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June 2024
Winter is officially here! And we're already starting to plan for Term 3 with the Oliphant Science Awards competition progressing and Marking & Moderation Workshops ready for booking. You can check out the updated Professional Learning Calendar here.
Call for workshops are open for both the Early Career Teachers Conference and STEM Conference! Have you thought about presenting?
Keep an eye on our socials to stay up to date with what is happening in the office!
May Resources - Space
Did you see the blog posts that went out in May around Space? Check them out below:
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
SASTA Board Casual Vacancy
The SASTA Board currently has a number of vacancies that we are keen to fill to increase the Board to its full complement of 9 members. This is an opportunity to become closely involved in the governance of your association and network with like-minded colleagues.
To find out more information and register your interest please click here. Applications close Monday 24 June.
Hard copies are in the mail and should arrive this week!
The latest edition of the SASTA Journal is now available through your Members Dashboard!
In this edition, we examine the National Science
Week theme: “Species Survival - More than just
sustainability”. As you read through this edition, you’ll learn how your school can help with native bee conservation, explore some amazing citizen science projects that enable every day people to contribute to the
conservation of endangered species, as well as
find out how our values can impact what’s on our
plates. Check it out here.
2025 SASTA Annual Conference
We need your help!
In 2025, the term 1 school holidays will include Easter (18-21 April) across Week 1 & 2 and ANZAC Day (25 April) in Week 2. We will be looking to run the SASTA Annual Conference on 14 & 15 April and wanted to get your feedback on these dates. Would you prefer the Annual Conference run for 1 day or 2 days in 2025? Let us know here.
Flinders Ranges Ediacara Scholarship
The Flinders Ranges Ediacara Foundation in conjunction with SASTA, will be offering 9 teacher scholarships to the Flinders Ranges to explore the Nilpena Ediacara National Park and surrounding areas with experts in the field to increase student engagement and learning about Ediacara in the classroom.
This unique professional development experience will take place in the July school holidays, from 8-11 July 2024. Find out more about trip and apply for the Scholarship here. Applications close 11 June.
CONASTA 71
The full program of CONASTA 71 has been released!
The national science education conference is scheduled for 7-11 July 2024 at the University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria.
Some of the highlights of CONASTA 71 sessions focus on the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. Attendees can engage with thought leaders and experts who will share their insights and practical applications of AI in science education. More info: https://bit.ly/4dZ3ayq
Professional Learning
Early Career Teachers Conference
Have you thought about submitting a workshop?
This one-day conference provides graduates and teachers in the first few years of their career with an opportunity to share and reflect on their professional identity, professional practice, wellbeing, and to develop connections with other early career educators.
Is there something that's working in your classroom that you'd like to share? Find out more here.
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.
FREE Excursion: SA Water Desalination Plant
Monday 8 July
The Adelaide Desalination Plant at Lonsdale is the state’s largest desalination plant able to produce 100 gigalitres a year. As metropolitan Adelaide’s only climate-independent source of drinking water, it has been delivering drinking water since 2011. Join a guided tour to see how we turn seawater into fresh clean drinking water, and how important desalination is to South Australia’s water security.
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
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
Registrations are officially open!
The aim of the Mary Anning Art Prize is to have young South Australian artists create an original piece of artwork that tells us something about the prehistoric life of South Australia.
What makes a successful entry?
- Scientific accuracy, creativity, and originality
- The best art isn’t just a picture, or a sculpture. It tells a story!
Find out all the details 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.
AI Explained:
It's maths, not magic
National Youth Science Forum
Do you know a Year 11 student passionate about science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)? Who would want to meet like-minded young people from across Australia? Do they want to learn more about study and career options? Look no further than the 2025 National Youth Science Forum Year 12 Program! Applications are open now: https://www.nysf.edu.au/programs/year-12-program/
More Great Less Whine
Thursday 4 July, 9am to 3pm
In conjuction with the More Great Less Whine project for students, they are running a teacher professional development workshop. The day will include presentations, workshops and tours of the University of Adelaide and the Hickinbotham Roseworthy Wine Science Laboratory, Australian Wine Research Institute and Wine Australia.
Keep an eye out for more information coming closer to the date!
2024 STEM Reading and Design Challenge
The Premier’s Reading Challenge and partners are teaming up again to challenge students to read about Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in the lead up to National Science Week. The reading and design competition started in 2016 and last year 3,300 entries were received! Entries close on Friday, 21 June 2024
This year there will be 4 categories: STEM, Nature in South Australia, Space & Green Hydrogen.
A list of all the books for each age group in the included categories can be downloaded here. Just click on the tab for each age group to see the included books. Find out all the details 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.
Chemistry Teacher Survey
Researchers at Deakin University are currently conducting a brief, online, anonymous survey of high school chemistry teachers. The project is funded by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and is being conducted in over sixty countries and in over forty languages.
The survey asks what practical activities high school chemistry teachers use in the classroom (lower and upper secondary) and why. The survey also seeks to gather evidence of teachers conducting practical activities related to green and sustainable chemistry, and the circular economy.
If you might be interested, click on this link or use the QR code to access the survey (high school teachers only please). More details can be found on the project website here or you can contact the project team at
eschemistry@deakin.edu.au. This study has received Deakin University ethics approval (reference number: HAE-23-088).
It’s almost tax time! So, what deductions can you claim? 🤔
The ATO have a suite of 39 tailored occupation guides that can help you:
- work out what income and allowances to declare
- check if you can or can't claim certain work-related expenses as a deduction
- find out what records you need.
Find yours @ www.ato.gov.au/occupations
International Chemistry Quiz
20 - 22 August 2024
Don't miss your opportunity to join over 100,000 students from over 20 countries in this unique chemistry educational quiz.
Secondary school students (ages 12-18) can test their Chemistry knowledge and have fun at the same time, with the quiz providing teachers a helpful tool to gauge their student's understanding of the subject. The Quiz consists of 30 multiple choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes, either in paper format or online. Find out more & register online 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
