STANSW Professional Development Opportunities

Conferences and events:

Science Teachers' Association of NSW conferences offer in-depth workshops on new content and teaching strategies; innovative approaches to inspire and engage students; practical activities you can use in your classroom; and opportunities to connect with like-minded educators.

Meet The Markers (March)

Presented by 2024 HSC markers, this event provides valuable insights into marking and judging processes. Highly beneficial for developing teaching strategies to better prepare students for the exams that lie ahead.

Meet The Markers 2025 will include:

• Virtual exam analysis sessions, enabling access for teachers from all corners of NSW.
  • 12 March, 4:30 – 7pm – Science Extension Exam Analysis
  • 13 March, 4:30 – 7pm – Investigating Science Exam Analysis
  • 17 March, 4:30 – 7pm – Physics Exam Analysis
  • 18 March, 4:30 – 7pm – Chemistry Exam Analysis
  • 19 March, 4:30 – 7pm – Biology Exam Analysis
  • 20 March, 4:30 – 7pm – Earth and Environmental Science Exam Analysis
• An in-person "Working Scientifically" conference day complementing the Meet the Markers Program. This event is designed to equip teachers with the latest strategies and resources to deliver inspiring practicals for their senior science students in all the HSC sciences
  • Engaging Workshops: Learn from NESA experts on RAP data, test item design, and grade allocation
  • Hands-On Practicals: Experience a variety of practical science activities led by our university partners that we can take back to our school labs
  • Innovative Plenary Session: Discover cutting-edge practicals and workshops aligned with the 2024 HSC Science "working scientifically" exam questions.

Secondary 7-12 Conference (June):

"Going Big: Shaping the Future of Science Education". Syllabus support and workshops to enhance secondary science teaching.

Working Scientifically K-10 Conference (August):

"Thinking Scientific Skills" (including Primary & Junior Science). Hands on pracs and workshops to keep you up to speed with latest science skills and teaching strategies.

Regional Events:

Access critical professional development opportunities in regional NSW.

Opportunities to share your knowledge:

We need passionate science teachers like you to help shape the future of science education!

Here's how you can get involved:

Become a Mentor. Share your classroom experience and knowledge with early career teachers.

Give back to the profession and support your colleagues.

• Present at a Conference: Develop engaging sessions on topics related to the new science syllabuses (K-12).
• Network with fellow educators and share best practices.

Express Your Interest Now! Let us know if you're interested in mentoring or presenting at a conference by emailing projectmanager@stansw.asn.au or submitting a speaker form.

 Complete our 2024 members survey. This will help us improve our offering next year.

Resources and networking:

Exclusive resources

Access journals, resources, and publications for science teachers, including lesson plans, units of work, pracs and ideas to implement in the classroom/ lab.

Network meetings

Collaborate with fellow science teachers, obtain guidance on new science syllabus implementation and stay connected via quarterly network meetings, online hubs. Networks include: Primary Teachers Network, Head Teachers Network, Science Extension Network and Professional Practice Network.

Advocacy:

We continue to provide a voice for primary and secondary science teachers, leading advocacy efforts in areas relevant to science educators. This includes draft syllabus analysis and feedback, with the most recent paper developed by STANSW committee responding to the Stage 6 science syllabus drafts.

We aspire to a society founded on the development of scientific language, logic and problem solving producing scientifically literate adults.

Young Scientist Program:

The Young Scientist Awards Program celebrates the scientific and technical innovations of students from across NSW. Submit your students' projects to showcase their great work, and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Courses:

Literacy In Science: Incorporate science literacy into day-to-day teaching to enable students to become independent and successful learners.

We'd love to hear from you.

We're here to support you, please reach out if you have any concerns you'd like to raise. Reach us office@stansw.asn.au