Science Mr Tim Blake Head of Science For the Science staff the 2014 academic year was one of a great deal of extra work implementing the Australian Curriculum in Years 8-10. Completely new courses have been developed from the interpretation of the provided science understandings and elaborations. As the year progressed each new topic was thoroughly reviewed by all staff members to refine each program for the future. The vertical progression of concepts prescribed by the Curriculum was also examined and adjusted to a more appropriate and seamless structure. Whilst the overall curriculum content is little different to previous versions the inclusion of the Science as a Human Endeavour is proving to be a challenge due to time constraints and the amount of content. However, a welcome change is the increased emphasis on science investigation skills that is getting us back to the basics of science and its ability to enquire about the world around us. The Year 7 cohort took part in a co-curricular activity with the RE department called Sustain Our Swan. Based on the adjacent Swan River and using data-logging equipment, this is an excellent introduction to environmental awareness, as the Swan River is a resource for all and develops a sense of stewardship of the river for the future. It is enjoyed immensely by the students thanks to Mr Michael Slack-Smith who has developed this course. We have started a significant change in the way our 10.3 course is delivered by using technology rather than conventional teaching. We are exploring educational games and game construction as a suitable mean of engaging the students who often struggle with science concepts and the resultant lack of application. We are also introducing a number of incursions such as Forensic Science ‘Bringing to Life’ with guest presenters using real-life forensic problems to further stimulate their interest. We had a number of entries from our Years 10 and 11 students in the elite Australian Science Olympiad competitions and were very pleased to have five distinctions from the 10 student cohort. Considering this competition asks questions that are university level this is quite an achievement. Well done to those students. We are fortunate to have a number of world-class areas of science in Western Australia and the science staff have started to exploit these opportunities. The physics teachers took the Year 11 group to the Gravity Discovery Centre at Gingin to explore the facilities and educational
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opportunities that the centre presents. At a later date the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and the Murchison Widefield Array will no doubt attract further interest. The south-west of Western Australia is also a world biodiversity hotspot with its unique flora and fauna. Each year we take the Biology 11 students to explore the wildlife at Dryandra and the Stirling Ranges and the world-class conservation efforts there. We continue to look for opportunities to use resources outside the school, to enhance our learning program. Astronomy and Space science continues to expand and innovate under the guidance of Mr Bill Cooper, who was fortunate to win funding for his balloon project. With this funding, he purchased equipment which collects particles from the upper atmosphere in his next balloon launch and we can’t wait to see what he discovers. The year 2015 will be year of consolidation of the Years 7-10 curriculum and the introduction of the new Year 11 WACE units. You can be sure that the science staff will give their utmost efforts to provide the best Science education at Trinity. Mr Tim Blake Head of Science
Year 11 Science Excursion
