July 2020

We're very excited to launch the new look SASTA website! This project has been going on in the background for a few months and has given the website a much needed modern design and several changes will make the website more user friendly including:

• Improvements in mobile browsing

• Resource purchasing improvements including a new cart management tool

• Event booking improvements including additional data pre-filling and ability to add a resource to your event booking

The Oliphant Science Awards website has also had a facelift and is now mobile friendly!

*Please bear with us while we test the website and make corrections as we discover them over the next few weeks. If you come across any problems please let us know.

Congratulations to our winners of the SASTA / Credit Union SA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Awards:

• Primary - Jade Tinney, Salisbury Park Primary School
• Middle years - Samantha Brown, Mount Gambier High School
• Senior Secondary - Catherine O'Halloran, Cabra Dominican College

We look forward to celebrating these awards at the 2021 SASTA Annual Conference!

Don't forget to check out Fake News Friday and Talking Science Tuesday on the SASTA Facebook page. A new topic will be posted each fortnight. If you have any suggestions for topics please email us!

We'd love to know what you have planned in your school for National Science Week this year! Send us an email so we can share what's happening with our science community! There are a range of ideas and activities to get you started in the latest National Science Week newsletter. 

The aim of the Early Career Teachers Conference is for participants to engage in first-hand experiences that exemplify best practice in science education. Ideally, our early career teachers will walk away with a deeper understanding of the science curriculum and will have broadened their skills and resources with which to engage their students in learning.

For a list of categories you may wish to consider when submitting a presentation or to register by Friday 3 July, visit the website.

Registrations are now open!

• Biology | 29 August
• Physics & Psychology | 5 September
• Chemistry | 12 September

All attendees must register to attend the event before the cut off date and bookings must be made via the website. All details are available here. 

The workshops provide an opportunity for teachers to discuss assessment and the application of the performance standards to samples of work, as well as to have invaluable professional input with their own student samples. An opportunity to readjust marking standards before final moderation. More information available here.

• Psychology | 24 August
• Chemistry | 21 August
• Biology | 4 September
• Physics | 11 September

Thursday 2 July - Wednesday 22 July

Multimedia, Science Writing & Scientific Inquiry entries MUST be submitted online. NEW FOR 2020 - Reports ONLY for Computer Programming, Apps & Robotics must also be submitted online by 22 July.

Visit the website to check out our ideas for teachers and resources for students - new blogs are posted each week!

We're excited to have the Australian Institute of Energy on board as our Science Writing Category Naming Rights Sponsor this year!

The Australian Institute of Energy brings together individuals and companies with interests and involvement in the energy sector. The Institute offers extensive opportunities to enrich professional development through workshops, seminars, briefings and conferences:

• keeping you ahead of the trends – our forums and seminars bring you the best of Local, National, and International practitioners and academics
• keeping you informed – through Special Interest Groups, Regional Networks, publications and our website

Any individual with an interest in energy is welcome to join the Institute. Membership information can be found here.

youcubed - Data Science Lessons

This site shares five FREE units for Years 6-10 that introduce students (and teachers) to data science. The units start with an introduction to the concept of data and move to lessons that invite students to explore their own data sets.   These lessons teach important content through a pattern-seeking, exploratory approach, and are designed to engage students actively. The culminating unit is a citizen science project that allows students to conduct a data inquiry. For more information and to access the resources visit the website. Each month we will be adding to our Website of the Month blog post, you can check it out here. 

Students are guided through activities and supported with information to enable them to:
• generate an idea
• develop a research question
• plan, conduct and analyse research, and then
• structure a research outcome and an evaluation or review with a focus on achievement of the performance standards (at a high level). 

The SASTA SACE Stage 2 Trial Exams are a 'must have' resource, developed by leading teachers. This resource will familiarise teachers and students with the SACE Stage 2 exam format and teachers will be able to use the resource as a stand-alone assessment tool or to develop exam preparation skills.

Copies can only be ordered by emailing Rebecca at office@sasta.asn.au Trial exams will be delivered via email early in Term 3.

South Australian Science Teachers Association
249 Henley Beach Road Torrensville SA 5031
P 08 8354 0006  F 08 8354 0008  E office@sasta.asn.au
www.sasta.asn.au