1997 School Magazine

- - ---------------------•

--------- @itlll' @rmnnrnr ~c~ool ~rill'bane 1997

~

Faculty of Science

C urriculum Development Update - For the past several years, the Science Faculty has been engaged in a major curriculum development project. During that time we have been driven in our quest for excellence in the teaching and learning of science by a philosophy that acknowledges that our students are individuals who need a learning environment that is stimulating, challenging, and nurturing. Last year, after years of struggling with textbooks that hindered rather then facilitated the teaching/learning process, we decided to reject published texts in favour of our own written materials. These new materials are based on the most recent research in science education and offer a variety of approaches to cater for different learning styles. The aim in the new units of work is to provide students with access to a good foundation in science which is characterised by increasing depth and complexity of scientific content and proc- esses as students progress through their years of Junior Science. Hence, they are developmental in nature and focus on science- specific skills as well as the generic skills that have been identified by the Key Competencies and the Common Curriculum Ele- ments. Furthermore, they reflect strongly the Working Scientifi- cally strand of the National Science Profile and the development of complex reasoning processes which have become a major focus of the senior science syllabuses. These new materials will continually undergo modification and refinement as we endeav- our to design learning activities that are consistent with current psychological, philosophical, and sociological conceptions of the development of scientific knowledge.

and who are more capable of assuming responsibility for their own learning. CRA National Youth Science Forum - This forum pro- vides a unique opportunity for 278 Year Eleven students from all around Australia to visit state-of-the-art science laboratories and converse with practising scientists . The forum is an annual event that runs in Canberra each January. It is aimed at stimulating students as they enter their last year of secondary schooling by celebrating the high standing of Australian science

and scientists . Rotary Clubs are responsible for the selection of participants and have instigated a rigorous series of interviews for applicants. This year, Emma Carlisle (1 lE) and Katherine Mendra (1 lR) have been selected to attend. Competitions - Each year we participate in a number of competitions run by various organisations. These competitions not only provide our students with challenging, science-related activities, but several of them also serve as excellent training for the Core Skills Test which is an important part of tertia1y entrance procedures . Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Olympiads - The Aus- tralian Science Olympiads are a means of selecting Australia 's representatives for the international competitions in Biology, Chemist1y, and Physics. Each year the school 's top Year Eleven students in these subjects are invited to sit for an external qualifying examination. Students receive special training at school to prepare them for this challenging task. Last year, sixteen students were selected from all around Australia to be Australian Olympiads Biology Scholars . Two of these students were from this school. Renee Berry (12B) and Katrina Vicke1y (12W) attended an accelerated learning program in January. This training school se1ved as the means of identifying the four members of the Australian team to compete at the international Biology Olympiad hosted by Belarus in July. Although neither Renee nor Katrina made the Australian team, both girls appreci- ated and enjoyed the training school experience . Syndia Lazarus (Biology), Jasmine Silver (Biology), and Ruth Schulz (Physics) also performed ve1y well on the qualifying examinations .

Profiles - Another initiative this year is the introduction of student profiles for Junior Science students in Years 8-10. These profil es allow students (and their parents) to monitor their perfo rmance in Science and to identify areas that need to be strengthened. All of the information needed to understand how ratings are awarded in Science is outlined on the profile sheets. It i · hoped that the introduction of profiling and self-monitoring in the junior school will lead to senior students who are more ogni sant of the intricacies of senior assessment procedures, more competent in diagnosing and rectifying their weaknesses,

------------ - - ------- 71 ---------------------