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May 2020
Welcome back to Term 2. Although we're unable to run events this term, we are busy in the office preparing for Study Guides to arrive and planning to hit the ground running with workshops next term to continue to support your work for the rest of the year.
SASTA news
Newly elected board members and executive
The SASTA AGM was held via Zoom on Friday 24 April. With three board positions available, Dina Phan, Katie Gloede & Katrina Elliott were each elected for a three year term.
The executive positions on the board were elected at the recent May board meeting with Dr Jane Wright continuing as President, Peter Beveridge elected as Vice President and Peter Turnbull as Treasurer.
We're looking forward to working with the new and continuing board members this year!
Online member community
With all the recent changes, SASTA is exploring more ways to engage with members particularly online. We're looking to create a Google Group to connect members and allow you to share insights and ask questions. If this is something you would be interested in or have any other ideas/feedback please click below.
Professional Learning
Professional Learning on track to commence in Term 3
With the unfortunate cancellation of a number of events in Term 2 we are planning to be back up and running* with new and rescheduled workshops for Term 3 along with the Early Career Teachers Conference in October and STEM Conference in November.
Check out the Professional Learning calendar for an overview for the rest of the year and keep an eye on the Professional Learning page for event registrations when available.
*subject to government advice regarding COVID-19
SASTA Oliphant Science Awards
Registrations close Thursday
4 June
The changes we have made to the Oliphant Science Awards this year offer even more opportunities for students to be creative with their projects and for coordinators / judges to submit and judge more projects online. If you haven't been involved in the competition before perhaps this is the year to give it a go! New competition initiatives can be found in the Information Booklet here.
Visit the website to find out our tips for students & teachers and don't forget you've only got 27 days left to register!
In your classroom
Backyard Species Discovery project
Bush Blitz has launched an exciting online expedition that allows all Australians including teachers and students, to help document Australia’s biodiversity without leaving their backyard! Join this virtual project, engage with nature and learn valuable scientific skills; all while social distancing! For more information visit the website.
Resources
Please note that with the SASTA office closed to the public due to Covid-19, all ordered resources will be despatched by mail; no collection from the SASTA office will be available.
For all resources available from SASTA, see www.sasta.asn.au/resources
2020 Study Guides
Find out all the
new inclusions for
the 2020 Study Guides here.
• Biology • Chemistry • Nutrition
• Physics • Psychology
2020 Study Guides are currently at the printers and will be available very soon. Pre-order your copies now for immediate delivery when ready.
Events and news in the science community
Preservice Teacher Placement Required
The University of South Australia is seeking the support of one Science teacher (general science and biology) in an Adelaide secondary school* to support a preservice teacher in their final year of their Master of Teaching program. They require a 30 day placement block (hopefully to be completed by the end of term 2). If you would be willing to support this preservice teacher please contact Nigel Coles at UniSA - 8302 5653 or nigel.coles@unisa.edu.au
*(preferably within a one hour travel on public transport of Marleston)
Planning for at-home learning with Primary Connections
Primary Connections is creating new resources for the current circumstances to effectively support Australian schools, teachers and students. Resources currently available:
Playlists: curated digital resources
A curated list of resources available on Scootle, including texts, photos, videos, interactive games and activities.
Science for Families: mini explorations
Science explorations with supporting scaffolds and guiding questions. Students explore the science behind everyday items found in the home.
Did you know? Editable student resource sheets are freely available! Download e-Resource sheets from the curriculum resources page.
National Science Week
National Science Week will be officially running ONLINE from 15 - 23 August 2020 due to COVID-19.
You can download the Poster and Resource book of ideas for 2020 here. We'd love to know what you have planned in your school! Email us.
Don't forget, Community Grant applications are still open until 22 May! All details are available here.
You can follow National Science Week SA on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with what’s happening in the state.
National Youth Science Forum
Applications for 2021 are now open!
Do you have a year 11 student who loves science, technology engineering and math (STEM) subjects? Then they should consider applying for the National Youth Science Forum’s 2021 Year 12 Program!
The @NYSFoz is a 10-day residential program full of visits to high-tech STEM facilities and hands on-workshops. It'll let students get stuck into some serious science and meet industry mentors, all while hanging out with a community of 200 other like-minded science-loving students.
Applications close on 14 June 2020.
For more information or to apply go to the NYSF website.
Woodside Australian Science Project
The WASP team are working hard to support students and teachers across Australia. Here are just some of the resources you can now access:
2020 Unsung Hero Awards of South Australian Science
The 2020 Unsung Hero Awards of South Australian Science are a joint initiative of National Science Week SA and the Australian Science Communicators SA.
These awards aim to recognise those whose contributions have been significant over a long period of time but who have not yet received formal public recognition for their contribution to science or science communication.
Two awards are being offered: the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science and the Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication.
Applications close 29 May 2020. For more information and to apply visit the website.
Contact SASTA
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
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