1.6 Teaching physics for deeper understanding
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Description
This is a new Australian Government Quality Teaching Programme activity which follows on directly from the success of a previous activity, Teaching chemistry for deeper understanding. The activity includes a university short course, action learning and reflective discussion groups, support from online mentoring and workplace coaching. Having completed the course teachers will increase and deepen their knowledge of:
- new cutting edge areas of physics
- conceptual development of big physics ideas in a contextual framework
- pedagogical content knowledge (application of general pedagogy to physics teaching)
- approaches to teaching that challenge more able physics students.
As a result of the project, participants will increase and deepen their application of this knowledge of the teaching of physics in Stage 6 classes and become more involved in a network of physics teachers. The activity will be managed by a designated officer who will take responsibility for meeting the professional needs of teachers participating in the activity.
A component of the project will be a twenty six hour short course provided by a university.
Contacts
| Gary Carey email: gary.carey@ceo.syd.catholic.edu.au Ph 02 9772 7032 Fax 02 9550 0052 Sector: CEC |
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Outcomes
Through participation in an AGQTP project, teachers will have strengthened the currency and depth of their learning area knowledge and understandings.
Through participation in an AGQTP project, teachers will have engaged productively in collegial networks that extend and support knowledge and skills.
Access
Targeted Catholic Education Commission schools/teachers.
Design
The professional learning strategy for this activity includes:
- participation in a formal course
- flexible learning that includes components such as self-paced and facilitated online learning, face-to-face workshops, video and teleconferences, online mentors, and discussion groups
- workplace mentoring and coaching aligned to meeting the NSW Institute of Teachers Professional Teaching Standards.
This project is closely aligned to:
- Towards 2010, Sydney Catholic Schools Strategic Leadership and Management Plan 2006/2010
- Catholic Education Office, Learning Framework Discussion Paper
- The recent emphasis of the Australian Government on enhancing the teaching of science as a post school tertiary option.
* Key Area 2 - Students and Their Learning
Strategic Intent Statement - 2.2 Students who are challenged to achieve academic excellence.
Key Performance Indicator - 2.2.4 Increased numbers of students attaining Band 6 level performance.
* Key Area 3 - Pedagogy Strategic Intent Statement - 3.2 Pedagogy that is inclusive, innovative and effective
Key Performance Indicator - 3.2.4 Improvement in the teaching of science.
Evaluations received from the participants of the chemistry courses conducted in both 2005 and 2006 have been very positive and used to inform the development of this new course.
Implementation
The implementation of this project will involve two parallel phases. Participants will engage in a short course provided by a university over a four month period. During this time and for a further period of time they will be involved in discussion groups (both face-to-face and online), mentoring (in person and online) and workplace coaching.
The implementation of the activity will be supported by the designated project officer and the academic partner.
Delivery
Workplace learning, online learning, mentoring, workshops/course
Timeline
By June 2008:
- 26 hour short course delivered by a university
- discussion groups meet at least 3 times
- online mentoring established and in place
- workplace coaching commenced
- evaluation process developed and in place
- progress report submitted in June.
- participant portfolios submitted, commented upon and returned
- mentoring completed
- discussion groups completed
- workplace coaching finalised
- evaluation completed
- annual report submitted in November.
Sectors
