This e-newsletter is designed to inform and support K — 6 teachers in the area of

Science and Technology

SciTech TA

LK

Designing circuits

Working technologically

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

Contents

What’s happening

Digital Technologies

CSIS and ESIS

Showcase

Professional Learning

Opportunities

SciTech Syllabus unpacked – Working Technologically

Welcome

As usual, it has been a busy term and there is still a lot happening in Science and Technology K – 6.

As schools begin to focus on the implementation of this new syllabus, strategic planning and rigorous discussion are occurring across the state. Peruse last term’s newsletter if you’re new to the distribution list or need to review available support.

As Term 4 comes to a close, schools plan for 2015 and beyond. If your school has not yet engaged in Professional Learning around the Science and Technology Syllabus, we encourage you to contact your Educational Services local area office. They will organise activities and events near you, tailoring to your needs. If you belong to a community of schools/learning, don’t hesitate to contact us here and we’ll see what we can do to support you.

Let us know what you would like to see in this newsletter. It would be great to hear of your successes/challenges or journeys with SciTech.

Regards The Science and Technology team

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

Term 4 marks the end of yet another very busy but otherwise positive and productive year in all aspects. New syllabuses, new reforms and new school planning strategies have our heads spinning. SyllabusPLUS series 2 is coming! Put these dates in your calendar:

• 27 November – Units of Learning audit • 4 December – Working Scientifically and Working Technologically • 11 December – Embedding learning across the curriculum areas

We are busily developing SyllabusPLUS series 2 for delivery later this term. You can register on MyPL@Edu now. Look out for the information flyer in SchoolBiz. Details later in this e-newsletter. Scholarship Opportunity – Studies of Asia The Graduate Certificate Asia Scholarship will be offered again in 2015 through ANU. Applications close 14 November. If you have been permanently employed by the DEC for 2 years or more, peruse the detailed information and the application process posted at http://www.languagesnsw.com/news/studies-of-asia-scholarship-opportunity.

Young Scientist Award The Young Scientist Awards Presentation Ceremony for 2014 was held on 27 October at the University of Wollongong. Entries included scientific Investigations and, models and inventions in primary and secondary categories, with cash prizes and certificates awarded to the winners. Congratulations to the winners. Plan and prepare for 2015 Young Scientist Awards by keeping abreast of updates on the website. Keep an eye out for the 2015 edition of the Young Scientist Booklet which will be sent to every school.

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

Digital Technologies is quickly becoming a hot issue in education and in particular NSW schools. External providers are developing resources and offering free gadgets to support teachers and engage students. New syllabuses have had ICT capabilities embedded into content to ensure students have the opportunity to develop the necessary skills. To gauge needs of classroom teachers, Macquarie University is conducting a survey around computational thinking as it relates to the use of technology in the classroom. Taking a few minutes to complete this survey, may determine appropriate levels of support and/or training which they are keen to provide. Please see below for details. Complete a ten minute Computational Thinking Survey for a chance to win an iPad mini!

Dr Matt Bower from Macquarie University is undertaking a study about computational thinking in schools. No prior knowledge is required to participate in the survey and it only takes about 10 minutes to complete. The survey is a useful reflection piece and respondents go into a draw to win an iPad mini.

For more information or to complete the survey visit: https://mqedu.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_73qnXiKfZZB0Ay9

Hour of Code Hour of Code is an initiative of Code.org. where every student has an opportunity to try computer science for one hour. It is an introduction to computer science designed to show that anyone can learn the basics. Explore Code studio. View the Hour of Code Introduction. Logical thinking and creative problem solving are embedded within the Hour of Code activities and from 8 to 14 December students can participate in Hour of Code online.

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

Chemical Safety in Schools / Equipment Safety in Schools

We are currently in the process of updating the CSiS and ESiS databases. These have previously been more commonly used by secondary teachers, especially in the areas of The Arts, Science and TAS. It has become necessary however to further align them with primary syllabuses. A focus group has been organised to work with the developers of these databases to include safe use of chemicals and equipment in schools. If you would like or can think of specific items that need to be included in these databases for primary schools, please contact us before Week 8, Term 4. We would appreciate your contributions!

The Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia have developed an app called MyPestGuide. It has a database-driven filtering engine that allows users to quickly identify almost 200 pests of agricultural crops, by host, damage, pest type and its size. Find out more about MyPestGuide and participate in Citizen Science.

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

Although a little belated, it was great to hear that LITHGOW PUBLIC SCHOOL was the only school (out of 3 sectors) to gain a spot at the PowerHouse Museum’s Mini Maker Faire. Not only were the enthusiastic staff interviewed on radio, they demonstrated the great Science and Technology teaching and learning going on at their school.

The PowerHouse Mini Maker Faire is a part of Sydney Design. It is a showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement. It’s a place where people show what they are making and share what they are learning.

Well done Lithgow PS!!

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

SyllabusPLUS series 2 Series 2 of the Science and Technology K-6 Adobe Connect is being planned at the moment for delivery on the following dates. Please look for details in this week’s SchoolBiz. The AdobeConnect room to log into is: https://connect.schools.nsw.edu.au/scitechk6

• 27 November – Units of Learning audit In this SyllabusPLUS session, we explore your school in context and how to make critical decisions around existing units of learning when aligning to the new syllabus by using the audit tools effectively.

• 4 December – Working Scientifically and Working Technologically In this SyllabusPLUS session, we explore the skills of Working Scientifically and Working Technologically and how they can be taught in relation to each when delivering Science and Technology content.

• 11 December – Embedding learning across the curriculum areas In this SyllabusPLUS session, we explore how to embed the learning across the curriculum areas in Science and Technology contexts.

These non-registered courses are available now for you to enrol on MyPL@Edu. As previous, only one person enrolls in our course and that person schedules an event for their school and manages their staff’s accreditation. New e-newsletter feature After much discussion, it was decided to include snippets of the Science and Technology syllabus – unpacked. As schools begin to implement the syllabus, it was suggested this might be of some support to gain a deeper understanding. Please peruse the Working Technologically snippet which is the focus this term. Contact us for future focus items so we might be supporting you in the way which

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

When: Tuesday 18 November at 6.35 pm

Where: Slade Lecture Theatre, University of Sydney FREE

The talk will explore some aspects of the interpretations and perspectives of the night sky by the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander people.

Schedule • 6.00-6.30 pm REFRESHMENTS, Slade Lecture Theatre, USYD. • 6.35-7.35 pm LECTURE by Dr Ragbir Bhathal. • 8.00 pm ANNUAL DINNER with the Speaker at Buon Gusto (Italian), 368 Abercrombie Street, Chippendale. Email Dr Fred Osman (fred_osman@exemail.com.au) if you are interested in dinner.

Science and Technology in the built environment

‘Big Build Up’ is an environmental education program that involves students working scientifically and technologically to redesign an inner city building for a new use. Students will also design and investigate how to improve the building’s energy efficiency.

Enquiries: Observatory Hill EEC 9247 7321 email: observhill-e.school@det.nsw.edu.au

For more information about this program and other environmental education programs, visit the Observatory Hill EEC website at: http://observatoryhilleec.nsw.edu.au/primary-programs

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

A new feature of the newsletter each term will be the unpacking of various aspects of the syllabus. This term’s focus:

Working Technologically

What is Technology?

The Australian Curriculum: Technologies defines Technology as: the resources including materials, data, systems, tools and equipment used to create solutions for identified needs and opportunities, and the knowledge, understanding and skills used by people involved in the selection and use of these resources

How is Technology defined?

Working Technologically is a way students apply a process, similar to Working Scientifically and Working Mathematically. It encompasses exploring and defining a task, generating and developing ideas, producing solutions and evaluating. Students are encouraged to evaluate the product and the process continually, and make modifications to ideas and techniques as they reflect, assess and redefine.

These processes do not necessarily occur in any order as students may go backward and forth whilst developing and testing ideas and producing solutions. They could also be applying information gained from scientific investigations into their technological designs.

Technology involves solving real problems and creating solutions in response to needs and opportunities. When Working Technologically students apply a process of design and use a range of tools, materials and techniques to creatively produce solutions relevant to their world. p12 Science K-10 (incorporating Science and Technology K-6) Syllabus (online version)

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

As students apply these processes they are involved in many activities, some of which would need to be explicitly taught. Some of these activities would include (K – 6):

Explore and define a task: Early Stage 1 Identify and discuss the purpose Describe likes and dislikes Discuss the purpose and features Suggest materials Stage 1 Identify needs and wants Stage 2 Explore design situations Develop a design brief Stage 3 Explore and identify needs and opportunities Use techniques Develop a design brief and criteria with considerations Plan the process considering constraints

Explore and

define a task

Generate and

develop ideas

Produce solutions

Evaluate

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

Generate and develop ideas Early Stage 1 (Combined with produce solutions ES1) Use play and imagination, Explore possibilities Follow a series of steps, Draw/model ideas Construct solutions Use common classroom equipment, resources and techniques Shape and join familiar materials Stage 1 Research and explore different sources Explore different materials by observing, manipulating and trial and error Use techniques for documenting and communicating ideas Describe features Use feedback, refine design ideas Use results of investigations Stage 2 Use creative thinking techniques Use a range of research techniques to access information Using techniques for documenting and communicating design ideas Use digital technologies and multimedia for design ideas Refine ideas in responding to feedback Stage 3 Select and use creative thinking techniques Select and use research techniques Select and use techniques for documenting and communicating ideas to others Identify a range of materials Select and use techniques to investigate materials Apply established criteria to evaluate and modify

Produce solutions Early Stage 1 (Combined with Developing ideas ES1) Stage 1 Suggest simple steps for production Use a range of everyday tools, equipment, materials, techniques Work cooperatively Work safely Stage 2 Explore a range of materials Develop a plan and sequence for production Apply a plan for production Safely and correctly use a range of tools, equipment, materials, techniques Stage 3 Test the suitability of materials (fair testing) Develop a plan and specifications to guide production Use plans and production sequence Select and safely use a range of tools, equipment

Evaluate Early Stage 1 Recount the steps taken Discuss likes and dislikes in relation to end product Reflect on what they did and its usefulness Stage 1 Explain strengths and limitations Reflect on improving their solution Identify how the solution meets needs and wants Stage 2 Reflect on the process followed Evaluate the process using design criteria Reflect on findings to identify what’s next Stage 3 Identify strengths and limitations of the process used Self or peer assessing the final product using the design criteria

© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014

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tanya.coli@det.nsw.edu.au

jacqueline.slaviero@det.nsw.edu.au

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© State of New South Wales, Department of Education and Communities, 2014