Science

CONGRATULATIONS to Katarina Vojvodic: 

3rd in State 

2012 HSC Earth and Environmental Science

 

It is a genuinely exciting time to be part of the teaching profession. In 2009 the Digital Education Revolution (DER) began and in 2011 the NSW Board of Studies (BOS) released the first draft syllabus in response to the Australian Curriculum.

The Science faculty at Concord High has chosen to embrace these major educational reforms. The faculty is the first school in NSW, possibly Australia, to genuinely modify faculty programmes and assessment tasks to address the requirements of ACARA. In 2012, term 1 programmes (see attached documents) have been mapped against both the current NSW Science syllabus and the soon to be released final Australian curriculum. These programmes also embed, and actively encourage both teachers and students to utilise the unique teaching and learning opportunities offered by the DER.

In 2011 yr9 and 10 Gifted and Talented (GAT), and other interested students,for the first time sat for the University of Sydney (USyd) GAT extension exam. Successful candidates will be invited to participate in holiday programmes offered by the University. The programmes provide students with the unique opportunity to enter the laboratories of the University and participate in real 'hands on' science with other like minded students from around NSW.

In 2012, selected students will participate for the first time in the CSIRO CREST programme (CREativity in Science and Technology). In doing so, they will gain external recognition for open-ended investigations that they perform as part of the HOTS programme offered by the school.

Another exciting initiative will be the 2012 launch of the 'Animal Room'. The Science faculty received permission from the DEC and the National Parks and Wildlife to house a range of Australian native animals, including amphibians and a range of reptiles. The animals will prove invaluable during units of work exploring the concepts of adaptations and evolution. Selected students will be offered the very unique opportunity  to care for and maintain these animals enclosures.

In the classroom we actively encourage students to be critical in their thinking. When faced with a given problem students should work their way through it in a logical and reasoned manner. Their conclusions will be based on sound research and factual evidence. Evaluation of the validity and reliability of data is also important so that a judgement can be made as to the confidence they have in their conclusion. Students should also recognise that good research often results in more questions than answers. We hope that they embrace the 'How?', 'What?' and 'Why of the world around them?

 

Faculty members

Ms Surraya Anwary: Biology

Mr Richard Armstrong (Prefect co-ordinator): Physics

Ms Anju Arya (yr11 student adviser): Chemistry, Physics

Ms Caroline Burge: Earth & Environmental Science

Ms Kate McCready: Chemistry

Mr Iqbal Singh: Physics, Chemistry

Mr Tim Sloane (Head Teacher): Biology