Working Scientifically Across 7–12: Building Inquiry, Data Skills and Depth Studies

Facilitator: Rebecca Collett, STANSW Teacher Fellow
Date and time: Wednesday 21 October 2026 (10am – 1pm)
Duration: Three-hour stand-alone professional learning workshop
Mode of Delivery: Live online, via Zoom
Audience: Secondary science teachers, faculty leaders and early-career teachers

Course Overview

The new NESA 7–10 Science Syllabus (2023) places Working Scientifically at the heart of science learning. For teachers and faculties, the challenge is not simply to include these skills, but to build them progressively and purposefully across Years 7–12.

This practical three-hour workshop explores how Working Scientifically skills can be embedded more coherently through everyday science lessons, investigations, data rich learning and depth studies. Participants will consider how students can progressively develop the skills needed to question, investigate, analyse evidence, solve problems and communicate scientifically, while building stronger foundations for Stage 6 science.

The workshop will help you:

• understand how Working Scientifically develops from Stage 4 through to Stage 6
• identify opportunities to strengthen skill development within existing programs
• make clearer connections between scientific knowledge, inquiry, data skills and depth studies
• consider practical approaches for supporting students to become increasingly independent scientific thinkers.

Designed for secondary science teachers, faculty leaders and early career teachers, this workshop provides a practical opportunity to review current practice and consider manageable ways to strengthen Working Scientifically across a science program.

Participants will leave with a clearer framework for building Working Scientifically skills across their teaching programs, from Year 7 foundations to Stage 6 expectations

By the end of this three-hour workshop, participants will:

1. Deepen their understanding of the role Working scientifically plays across all focus areas in the Science 7–10 (2023) syllabus, including data‑rich units and depth studies, and its contribution to scientific literacy.
2. Describe and use the progression of Working Scientifically skills from Stage 4 to Stage 6 to inform coherent programming and task design across Years 7–12, with explicit attention to how these skills are developed through data science tasks and Stage 6 depth studies.
3. Audit existing 7–10 science programs to identify strengths and gaps in the explicit teaching, practice and assessment of Working Scientifically skills, including their use in data‑intensive investigations and depth studies, and plan targeted improvements.
4. Design or refine sequences of lessons and investigations in multiple focus areas that authentically embed observing, questioning and predicting, planning, conducting, processing and analysing data and information, problem‑solving and communicating, using both routine classroom contexts and extended depth study experiences.
5. Develop and trial practical tools (such as progressions, checklists and rubrics) for monitoring students’ growth in Working Scientifically skills in everyday lessons, data science activities and depth studies, supporting preparation for Stage 6 science and scientifically literate, critical citizenship.

Registration Closes: Tuesday 13 October 2026
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Can’t make it to this workshop?
This workshop will be repeated on Wednesday 11 November 2026 (2pm – 5pm) – details here