Mike’s News Apr 24

7Apr-14May Tūhura Tuarangi interactive space showcase at Space Place in Wellington.
24Apr-5May A Teacher Only Day in these 2 weeks https://ncea.education.govt.nz/teacher-only-days
25 Apr World Penguin day https://www.calendarr.com/united-kingdom/world-penguin-day/
25 Apr World malaria Day http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/malaria/en/index.html
26Apr1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion Link here.
28 Apr Save the frogs day www.savethefrogs.com/day/ www.nzfrogs.org/
4 May Science Learning Hub & Science in a Van’s next Hive Mind webinar 4:00–4:45 pm
7-13 May Rotuman Language week www.mpia.govt.nz/programmes
Moon 1Q Apr 28      FM May 6      3Q May 13      NM May 20
  1. The theme for this year’s Primary Science week (8-12 May) is Citizen Science. What’s on offer?
  2. Webinar on Nature Activities for Year-round Learning. 26 Apr, 11 a.m. Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wdX6S9dFT_mzsEipZY736g#/registration
  3. A US national webinar on Breaking Stereotypes Through Children’s Books with a focus on STEM. 27 Apr 11am PT [6am 28 Apr NZT]. Register here.
  4. With the dates for the language weeks now announced, the full year’s calendar of events relevant for science teachers is complete: Dates for 2023
  5. Presenters at ULearn need to apply by 30 April, here https://ulearn.nz/apply-to-present
  6. The Queenstown Molecular Biology meeting returns as part of Queenstown Research Week 28–30 Aug after a hiatus due to COVID. NZ’s largest scientific conference will focus on nanotechnology applications in Health, Agriculture & … . It begins with a talk by Prof David Julius, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Teachers can apply for 1 of 3 scholarships which cover travel, accommodation, registration & conference dinner but not relief. Apply before Jun 6.
  7. The Plant Health and Environment Laboratory is responsible for identifying exotic plant pests and diseases. They are looking to work with teachers &/or students to increase understanding of biosecurity issues and science careers. Auckland or Waikato schools interested in co-constructing a program please contact David.Waite@mpi.govt.nz or Jeremy.Thompson@mpi.govt.nz

Info

  1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
    • This Chrome extension allows us to right click on a term to search the Māori dictionary for a translation English to Māori or Māori to English. Very useful.
  2. Mātauranga Māori
  3. Many schools are finding their senior students more fragile than usual after 3 years of COVID and interruptions to learning. One school found The Resilience Project really helpful for their students

Resources

  1. Biology:
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
  3. Earth & Space Science:
  4.  Chemistry:
  5. Physics:
  6. Primary & intermediate:
  7.  Science:
  8. Education for Sustainability (EfS):
  9. Links with NZ History:
  10. The New NCEA standards:
    • SciPAD has written a text for L1 Science that shows one way you could approach teaching a program. Gives teachers some good ideas. Video walks us thru it.

MoE/NZQA

  1. Rumour on FB there’s no EfS in the new NCEA. Chris Eames replied saying that EfS standards are absolutely available and are being redeveloped into some really exciting content. This year, schools are piloting the new draft L2s and the SEG is working on the L3s. [EfS is only at L2 & L3.]
  2. MoE has announced the new NCEA L1 will go ahead, but L2 delayed to 2026 and L3 to 2027. Refreshed science curriculum not implemented til 2027. For now, a focus on maths, literacy, te reo Māori and pāngarau learning. Press release.
  3. The 2023 versions of the new L1 NCEA standards are now online.  https://ncea.education.govt.nz/science/science?view=assessment Go to NZC tab at top to find AgH, CB, PES information. Word version of material for L1 Science: Sci TLAG Mar2023

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. Education Hub webinar: Professor Rob Coe will discuss his work developing the Great Teaching Toolkit, which seeks to raise the quality of teaching and leadership at schools by providing an evidence-based curriculum for teacher learning and tools and instruments to provide feedback for professional development over time. Wed 26 April, 7.30pm Register here.
  2. Teacher PLD day at Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain Fri 26 May 9:30am – 2:30 pm. info and tickets here https://www.facebook.com/events/217273257649771/

Cheers, Mike

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MN