Inspiring mathematics and science in teacher education (IMSITE) www.IMSITE.edu.au
Improving the quality of mathematics and science teaching and learning in schools is an issue high on the agendas of governments, universities, and the teaching profession itself. Demand for well-qualified teachers is an area of pressure at a time when teacher education in Australia is coming under increasing scrutiny due to the emergence of a national education policy environment. This new environment features accountability measures such as a national assessment program in literacy and numeracy for school students (with the prospect of similar national testing in science), a national system for accreditation of pre-service teacher education programs, and national professional standards for teachers. Because this project is designed to ensure deliberate and systematic engagement with universities beyond the lead and partner institutions, it will generate outcomes useful to all Australian institutions that offer pre-service teacher education programs. As well as producing resources that other universities can adapt to their own contexts, it seeks to identify models and principles for integrating content and pedagogy and for fostering collaboration that could be taken up by other disciplines involved in the pre-service preparation of teachers.
In the news:Education Minister responds to damning report, says he's open to importing specialist teachersBy political reporter Henry Belot 7 Dec 2016 ABC NewsEducation Minister Simon Birmingham has raised the prospect of importing more specialist maths and science teachers from overseas to address a long-term decline in high school student performance. The South Australian senator acknowledged there was "clearly something wrong" in the education system after a global report found Australian 15-year-olds were getting worse at science, maths and reading. READ MORE Inside the push to get more Indigenous students studying science and tech
Fiona Smith 25 October 2016
The Guardian: Guardian sustainable business: Social equality
With less than 1% of Indigenous students studying STEM, Qantas, CareerTrackers and Atlassian among Australian companies aiming to encourage more to study science, tech, engineering and mathematics.
Renee Wootton didn’t set out to smash any stereotypes, she just wanted to find friends when she moved to live with her grandparents in Marlee, a small town on the mid north coast of New South Wales.
But when she joined the Australian Air Force Cadets as a teen, she discovered a passion for aircraft that led her to a career in aerospace engineering – an unusual choice for a woman, especially one with an Indigenous background.
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Advance Queensland launches Indigenous STEM programFriday, August 26, 2016Young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are set to benefit from an engaging new Advance Queensland program designed to grow future university participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch said the STEM.I.AM program would help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students build the skills and confidence to become future leaders in their communities. READ MORE 2016 EUREKA PRIZES WINNERSResearch & Innovation
CSIRO Marine Debris Team 2016 UNSW Eureka Prize for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Scientific Research WINNER TEPO, CODES - ARC Centre of Excellence, University of Tasmania; Flinders University; Russian Academy of Science; and University of California The Trace Elements in Past Oceans (TEPO) project
FANTOM5, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research; The University of Melbourne; University of Queensland; Translational Research Institute; Telethon Kids Institute; and RIKEN Japan
Professor Ewa Goldys, Macquarie University and ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics; and Dr Martin Gosnell, Quantitative Pty Ltd READ MORE Engaging Science Grantshttp://advance.qld.gov.au/uni-researchers/engaging-science-grants.aspxSupports science engagement and communication projects, events and activities that increase the reach and impact of science in Queensland. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible Queensland-based applicants. Under special circumstances larger grants may be considered. Funds need to be spent within a 12-month period. Applications can be submitted online at any time, however assessment rounds will occur on a quarterly basis. Out-of-session applications that are time-dependent may be considered. Engaging Queenslanders in Science Strategy’s (PDF, 1,652KB) goals:
Coalition’s $31.2m commitment to women’s STEM careers wins praise By: Wesley Kington July 1 2016 The Coalition’s announcement on the eve of the federal election that it would commit $31.2 million to support women looking to choose and pursue STEM careers was greeted with unanimous optimism by tertiary groups and institutions, including Universities Australia. READ MORE at Campus Review Are you a non-profit innovator with a big idea? Apply for $750,000 in funding to help bring it to life A Better World, Faster Google believes technology can make a better world, faster. The Google Impact Challenge supports non-profit innovators using technology to tackle the world's biggest social challenges. Applications are now open for the 2016 Challenge. Australian non-profits are invited to apply and share your bold ideas for a better world. Google will award $4.5 million across 10 organisations to help bring their ideas to life. Four winning organisations will receive a $750,000 grant, and six additional finalists will receive $250,000. The DFAT Technology Against Poverty Prize is a AU$500,000 grant provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's InnovationXchange program as part of the 2016 Google Impact Challenge. The prize encourages charities registered in Australia to explore new ways of delivering social impact internationally, using technology. UQ to host science and maths education conference - http://www.science.uq.edu.au/index.html?page=236781 Registrations are now open for this year’s Australian conference on Science and Mathematics Education (ACSME) to be held at The University of Queensland for the first time on 28-30 September. Conference chair Associate Professor Susan Rowland said more than 120 papers and posters have been submitted, as academics are keen to share their strategies and techniques for success in this challenging field.
“This
is a great opportunity for tertiary science and mathematics educators
to share ideas and keep up to date,” said Associate Professor Rowland,
who is the Deputy Director of UQ’s Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation.
The closing date for earlybird registration discount is Friday 5th August.
For further information visit the conference website or contact Stephanie Beames at s.beames@uq.edu.au
Melbourne University advertises female-only jobs in bid to remedy gender imbalance in mathsABC News 18 May 2016
The University of Melbourne has taken the extraordinary
step of opening up jobs to female applicants only in an attempt to
drive change in the male-dominated area of mathematic academia.
Only
about a quarter of all mathematics academics in Australia are female,
and the university is now advertising three positions in its School of
Mathematics and Statistics for female applicants only.READ MORE Q&A: STEM Career Advice From NASA's Chief ScientistEllen Stofan talks with U.S. News about working in STEM and attracting more women and minorities to the STEM fields.April 18, 2016, at 12:16 p.m
The second STEM Teacher Conference at the University of Wollongong
The theme of this conference is 'Cross Pollinating the Curriculum’ and is for practising STEM discipline secondary teachers. The conference provides delegates with practical ideas for the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines at high schools (e.g. using science in a mathematics class, using mathematics in an engineering class).
28-29 APRIL 2016, MELBOURNEThe Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) leads quality improvement in learning and teaching through a suite of grants, fellowships and awards. To meet the rapidly changing demands on the delivery of tertiary education, participants at this conference will explore:
The Learning and Teaching 2030 Conference will be interactive, strategic and future focussed. Learning and teaching strategies for the future, academic workforce for 2030 and other key themes will be explored at the conference throughout a range of interactive panel discussions. A poster session will also be held, showcasing the work of OLT-funded projects, commissioned work and fellowships. The conference aims to host a diverse group of innovative, strategic thinkers to engage in a thought provoking and solutions-oriented forum. http://www.oltconference2016.com.au/index.asp?IntCatId=14 IT DOESN’T ADD UP by Lauren Wilson Social Affairs Writer 1 April 2016 Courier Mail p. 4 © 2016 News Limited. All rights reserved. LARGE numbers of Queensland high school students are learning maths and science from teachers not fully qualified in those subject areas. An alarming 76 per cent of Queensland principals who took part in a major survey admitted that some maths and science classes at their schools were taught by teachers who were not fully qualified in those specialist subject areas. The finding is contained in the Australian Education Union’s 2016 State Of Our Schools report, which surveyed more than 1000 principals and 7000 teachers across the country. Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Symposium 2016Friday, 24 June 2016 Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
The SAGE Symposium is the highlight of the SAGE Pilot of Athena SWAN in Australia, an equity and diversity evaluation and accreditation program that has seen significant results in the UK, and is now being trialled in Australia.
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DET Scholarships and grants available for 2016
Applications are now open for the Department of Education and Training’s 2016 scholarship and grant programs.These scholarships and grants reinforce the department’s dedication to providing the best teachers for all state schools while promoting teaching as a career path.
The scholarships and grants on offer include the Step into STEM Teaching scholarships for high-achieving individuals and experienced professionals interested in teaching in the science, technology (including industrial technology and design), engineering, robotics and coding, and mathematics disciplines;Aspiring teacher grants which support high-achieving secondary students commencing their studies to become a teacher, and theBeyond the Range professional experience grants which assist preservice teachers to undertake a professional experience in a rural or remote Queensland state school.
The Pearl Duncan teaching scholarships support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to gain an initial preservice teacher education qualification. Also for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is the Lambert McBride Perpetual Bursary which will provide a one-off grant to assist with tertiary expenses for study in any discipline.
And all Queensland secondary schools are invited to nominate one of their high academic achievers who has demonstrated leadership excellence for a TJ Ryan Memorial Medal and Scholarship for 2016. This scholarship program is open for any tertiary study across Australian higher education institutions.
Unless otherwise indicated, applications close Friday 11 December 2015. Please share the details of these scholarships within your networks and school communities.
Further information is available from the Make a difference. Teach website.
ACDS Receives $150,000 grant for Work Integrated Learning - http://www.acds.edu.au
The Office of the Chief Scientist has provided a $150,000 grant to the ACDS to establish a national network supporting work integrated learning in science faculties and schools. A call for co-funded lighthouse projects will go out in late August and a national forum will be held on 11 December at the Park Royal Hotel at Melbourne Airport.
The grant was announced on 16 July at the ACDS Teaching and Learning Conference in Brisbane. More information about the proposed
program can be found at: http://www.acds.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/07/Science-Professional-and-Integrated-Learning-Network.pdf
UQ to help boost Australia’s gender equity in STEMWoman at computer [17 September 2015] The University of Queensland will help boost gender equity in Australia’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) organisations as part of an Australian-first pilot program. The Australian Academy of Science, in partnership with the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, has selected UQ as one of 32 inaugural institutions to be part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) pilot. UQ PVC (T&L) Professor Doune Macdonald said the university was keen to be involved as part of its commitment to supporting gender equity a strategic level... See more at: https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2015/09/uq-help-boost-australia%E2%80%99s-gender-equity-stem
ATTENTION: Maths and science teacher education leaders and managers:
Request for Tender for the Mathematics by Inquiry initiative has been released on AusTender. The Mathematics by inquiry initiative is a part of the Australian Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda. The RFT invites tenders to develop, disseminate and ensure widespread awareness and uptake of a suite of mathematics teaching and learning resources for Foundation to Year 10 students, teachers and school leaders.
Further information is available in the RFT and associated documentation from the AusTender website (www.tenders.gov.au
then go to the ‘Current ATMs’ from menu on left hand side of the Home page) or you can use this link to go to the Mathematics by Inquiry item (however you have to register to obtain the tender
documentation).
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The second Sydney University Secondary Maths Alumni Conference (SUSMAC) was held on 8 April 2014 at the Faculty of Education. See 2015 program at: See 2014 program at: http://misterwootube.com/playlists/susmac2014/ SUSMAC 2014 - Introduction by Judy Anderson and Leon Poladian - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F98jLjyvfU SUSMAC 2014 - Keynote: Equity & Diversity in Mathematics Education, Merrilyn Goos - www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-LlR-NjM9c&list=PL5KkMZvBpo5C78NrnhuGONyywm950j4-1&index=4 |
Conversations on Knowledge for Teaching Conference - www.conversationsonkft.weebly.com 11-13 February 2015 at UTas Newnham campus, Launceston. Open to all educators: teachers, team leaders, Principals, and those involved in curriculum development and educational policy. This conference has been developed to build upon previous work by the project team during the Building the Culture of Evidence-based Practice in Teacher Preparation for Mathematics Teaching (CEMENT) project. It is a unique, special interest conference to discuss key issues on 'knowledge for teaching'. Drawing on the growing body of work on the notion of pedagogical content knowledge – the specialised ways in which teachers know and understand their discipline areas—the conference will be an opportunity for you to develop ideas and engage in discussions and debates with colleagues from across Australia. University of Tasmania: "University leads national effort to improve maths and science education" - www.staff.utas.edu.au/news/articles/university-leads-national-effort-to-improve-maths-and-science-education |
Registrations open!
http://www.science.uq.edu.au/cpd-2015University of Queensland 2015 SECONDARY SCHOOL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAM Secondary school science and maths teachers and school laboratory technicians are invited to participate in this practical, hands-on program to develop or update key teaching skills and knowledge. When: Thursday 3rd December 2015 Where: The University of Queensland, St Lucia campus Cost: $135 per person Registration: Open until Monday 23rd November. Enquiries: Dr Arti Singh, a.singh1@uq.edu.au
See more
University of Queensland: "Better training for science and mathematics teachers" - /www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2013/09/better-training-science-and-mathematics-teachers University of Queensland: Secondary School Science and Mathematics Program, 2 - 3 December 2014, Faculty of Science - http://www.science.uq.edu.au/cpd-2014 |
James Cook University: "New JCU subject to inspire next gen maths teachers - www-public.jcu.edu.au/news/archive/JCU_127255 James Cook University: "It All Adds up for Maths Teachers" - http://jcnn.com.au/spotlight/teachers-do-the-maths |
University of Newcastle: "Investing in Teaching" - www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured-news/investing-in-teaching |
University of Wollongong: "$2.2million project to boost Australia’s maths and science literacy" - http://media.uow.edu.au/news/UOW163664.html Researchers who are part of the ongoing IMSITE project have launched a new program to improve the quality of mathematics teaching in schools: http://media.uow.edu.au/news/UOW181123.html |