No.11, Term 2, May 2008

UWA’s New Learning Centre to Benefit Science Teachers

Western Australia’s secondary school science teachers now have a permanent venue at UWA where they can participate in professional learning and resource development.

The new Centre for Learning Technology (CLT) was officially opened by the Hon. Mark McGowan MLA, Minister for Education and Training, during March.

The CLT, located in the north wing of the Physics Building, is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art learning technologies, including computer laboratory, sound studio, 3D visualisation studio, purpose-built training rooms with interactive whiteboards, LCD screens, digital projectors and 24 laptops ready for professional learning sessions.

This new facility, funded by UWA, supports the SPICE program providing an innovative home for the program. SPICE is a partnership between the Department of Education and Training and The University of Western Australia that supports secondary science teachers to stimulate students’ interest in science.

“The key to nurturing scientific imagination lies in fostering positive learning environments in our schools and universities where high-quality teachers and academics can work in the knowledge they have the support of government and the community,” said UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Robson.

The Centre for Learning Technology was formed in 2000 and is a nationally recognised for its development of award-winning education programs, professional learning technology services and teaching resources.

Sixty-five year 11 Shenton College students were present at the launch and showcased the CLT’s new equipment and science resources to the Minister

The CLT has also just been awarded $1.3 million to pilot a new mentoring program designed to retain science and mathematics teachers in Western Australia’s public and private schools.

What is “Out There!”?

“Out there!”, an exhibition centred on the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world’s biggest ground-based astronomy project, ran from the 10 to 20 March with a total of 536 students participating.

The SKA radio telescope (which will cost around $1.8 billion) will be up to 50 times more sensitive than present-day instruments and will revolutionise our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe. The name of the exhibition, Out There!, refers to 'out in space' as well as the outback of Western Australia - one of the two short-listed locations for the SKA radio telescope (the other is Southern Africa) to be decided in 2011-12.

The hands-on exhibition, was aimed at year 10 students but was also open to the public. It contained a variety of exhibits including:

• A scale model of the SKA (Square Kilometre Array) radio telescope
• Information about the science behind radio telescopes
• Interactive panorama of the proposed Murchison SKA site
• Looping images of different visualisations using different types of telescopes
• A timeline ribbon highlighting what we can currently see and how the SKA will allow the astronomers to "look back in time”

“The SKA represents the future of astronomy and is a great example of global research,” said Professor Peter Quinn, UWA’s Premier’s Fellow in Astronomy.

“If located in Australia, it will be at the centre of science, technology and education in Western Australia for the next 50 years. Kids in Year 10 have an enormous opportunity to pursue careers that will give them front-line opportunities in science and technology when the SKA starts operations around 2020.”

It is a joint project of the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, the School of Physics, SPICE (UWA secondary teachers’ enrichment), Scitech and CSIRO.

The exhibition was a precursor to international scientific meetings [Deep Surveys of Radio Universe with SKA pathfinders conference and the SKA Science and Engineering Committee / Calibration and Imaging Task Force meeting] to be held in Perth in April.

Prof Beazley launched the public exhibition with a group of top science students from Perth Modern School at UWA's Molecular and Chemical Sciences Building.

Secondary Students Scope Out Space Using “The Dish”

Fifteen Year 12 students from Mount Lawley, Duncraig, Perth Modern and Willetton are only the third group of Australian high school students to control the Parkes Radio Telescope, well known from the film “The Dish”.

The PULSE@Parkes program made it possible for Perth students to directly control the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility’s (ANTF) Parkes Radio Telescope via the internet to target pulsars - small spinning stars which transmit periodic radio signals.

Importantly, the data students collected contributed to ongoing pulsar research and the search for gravitational waves in space.

Robert Hollow, Education Officer for ATNF, presented PULSE@Parkes as a sub-activity of Out There! – a hands-on exhibition created by the University of Western Australia (UWA). Out There! highlighted the world’s biggest ground-based astronomy project, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), to high schools students. This collaborative international venture will cost around $1.8 billion to construct and Western Australia is on the short list to host this massive scientific project.

Facilitated by the Centre for Learning Technology (CLT) at UWA, ATNF computer network links were established, including a direct link to astronomers in the telescope tower and live footage of the actual dish.

Students communicated with astronomers via webcam, selected a pulsar and then remotely controlled the dish to allow for observation of the star. They studied pulsars in the Milky Way including GLAST pulsars which are a focus of NASA gamma ray studies.

The downloaded data was analysed by students enabling them to calculate distances to the pulsars.

The PULSE@Parkes project paves the way for students to use the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope, which will be built by CSIRO, UWA and other partner institutions in Western Australia by 2012.

Other Events

March and April have been a busy time. Not only did we launch the new Centre, run a SKA event for high schools and host PULSE@Parkes but we also:

• Held a successful two day teacher’s PD session on leading edge astronomy called Out There!
• Organised Professor Jim Gates supersymmetrist and string theory extraordinaire to speak to 65 students.
• Hosted a talk by Apple on Podcasts and other technologies in schools.

Coming Soon!

SPICE Days

This is an annual event for high school teachers and has been very popular in past years. These days cover a variety of leading edge science as well as hands-on activities and stuff you can use in your classroom.

This year SPICE Days will be run from the 11th June to the 13th June. Details are still being confirmed, but at this point it is likely that there will be a:

• Biological Sciences Day (Wednesday 11th June) – for biology and human biology teachers
• Integrated Sciences Day (Thursday 12th June) – for upper primary and lower secondary school science teachers.
• Physical Sciences Day (Friday 13th June)– held for for physics, chemistry and earth science teachers

As details are confirmed, more information will be sent to you, but if you would like to register your interest to ensure you receive information please email Emma.Donnelly@uwa.edu.au

Professional Learning For Teachers in Term 2

Fred Deshon and Bob Fitzpatrick are now visiting schools and introducing them to the latest SPICE resources.

On May 1st they travelled to Esperance as part of the outreach aspect of SPICE.

For more information on professional learning opportunities for your school or to register your interest, please contact Fred on 6488 4795 or fdeshon@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

CSIRO Student Research Scheme (SRS)

Run by the CSIRO Science Education Centres across Australia, the SRS enables upper high school students the chance to do “real” research. The program pairs Year 11 and 12 students with an interest in studying science at a tertiary level with a researcher. Under the guidance of the practicing scientist, students complete a small research project and then write it up as a scientific paper and present it as a poster.

Suitable projects are drawn from almost any field and are aimed to be completed by the student in about 20 hour’s lab time. Lab work is usually conducted over the July school holidays (Monday 7th – Friday 18th July), but can vary a little according to the researchers, projects and students.

If you have a student that you think could be one of “tomorrow’s scientists” and would benefit from some “real life” research experience then this is a unique opportunity that they shouldn’t miss.

Nominations close in mid-May so any interested teachers, students or scientists should contact Belinda Sorrell at the CSIRO Science Education Centre as soon as possible.

Phone: (08) 9215 0852
Email: belinda@scitech.org.au
Web: www.scitech.org.au

New Staff Profiles

Fiona Garner – Administration Assistant

Fiona has been with the Centre for Learning Technology (CLT) since March 2008. She works four days as Administration Assistant where she assists Wendy and is involved with the everyday running and administration of the Centre. Fiona is also the person who oversees all functions and venue use in the CLT and is in charge of all room bookings.

In her previous life Fiona has worked for the Army, the Economist Intelligence Unit, has been a school secretary and Physiotherapist Assistant. Originally hailing from Surrey in the U.K. this September she celebrates 3 years in Oz. During her spare time Fiona enjoys gardening, travel, walking and being active, she is not so keen on spending weekends doing housework.

Fiona is located in the admin area near Wendy and can help with room bookings, stationary and anything else relating to admin.

Graham Baker – Teacher in Residence

Graham joined SPICE in February 2008, shortly after retiring from his position of manager at the Curriculum Council, where he was responsible for the assessment and moderation of senior secondary subjects and courses for four learning areas, including science. Prior to this, he worked extensively with teachers and committees on the development of new science courses and has authored a number of articles and publications for the Council.

Before joining the Curriculum Council in 1999, Graham taught lower school science, Physics, Chemistry and Physical Science in government schools in Western Australia for 30 years, 18 of these as head of department.

In the two days a week he works at SPICE, Graham is developing materials to support teachers and students in Years 11 and 12 Physics. Specifically, he is developing a learning object and materials to support the teaching of free body diagrams, and materials for use in motion and forces in gravitational fields.

Graham enjoys working at SPICE developing materials to support teachers and students in growing their understanding of, and enthusiasm for, Physics.

Kim Braimbridge – Teacher in Residence

Kim joined the SPICE team in February 2008 as a curriculum writer/TIR. She has spent the last 3 years working with environmental education programs AirWatch and EcoEducation for the DEC, renovating her house and having her second child. Kim has an Honours degree in Science and completed a Dip Ed in 1999. She spent 4 years teaching in various schools around Perth and a short stint in Sydney whilst travelling around Australia.

Kim loves science and wants everyone else to love it too. She also loves cooking in her fabulous kitchen and likes to make her friends feel good with delicious food. Kim is looking forward to discovering more about new learning technologies and creating exciting resources that hopefully engage even the most tenacious science student.