2025 STANSW Secondary Science Teachers Conference 7-12
11 August @ 8:00 am - 4:30 pm AEST
$60.00 – $815.00
Annual Secondary Science Teachers Conference 7-12
Change Agents: Inspiring Science Education (CAiSE)
Date: Monday 11 August, 2025
Venue: Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta
Join your fellow secondary science educators at the STANSW Term 3 CAiSE Conference.
Hosted by OLMC School Parramatta on Monday, August 11th during National Science Week, this dynamic one-day event is designed to invigorate your teaching and connect you with a passionate community of professionals.
We’ll explore the latest developments in the NSW Science Syllabus, delve into innovative pedagogical approaches, and provide practical strategies to take back to the classroom.
Summary
This engaging conference offers a unique opportunity to participate in hands-on workshops covering a diverse range of topics relevant to Stage 4 to Stage 6 science. Delve into:
- Practical Investigations to engage students in scientific thinking.
- Dry lab demonstrations, simulations and experimentation to reinforce scientific concepts.
- Incorporating data science principles to teach students data analysis and interpretation skills; using data science techniques to solve real-world scientific problems.
- Leveraging AI and integrating AI tools to enhance students’ understanding of scientific concepts in your classroom.
- Mapping skills across stages and for Depth Studies and continuity of scientific skills as students advance through different year levels.
Who Should Attend:
This conference is tailored for all secondary science teachers in NSW, from those just starting their careers to experienced educators looking to refresh their skills and connect with colleagues. Whether you teach Stage 4, Stage 5, or Stage 6, you’ll find relevant and inspiring content.
What to Expect:
- Keynote presentations from leaders in science education
- Engaging Workshops: Participate in interactive sessions focused on practical strategies and innovative teaching methods across various science disciplines.
- Curriculum Focus: Gain a deeper understanding of the NSW Science curriculum and syllabus implementation guidance.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow science teachers from across NSW, share ideas, and build your professional network.
- Browse the Exhibition Area: Gather the latest resources and updates from publishers and education services.
- Practical Takeaways: Leave with resources and strategies you can immediately implement in your classroom.
- Professional Growth: Invest in your professional development and build skills.
Become a Change Agent: Inspiring Secondary Science Education
Keynote
Professor Manjula Sharma
Representational fluency, reflective thinking and explicit instruction
With the pivot to explicit instruction, there is a need to be creative in the ‘what, why and how’ explicit instruction is incorporated. Inquiry approaches that foster meaningful student-directed learning are particularly valuable for inspiring students within STEM contexts. However, explicitly teaching key skills like mathematical reasoning requires clarity in defining instructional goals and methods. This talk introduces the concept of representational fluency—the ability to interpret and translate between multiple representations (graphical, mathematical, conceptual)—and explores how carefully designed modules effectively support students’ representational fluency and conceptual understanding [1,2]. Additionally, the presentation highlights reflective thinking as a tangible and assessable component of critical thinking, integral to deep student learning [3,4]. Both representational fluency and reflective thinking provide ways of intertwining explicit instruction within inquiry approaches.
Professor Manjula Sharma, a leading science educator, has been involved in school and university curriculum matters for several decades. She is currently Director of the STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy at The University of Sydney, and Chair of IUPAP Commission C14 on Physics Education. Professor Sharma has over 100 publications and has supervised outstanding PhD candidates, including Dr Derek Muller creator of YouTube channel Veritasium. She has been Chief Examiner for NSW HSC Physics. Professor Sharma co-founded the premier Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (ACSME) and the International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education (IJISME). She has been recognised with numerous awards and fellowships including by the American Association of Physics Teachers, UK Higher Education Academy, Australian Institute of Physics and Teacher’s Guild of New South Wales.
| Ticket Price includes gst/ each | |
|
| Non-Members | $815 | |
| Secondary School Member Associates |
$645 | |
| Individual Teacher Members | $475 | |
| Afternoon Canapés | $60 | |
* Individual Teacher Members include – Life Members, Secondary Teacher Members and Non-Teacher Members.
To access member tickets, please log into your member account.
Not a member yet? Join our community to access our member discounts and access to other STANSW benefits.
Registration Closes: Friday 25th July, 2025. Payment must be received prior to the event date.
Thank you to our event sponsors and exhibitors: Cambridge University Press & Assessment, Anzuk Education, Oxford University Press, Education Perfect, Nelson Cengage, STEM Reactor, Matilda Education, Libertas Travel and AusEco Education.
