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July 2024
There is plenty of professional learning planned and ready to book for the rest of the year including our Marking & Moderation Workshops, Leading in Science, Differentiated Tasks, Design Investigations & Effective Learning in Primary Science - find out more, book here.
Have you thought about presenting at the STEM Conference? This year the Conference will be run in collaboration with MASA, DATTA SA and EdTech SA.
Keep an eye on our socials to stay up to date with what is happening in the office!
June Resources - Water
Did you see the blog posts that went out in June around Water? Check them out below:
- Water Literacy
- Marine Education in the Australian Curriculum (Members Only - you need to be logged into the website to access this)
If you're interested in sharing something that's happening at your school or community on the Blog, please get in contact with Tegan - tegan@sasta.asn.au!
SASTA News
Members Networking & Nibbles
4 September | 4.00pm - 5.30pm
Connect: Whether you're a seasoned member or new to the community, this event is the perfect chance to expand your network and enrich your professional journey.
Indulge: Indulge in a selection of snacks and your first drink is on us!
Your Feedback Matters: We value your input and insights! Take this opportunity to weigh in with your feedback and suggestions. Is there anything our association can be doing better? Your opinions shape the future of our community.
We can't wait to celebrate with you and express our gratitude for your continued support and contributions to our science community. Register to attend here.
National Science Week
What do you have planned for National Science Week this year? Let us know what you have planned to feature on our National Science Week round-up blog!
We're starting to put together a list of events and activities we've come across here. Keep an eye on this as there will definitely be more to come!
Plus don't forget to check out the National Science Week website for all upcoming events and the Teacher Resource Book from the Australian Science Teachers Association. Members can also view the most recent edition of the SASTA Journal online here, which relates to the National Science Week theme.
Professional Learning
STEM Conference
Call for workshop presenters now open!
This year the STEM Conference will be bigger than ever! We’re excited to expand the Conference this year to include primary years teachers as well as secondary in collaboration with DATTA - SA, EdTech SA, Mathematical Association of South Australia (MASA) & SASTA.
"Harnessing STEM" is a specialised conference for ALL, sharing the potential of STEM to nurture hope, shape positivity and build thriving communities.
Marking & Moderation Workshops
These workshops will provide an opportunity for teachers to discuss assessment and the application of the performance standards to samples of work, as well having invaluable professional input with their own student samples.
- Physics & Psychology - Friday 16 August
- Chemistry & Nutrition - Friday 23 August
- Biology - Friday 30 August
7-10 Design and Assess Differentiated Tasks
Monday 19 August
This session will only focus on Australian Curriculum 7-10 Science courses – these are so critical for making sure we are retaining students in Science in the senior years. It is essential that we equip students in these year levels with confidence and the skills needed to explain, analyse and be critical.
Effective Learning in Primary Science
Friday 6 September
Bring your creative mindset, engage in playfulness, using your imagination and intuition in learning. Learn the new core concepts for Science as a Human Endeavour and Science Inquiry strands through interweaving with Science Understanding strand. Using a conceptual progression within each strand and Key Ideas to design multiage classroom learning in science.
Oliphant Science Awards
Open Day at Science Alive!
The Oliphant Science Awards is excited to be hosting our Open Day at Science Alive! again in 2024. This will be held at the Adelaide Showground from 3-4 August.
Come along to find out if your entry won a prize, find out about the competition or get some inspiration for next year! All Oliphant Science Award families and coordinators are eligible for a 30% discount on tickets to Science Alive! To apply for your discount code, please visit the Oliphant Science Awards website.
Resources
SASTA is excited to make available sets of Topic Tests that may be used as formative or summative Skills and Applications Tasks (SATs) in Stage 1 & 2 Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These tests are of the highest quality and feature a comprehensive range of questions including science understanding, science inquiry skills and science as a human endeavour.
You can also bundle your Stage 1 & 2 Topic Tests with Trial Exams! All trial exams are new for 2024.
Contributions from the science community
Mary Anning Art Prize
Palaeo Art and the Prof - FB Live
Sunday 7 July | 3.00pm
Do you know a young South Aussie palaeo artist who's thinking about entering the Mary Anning Art Prize? Join Professor Flint for a FREE Facebook Livestream that explores how to create awesome palaeo art. And even if you're not going to enter, but are simply interested in how we put the skin on to the prehistoric bones, this is for you! Find out more here.
Energise your students' scientific potential!
The Australian Science Olympiads (ASO) is a staged science enrichment program for highly motivated senior students in Australian high schools. The program covers four separate disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, and Physics.
Teachers can challenge and extend their very best students. Students can build their skills, experience, knowledge and connections.
The first stage is competing in one or more ASO Exam, held online once a year; offered in biology, chemistry, Earth and environmental science, and physics.
From there, select eligible students will be invited to attend the ASO Summer School in one of the four disciplines. From here we select 'the best of the best' to represent Australia at an International Science Olympiad.
Registrations for the ASO Exam are open. It's a great way to enhance your classroom teaching and their science knowledge!
More details about the ASO Program: https://www.asi.edu.au/program/australian-science-olympiads/
Proudly delivered by Australian Science Innovations.
National Tree Day &
Deadly ED
Embedding Aboriginal Perspectives into your National Tree Day event
Planet Ark has teamed up with Deadly Ed to ensure all teachers and educators have the confidence, knowledge and resources to include Aboriginal perspectives across their National Tree Day initiatives. Follow the steps as outlined below, we have sorted these activities into what to do before, during and after your National Tree Day event to ensure you and all your students have a deadly learning experience. Find out more here.
Illuminate Adelaide - EDEN
The unparalleled beauty of nature is showcased in all its vibrant glory in EDEN, an interactive experience that encourages everyone to see the beauty in the world around us.
With a digital garden at your fingertips across one hundred and fifty square-metres of LED screens, discover how just one person planting a small seed in the ground can lead to the growth of a vast, lush surrounding. Let curiosity and movement guide you as the wonder of nature takes centre stage and cutting-edge digital technologies allow you to create plants and flowers that transform the landscape around you. Find out more here.
Seeking Your Support to Inspire Young Minds in STEM
At The Royal Australian Chemical Institute we are thrilled to be in the early stages of working on a new project aimed at inspiring young people with disabilities to pursue careers in STEM. As part of this initiative, we are seeking expressions of interest from women with disabilities who have made significant contributions in various STEM fields.
We are looking for women, both in Australia and internationally, who are willing to share their personal stories and backgrounds to inspire the next generation. These stories, tailored for a 12-year-old audience, will highlight the challenges, achievements, and unique perspectives of women with disabilities in STEM. Our goal is to provide representation from all areas of STEM, not just chemistry. By showcasing a diverse range of stories, we hope to demonstrate that disability is not a barrier to success in STEM.
If you or someone you know (please share!) would be interested in participating, please complete the EOI here.
PECAN + Capture the Flag National Cyber Security Competition
PECAN+ CTF 2024 is a Capture The Flag cyber security competition for beginner, intermediate and advanced high school students in Years 10 to 12.
The training day will take place on Saturday the 3rd of August and will give students the opportunity to learn about each of the cyber fields, how to use the various tools to solve challenges, and hear from an industry speaker talk about career opportunities. The competition will take place on the Sunday the 4th of August.
Find out more info and register here.
ConnectEd
Friday 19 July | An event for Early Career and Preservice Teachers
Key Themes
- Ideas for what to teach.
- Supercharging your teaching practice.
- Engaging all your learners.
- Enjoying your teaching and enhancing your wellbeing.
FREE for members of an educator professional association. Find out more and register here.
2024 National Excellence in Teaching Awards
Recognising the Unseen Heroes
Every day, dedicated educators tirelessly commit to their students, innovating and improving the ways in which we teach and learn. They often work quietly, with unwavering dedication, always focusing on enhancing educational experiences.
Who is eligible for a NEiTA Award?
NEiTA Awards are open to dedicated professionals within the education sector who meet the following criteria:
- Must be qualified and registered educators or directors within early childhood centers, or teachers and principals in primary, special, and secondary schools in Australia or New Zealand.
- Must have a minimum of two years’ teaching experience.
- Must be currently employed, meeting the following minimum average employment levels.
- Primary, special, and secondary teachers: at least 0.6 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) per week.
Nominations close 21 July. Find out more here.
Primary Connections
Have you seen the new-look Primary Connections website?
Featuring all-new teaching resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum V9 and engaging multimedia professional learning content, our reimagined suite of science resources and tools for primary educators are built to equip and empower you to have the greatest effect in your classroom. Check it out here.
Building a Successful Space Mission
Monday 22 July
The Adelaide Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics invites you to join us for a panel of experts discussing how to build a successful space mission.
All space missions require a diverse set of skills for success, not just the stereotypical mathematics and physics, but legal, financial, and interpersonal skills are critical for success. To showcase this we have assembled a panel of leading experts to discuss their specialties in a manner accessible to students and non-specialists. Members of the panel, and their areas of expertise, are:
- Ground testing: Anupam Kumar Pilli of the National Space Qualification Network
- Launch vehicles: David Jervis of Gilmour Space
- Spacecraft busses: Kavindi de Silva of Inovor Technologies
- Spacecraft subsystems: Patrick "Paddy" Neumann of Neumann Space
- Payload operations: Louis des Landes of Fleet Space Technologies
- Regulatory environment: Melissa de Zwart of the University of Adelaide
Find out more and register here.
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
