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Ecolinc VCE PD, Friday December 2nd 2016

8 September 2016

Ecolinc VCE PD, Friday December 2nd 2016 is fully booked

Outline of changes to the VCE Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science & Physics Unit 3 & 4 Study Designs for 2017 and the 7-12 programs Ecolinc will be offering in 2017. Cost $90.00 per participant.

Speakers

  • Ms Maria James:

    Maria is the Curriculum Manager for Science for Years Foundation-12 with the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. Maria has held a variety of positions in several independent schools, including Head of Science, Dean of Students and Head of Senior College.  She is passionate about motivating and engaging students with science. A particular interest for Maria is encouraging students to apply their knowledge and skills in science and in other areas to take action in local and global contexts.
  • Ms Jane Coyle:

    Jane has been teaching Physics for 25 years. She was on the development panel for the new VCE Physics study design and is a contributing writer for Jacaranda Physics. She uses the flipped model in her physics classroom and is a strong advocate for teaching multiple Unit 2 options concurrently. She has presented regularly at the STAV VCE Physics conferences and is currently Vice President of VicPhysics teachers’ Network.
  • Ms Hayley Bridgwood:

    Hayley moved into secondary classroom teaching in the areas of VCE Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science after a number of years in immunology and environmental microbiology research. She has undertaken various curriculum and assessment roles within the VCAA since 2002. More recently she has contributed to Cosmos for Schools (Cosmos Magazine) as a curriculum consultant and online lesson developer.
  • Ms Louise Macfarlane:

    Louise is the Science TLA Coordinator for Box Hill Senior Secondary College. She teaches VCE Chemistry and Biology along with Maths and general Science. Louise participated in the recent Chemistry Review Panel, providing opinions and feedback to Maria James when she was designing the current Chemistry curriculum. Louise is a chemistry assessor. Before moving into teaching in 2008, Louise worked in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in laboratories, as an auditor and then product release manager for Genentech in California. She is passionate about keeping chemistry a fun, applicable subject, learned through a hands on approach.
  • Mr Brian Stevenson

    Brian is the former Head of the Senior School at The University High School and Lecturer in Biology Method at The University of Melbourne. Mr Stevenson was pivotal in the establishment of the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC) as the first specialist science centre in molecular biology for Victorian students and teachers. He was awarded the Australian Federation Medal for his efforts and was the centre’s Foundation Director from 2001 to 2011. He is the author of “Talking Molecules”, a highly visual workbook that introduces senior school students to the relevant molecular biology in VCE Biology Study Design. Brian was a member of the VCAA Biology Review Committee that revised the VCE Biology Study Design 2006 - 2013. He was invited by VCAA to contribute to the writing for the National Senior Biology Curriculum. More recently Brian has played a significant role in the structuring and writing of the new VCE Biology Study Design 2016-2021.

Program

9.15am Arrival & Registration

9.30am Keynote: Maria James

Title: Preparing for Units 3 and 4 – Key changes and opportunities

Brief description: What’s new for the VCE sciences for 2017? Key content changes and study design foci will be outlined with opportunities for audience questions to be addressed. Sample Unit 3/4 posters will be displayed to highlight key aspects of the setting, management and presentation of posters as part of Unit 3/4 assessment. Participants will be provided with sample assessment tasks that highlight the different conceptual and skill-based competencies that underpin the revised designs.

10.40am Morning Tea

11.00am Workshop 1 (90 mins)

1A. Unit 1/2 Chemistry

Presenter: Louise Macfarlane

A program that provides practical pedagogical support and advice to teachers including:

  • A description of the differences in content from pre 2016 to the current study design.
  • A discussion of the Area of Study 3 research investigation (10 exciting options).
  • Use of logbooks and the 3.5 to 5 hours per area of study of practical activities for vital hands on learning.
  • Extended key skills and how to teach them.
  • Assessment of student outcomes in a variety of ways.
  • Organization and assessment of the student investigation, including the multifaceted risk assessment.
  • Participants will be given a copy of the specific key knowledge and key science skills changes in the new study design

1B. Unit 3/4 Biology “Finding Needles in the Haystack”

Presenter:Brian Stevenson

A program that provides practical pedagogical support and advice to teachers for the implementation and delivery of Units 3 & 4 VCE Biology in 2017, helping teachers to decipher and digest the new study guide. The program will provide:

  • Outlines the key changes in the study design.
  • Highlights the importance of asking questions.
  • Reviews the dot points under each key knowledge subheading in terms of what is retained and what is new.
  • Elaborates on the two key strategies that ask students to work as scientists, namely the use of a logbook and the production of a summative scientific poster.
  • Provides a realistic delivery schedule including details of school based assessment tasks.
  • Provides teachers with a copy of the presentation, authentication rubrics and other resource material.

1C. Unit 3/4 Environmental Science

Presenter: Hayley Bridgwood

A program that provides practical ideas and instructional approaches to teachers for the implementation and delivery of Units 3 & 4 VCE Environmental Science in 2017. This program is intended to help build teacher confidence for the year ahead and will include:

  • An overview of the dot points under each key knowledge subheading, highlighting changes in the Study Design;
  • A discussion of VCE Environmental Science as an interdisciplinary approach to engaging with natural and human-made environmental issues;
  • Suggestions for using a ‘flipped model’ to facilitate 3.5 to 5 hours of vital hands-on learning for Outcomes 1 and 2;
  • Ideas for sourcing and selecting enriching field and practical laboratory activities;
  • An analysis of assorted question prompts for the student designed / student adapted practical investigation of Outcome 3; and
  • An outline of various frameworks for organising the practical logbook.

1D. Victorian Curriculum: Building Skyscrapers from Bricks

Presenter: Maria James

The Victorian Curriculum, streamlined into eight learning areas (of which science is one) and four capabilities is expected to be implemented in all Victorian schools by 2017. The program will provide:

  • An outline of what is new for science
  • How science links to other learning areas and the capabilities
  • Opportunities for delivering science outside the science classroom (school camps, fundraising, science events)
  • Cross-age peer projects
  • Discussion of different ways of delivering science, including through a STEM approach and by considering local and global partnerships.

1E. Unit 1 & 2 Physics

Presenter: Jane Coyle

A program that provides practical pedagogical support and advice to teachers including:

  • Unit 1 and how to squeeze it all in
  • Using a flipped model to ensure the 3.5 to 5 hours per area of study of practical activities for vital hands on learning.
  • Different ways to maintain the logbook
  • Unit 2 Options - teaching more than one concurrently
  • Assessing in ways that offer the best opportunities to our students (50 minutes or 1000 words)
  • Practical investigation - logistics, ongoing assessment and a final product

12.30pm Lunch

1.00pm Workshop 2 (90 mins)

2A. Unit 3/4 Chemistry “Hello Vitamins, goodbye DNA”

Presenter: Louise Macfarlane

A program that provides practical pedagogical support and advice to teachers for the implementation and delivery of Units 3 & 4 VCE Chemistry in 2017, helping teachers to decipher and digest the new study guide. The program will include:

  • A description of the differences in content from the previous to the current study design (goodbye DNA, hello vitamins).
  • SAC tasks and assessment (exam now 60%).
  • Extended key skills and how to teach them.
  • Student practical work as a central component of learning and assessment (3.5-5 hours per area of study 1 and 2).
  • Student designed or adapted practical investigation related to energy and / or food. Seven to ten hours of class time is devoted to this investigation. It must be communicated in a structured scientific poster, not exceeding 1000 words. It can be assessed in steps. How to address the multifaceted risk assessment.
  • Use of the student's practical logbook for record, authentication and assessment purposes.
  • Participants will be given a copy of the specific key knowledge and key science skills changes in the new study design.

2B. Designing assessment tasks for Units 3/4: Everything you may have never wanted to know

Presenter: Maria James

School-assessed Coursework (SACs) account for between 40% (for Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and 50% (for Environmental Science) of a student’s study score.

The program will provide:

  • A brief overview of VCE assessment including moderation procedures and the importance of the GAT
  • Suggestions as to how information from examination reports can be used to assess and improve student learning through SACs
  • Using a ‘backwards design’ model to develop assessment tasks
  • Sample assessment tasks from all VCE sciences that can be adapted to any VCE science
  • Opportunities to respond to participants’ specific questions about SACs.

2C. Unit 3 & 4 Physics

Presenter: Jane Coyle

A program that provides practical pedagogical support and advice to teachers including:

  • A description of the differences in content from the previous to the current study design
  • Using a flipped model to ensure the 3.5 to 5 hours per area of study of practical activities for vital hands on learning.
  • SAC tasks and assessment (exam now 60%). Assessing in ways that offer the best opportunities to our students (50 minutes or 1000 words)
  • Use of the student's practical logbook for record, authentication and assessment purposes.
  • Practical investigation related to waves, fields or motion, and the scientific poster.
  • Participants will be given a copy of the specific key knowledge and key science skills changes in the new study design.

2D. New Ecolinc 7-10 programs for 2017

Presenter: Linda Flynn

Learn about the multitude of new and exciting programs, professional development and other learning opportunities on offer for students in 2017 including new programs such as:

  • Year 7-8: Scenario Program – Pollution in the Werribee River
  • Year 7-8: Renewable Energy
  • Year 9-10: Endangered Animals
  • Year 9-10: Storing Energy
  • Year 9-10: Sustainable Living
  • Year 10-12: Conservation & Land Management Projects

2.30pm Plenary