievement.
Robin Gordon is an experienced Science teacher in public and independent schools. She has been a Learning Leader and supervisor of teacher accreditation, supporting early career and experienced teachers to meet teaching standards at a range of levels. Throughout her career, Robin has had an interest in improving literacy achievement for her students, including those from non-English speaking backgrounds, as well as developing an enthusiasm for Science.
11:40 - 12:40 pm (RBG) / 10:45 - 11:45 am (Online)
The “social and ethical considerations” of biotechnology
Dr Lauren McKnight - Garvan Institute
The “social and ethical considerations” of biotechnology are not only a syllabus requirement, but also key to relevant, engaging, and effective teaching of this exciting area of science. This workshop will focus on the general capabilities ethical understanding and personal and social capability, in the context of genetic technologies. Today’s students will become citizens in the genome generation- where healthcare and beyond are dominated by ready access to genomic information. Equipping students for decision making about genetic technologies involves more than just conceptual understanding; and studies show that embracing current and even controversial issues (with sensitivity) can increase student’s conceptual knowledge as well as their engagement. We will have fun learning, debating, and exploring resources and strategies for use in your stage 5 classroom.
Dr Lauren McKnight is a science educator in the Garvan Institute’s Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, exploring and facilitating genetics education in school and community settings. Lauren completed her PhD in the faculty of Medicine at Sydney University and has experience and a passion for supporting scientific literacy in learners of all ages.
12:45 - 1:30 pm (RBG) / 12:00 - 12:45 am (Online)
Lunch - Royal Botanic Gardens Teacher Workshops 'lunch and learn'
Two options at lunchtime each for 15-20 participants
- Learn about composting in the Royal Botanic Garden’s Yellowwood Children’s Garden
- Join us on a lunchtime walk to learn about some of the scientific research that takes place in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
1:40 - 2:40 pm (RBG) / 1:00 - 2:00 pm (Online)
Evidence of impact assessing deep learning in 7-10 Science and Technology
Kathryn Newton & Penny Vlies
NSW DoE: Curriculum General Capabilities Unit, Department of Education
This workshop will provide models of assessment for deep learning in Science K-10 syllabuses. These models form part of the NSW Department of Education Quality Teaching Unit General Capabilities Critical and Creative Thinking in Practice program, working with more than 100 schools state-wide. Participants will learn how to detect deep learning in student work and develop teaching and learning activities that target deep learning syllabus outcomes.
Benefits for participants:
- links to the research and evidence base for deep learning
- teaching and learning illustrations of practice
- advice on planning scope and sequences of learning
- practical tools to evaluate impact
This interactive workshop responds to curriculum reform recommendations, prioritising depth over breadth and focusing on more time for teaching the core concepts and content.
1:40 - 2:40 pm (RBG) / 1:00 - 2:00 pm (Online)
What's Up? CSIRO 's Initiatives in Space
Mr Rob Hollow - CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science
CSIRO is a major leader in Australian space initiatives. Specific examples including the Space Roadmap, the newly- established Centre for Earth Observation, NovaSAR-1, a new radar satellite and the development of CSIROSat-1 due for launch in 2021. CSIRO also provides excellent space tracking and communication through facilities such as the CDSCC operated in conjunction with NASA and the ESA station at New Norcia. The CSIRO Space Future Science Platform funds a diverse range of space projects pushing science and technology in innovative ways. We explore these initiatives in detail, highlighting how they can be incorporated into the curriculum. The role of Earth Observation in addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals is discussed. Examples of educational resources and activities are presented.
Robert is the Education Manager with CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, having previously been a high school physics teacher in NSW. Robert runs a range of other programs including PULSE@Parkes program for high school student. He is the Chair of the National Astronomy Education Coordination team for the International Astronomical Union and a Committee member for the IAU Commission on Astronomy for Education and Development.
2:50 - 3:30 pm (RBG) / 2:15 - 2:55 pm (Online)
7-10 TeachMeet - General Capabilities Showcase
TeachMeet 1: Exploring Plants and Infectious Diseases
Royal Botanic Gardens
(Creative and Critical Thinking)
In this TeachMeet presentation, we will discuss research on infectious diseases in plants that is undertaken in the Royal Botanic Gardens and how this can provide inspiration in the Science classroom for critical and creative thinking.
Teach Meet 2: BIOTech Futures Challenge 2022: where students think critically and creatively while demonstrating their personal and social capability
Fiona McCrossin - NSW Department of Education
(Critical and Creative Thinking , Personal and Social Capability)
Teachers who attend this presentation will leave with clear protocols for their schools and Stage 5 students to participate in the University of Sydney’s 2022 BIOTech Futures Challenge, including methods for students and schools to collaborate. The Challenge asks students to work as individuals or in teams to solve current problems in either medicine and health or energy and the environment. Students identify a problem or choose one that has been identified by an expert in the field. The students are then allocated a mentor and undertake research into the problem and its solution. The solution is presented at a symposium that allows students to attend the event at the University or attend online. A Challenge priority is to increase the participation of regional and international schools. The students' work is assessed by a team from Australian universities and Industry. The Challenge therefore allows students to engage in critical and creative thinking while demonstrating their personal and social capability. The problems are real, current and need to be solved.
Fiona McCrossin teaches science at Sydney Girls High School. A primary feature of Fiona's teaching career has been providing students with opportunities to work on environmental problems, both at school and in the wider community. Inevitably, Fiona has seen this increase student well-being. Since 2019 Fiona has been working with the University of Sydney's BIOTech Futures Challenge. At a time when young people are facing so much uncertainty, Fiona sees the Challenge as giving them an essential opportunity - to work with mentors to solve some of the most challenging problems currently facing health and the environment. Fiona's current goal is to see the Challenge reach as many students as possible.
Teach Meet 3: Reflect on intercultural experiences
Sylvia Persis - Wycliffe Christian School
(Intercultural understanding learning continuum)
The session will be a presentation on the different methods/lesson plans on how to teach and assess intercultural experiences of students. Coming from a different culture myself, students are given a rich experience of understanding different cultures and their values in my classes. Participants will be taken through a few examples of lesson plans on how students can respect different cultures and their own in the classroom. Sample formal and informal assessments on students understanding of different cultures will be presented and discussed. Participants will also get a chance to design a lesson plan and an assessment.
Dr. Sylvia Persis has been teaching Science for YRs 5-10 and Biology for YRs 11 and 12 for more than 30 years. Have a Ph. D in Biological Sciences through Macquarie University. Have a passion for research and teaching enquiry science. Have done 2 workshops one for STANSW on independent investigation in Biology and one for CONASTA on Depth study in Biology. Have a good understanding of depth study in Biology. Have been a marker for 4000 words Extended Essays from around the world in Biology for IB. Have been a Master teacher for Macquarie University and mentored new teachers.
TeachMeet 4: Creating 3D models with a digital overlay (Saturday Only)
Rob Mahon - Mackillop College
(Information and Communication Technology, Critical and Creative Thinking)
Create a 3D model of a scientific concept and add a digital layer of content. This can be the basis of a rich classroom project or an engaging assessment option. Applicable to every Science unit and easily adaptable to Stages 4-6, as well as to other KLAs. The model should include a moving part/s to help illustrate the concept. This element really gets students to think more deeply about their model, and apply both creativity and problem solving skills (creative thinking capability). The digital layer is added via QR codes linked to a variety of content types to be both curated and created by the student (ICT capability).
3:30 - 3:50 pm (RBG) - 3:10 - 3:30 pm (Online)
K-10 Closing: Developing an implementation plan
Mrs Michelle Lucas - Inaburra School
Plan
how your new learning might be embedded in your teaching practice in
order to best support your students, setting out a reflective process
for our follow up session.
Mrs Michelle Lucas is the Gifted Coordinator and Secondary Science Teacher at Inaburra School. She has a Masters in Gifted Education and experience embedding the general capabilities into teaching and learning programs from K-12.