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February 2023
Welcome to the first edition of the SASTA e-news for 2023. We hope you had a chance to have a break over the holidays and are wishing you all the best with Term 1.
If you haven't had a chance to renew your SASTA membership for 2023 yet, visit the website here. Personal Membership prices have been reduced! Find out more here.
SASTA News
Member Prize Giveaway
SASTA has 10 tickets to give away to SASTA members to attend the Opening Night of A Curious Thing: The Story of Mary Anning. This includes the performance followed by a panel of some brilliant and inspiring South Australian scientists who will explore what’s changed for women in STEM since Mary Anning’s time, and what’s not. Full details about the show can be found here.
To enter the giveaway, you will need to fill in your details online and let us know two pieces of advice you would give to an early career teacher. Entries must be submitted by 15 February: https://bit.ly/3kpkYLJ
9-12 July 2023
CONASTA 70 in Adelaide
Call for Workshops has been extended!
Do you have an innovative practice or teaching strategy that works? Submit a session proposal and share your expertise and inspiration with others! Submissions close Sunday 19 February - find out all the details here.
2023 SASTA Awards
There are many great teachers out there that often fly under the radar and SASTA would like to acknowledge, and celebrate their outstanding achievements and contributions to the science community.
This is your opportunity to nominate a colleague who has inspired you or is a role model in the community or share your own accomplishments!
It is free to nominate and there are a number of Awards available for SASTA members:
- Credit Union SA / SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award
- Helen Castle Memorial Scholarship
Find out more about the awards and previous winners or nominate yourself or a colleague here.
SASTA AGM & Call for Board Nominations
The 2023 Annual General Meeting of members of the South Australia Science Teachers Association Inc. will be held on Wednesday 10 May.
All members of SASTA are hereby notified of a call for nominations for 4 positions on the SASTA Board. If you are interested or would like more information please visit the 'Board Elections' section in the Members Area of the website.
Professional Learning
This event is FREE for SASTA Members! Find out more here.
This Professional Learning Day has been specifically designed for teachers in their early years as a science teacher. The workshops cover a range of interactive and engaging presentations from experienced practitioners to provide the tools and skills needed to survive and thrive in the early years of being a science educator.
Teachers New to Stage 2 Science Workshops
Register now for the SASTA Teachers New to Stage 1 & 2 Science Workshop Series. Find out more here.
- Biology & Physics - Friday 10 February
- Nutrition & Chemistry - Friday 17 February
- Psychology & Scientific Studies - Friday 24 February
The SHE Task
This workshop is aimed at people who want to further their skills in setting, assessment and providing feedback on the SHE task. It also will cover the writing and marking of SHE questions for tests and examinations. There will be time to examine your own student work and participate in some cross-moderation and marking of work/drafts.
Design & Deconstruct Workshop
This workshop is aimed at people who want to further their skills in setting, assessment and providing feedback on the D&D + practical report task. It also will cover the writing and marking of practical questions for tests and exams as well. There will be time to examine your own student work and participate in some cross-moderation and marking of work/drafts
Oliphant Science Awards
Navigating the Oliphant Science Awards in your School Webinar
Looking for more information about getting your school involved in The Oliphant Science Awards?SASTA will be holding a FREE Webinar for teachers and school representatives interested in becoming School Coordinators for the 2023 Oliphant Science Awards.
This session will give you a chance to hear from the competition organisers, head judges and a panel of experienced school coordinators. Register here.
Resources
Physics & Biology now available
Chemistry available for pre-order (available February)
Stage 2 Workbooks - 3rd Edition | NEW
The Third Edition of the popular SASTA Stage 2 Workbooks set students on the path to success in their study of science through their clear and engaging narrative, innovative use of art and photos, and superior contextual questions that enhance teaching and learning.
The Third Editions have been completely reviewed and improved with any needed corrections made. Biology & Chemistry include the changes made to the 2023 subject outline. For more information and to order visit the website.
Contributions from the science community
A Curious Thing - The Story of Mary Anning
Special Women in STEM opening night
On February 22nd, 7:30pm, at Ayers House, North Terrace the world
premiere performance of A Curious Thing - The Story of Mary Anning will
be followed by a panel discussion exploring the challenges faced by
women in STEM in 2022, and asking what’s changed and not changed
since Mary Anning’s time in the early 1800s. Bookings are now open. Find all the details here.
Calls for more local learning as SA fossils make the science curriculum
"SA fossil classes are long overdue, according to University of South Australia geology Professor Tom Raimondo, who believes there is more awareness internationally of the state being home to the world’s earliest animal fossils dating back 550 million years than there is locally.
“We don’t tell people about how significant these things are, about how important they are to evolution: these were the earliest animals on planet Earth living in the Flinders Ranges,” Raimondo said." Read the full article here.
You can also check out the Notes on Adelaide podcast: The Cradle of Life here.
360 degrees Flinders Ranges
The Flinders Ranges of South Australia have taken a significant step towards gaining UNESCO World Heritage status after being nominated on Australia’s Tentative List for World Heritage.
This iconic landscape holds a remarkable history, cultural heritage and scientific value now unlocked through the power of virtual reality. Explore an immersive VR experience that documents the outstanding geoscientific significance of the Flinders Ranges in support of its World Heritage nomination.
Check out this amazing resource from the Project Live team here.
Science at the Fringe
For the 6th year Adelaide Fringe has collaborated with Inspiring South Australia to produce a jam-packed Science at the Fringe Guide.
To help science fans navigate their way through the 2023 Fringe program, we have compiled a guide with 62 events that combine science with visual arts, theatre, comedy, magic and much more. There are plenty of educational and entertaining events for you to discover and we have even created a Science at the Fringe filter to make picking a show even easier.
National Science Week Grants for 2023
Applications are open now for event holders to apply for support for holding in-person or online events in National Science Week 2023. Grants can be from $2,000 to $20,000 ex GST and the total grant pool is $500,000.
The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:
- inspire wide community participation in STEM
- provide an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge
- encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public
- encourage younger people to become fascinated by the world we live in.
Be sure to carefully read the grant guidelines (pdf, 634 kB) before applying.
ChatGPT and AI: Impact on classrooms and learning
Saturday 11 February
What happens to education when AI can out-create humans? How do teachers monitor cheating and plagiarism? What and how should we teach in the age of AI? This symposium will provide insight and discussion from leading learning analytics and AI schools, detailing how technologies like ChatGPT can be practically used in classrooms as well as the challenges teachers and school leaders might face. Find out more and register here.
Prime Minister's Prizes for Science Teaching
Nominations for the 2023 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are closing soon! The Prizes recognise accomplishments in scientific research, research-based innovation and science teaching.
If you know a dedicated and passionate teacher in primary or secondary school, nominate them for one of the Science Teaching Prizes by Thursday 9 February. Visit bit.ly/3s0tQsI.
Toyota Dream Car Art Contest
It’s easy to participate with your class.
💻 Head to the Cool Australia website and download one of the F - Year 10 Dream Car lessons or the Learn@Home activity.
🎨 Get your students dreaming! Each entry must be hand-drawn or painted on A3 or A4 paper.
📸 Snap or scan your students’ artwork and submit them through the dedicated entry page. Dream Cars can be uploaded in bulk, but all entries are judged individually.
Entries close Monday 20 February
Energy, Mining and Resources School Outreach Program (EMRSO)
The EMRSO program offers a suite of interactive, curriculum-aligned workshops for Years 7-12 students delivered both at your school and on our campus. Additionally, the program will offer Year 12 student networking opportunities with industry as well as spark student interest in making the resources sector more sustainable and the global impacts they can make on an individual level.
In 2023 we are also bringing you two exciting immersive, on-campus experiences to give students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the sector. Register your interest via the links below:
- Year 11 & 12 – Wednesday 22nd of March 2023 (Term 1 Week 8)
- Year 9 & 10 – Wednesday 27th of September 2023 (Term 3 Week 10)
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
