Would you like to give your teaching career a massive head-start through building professional networks?

Could you have the potential to be a future leader in science education?

Are you keen & able to connect with other pre-service science teachers from your uni?

The Step Up project is pleased to announce an exciting new opportunity for the next generation of science teachers. We invite eligible pre-service secondary science teachers from Queensland universities to apply to participate in the 2015 Australian Science Teachers’ Association (ASTA) conference in Perth and to get involved in planning the 2016 program in Brisbane!

Each year ASTA organises the CONASTA national conference that brings together hundreds of science teachers, laboratory technicians, curriculum leaders and other professionals interested in the future of science education. Conference delegates get to hear from an outstanding line-up of keynote speakers and take part in a rich program of professional development workshops, excursions and hands-on activities.

For 2015, the CONASTA  theme is ‘Science: A Kaleidoscope of Wonder and Opportunity’. It is to be hosted at Mercedes College in Perth, with a packed program including visits to some of Perth’s leading science and research facilities. Planning for the 2016 Brisbane event is now also underway, with ASTA and STAQ (Science Teachers Association of Queensland) looking to bring an exciting program of science education activities and showcase presentations to south-east Qld.

The Opportunity:

Participate in CONASTA 2015 in Perth and take part in shaping the 2016 event in Brisbane!

Step Up seeks to engage a small select group of pre-service teachers to act as ambassadors and to form a CONASTA 2016 subcommittee. With support from Step Up, STAQ and ASTA, this subcommittee will develop a program of concurrent events for 2016 to address the needs and aspirations of Queensland’s pre-service science teachers.

The selected Step Up ambassadors will first be fully sponsored to attend this year’s conference in Perth. With this experience behind them, they will be well placed to plan a dedicated stream of activities for pre-service teachers in conjunction with CONASTA 2016 in Brisbane, which they will also attend. Step Up sponsorship includes:

• Attendance at TWO national science education conferences
  • CONASTA 64 in Perth 5 to 9 July 2015 (excluding travel)
  • CONASTA 65 in Brisbane (July 2016 – exact dates tbc)
• Return airfare to Perth from Brisbane (SE Queensland based students) or Townsville (JCU student)
• Return airfare to Brisbane from Townsville in July 2016 (JCU student only)
• Conference meals and accommodation at Mercedes College, Perth
• Conference meals during CONASTA 2016 and, for JCU student, also Brisbane accommodation
• Travel to off-site locations during both events, as designated by the CONASTA programs
• 2 years of annual student membership to STAQ and ASTA (2015-2016).

The successful students will not only grow their science teaching knowledge, skills and confidence, but also build all-important professional networks and develop their leadership skills.

See insights from Step Up ambassadors who attended the recent National Science Teacher Summer School to get a sense of the value of this opportunity for pre-service teachers!

How to apply

Please email your completed application form to Dr Julia Davies at j33.davies@qut.edu.au. Ensure that you provide the name and contact details of a referee (non-relative) who would be able to comment on your leadership skills and experience. Eligible applications must be received by 5pm Friday, 10 April 2015.

Eligibility criteria

Eligible applicants will be enrolled as a domestic student in 2015 in a science teacher education course at one of five participating QLD Universities – ACU (Banyo campus only), JCU, Griffith University, QUT or UQ.

To be considered for the Step Up CONASTA Award you must, for 2015, be enrolled in one of the following:

• a Bachelor of Education (secondary science) degree program OR
• a Graduate Diploma in Education (secondary science) program OR
• a Masters of Teaching (secondary science) program

AND

• be attaining, or expected to attain, a GPA of 5 or above.

Eligible applicants must be able to travel to Perth to attend CONASTA from 5-9 July 2015 (dates exclusive of travel) and attend CONASTA in July 2016 (Education QLD school holidays, dates tbc). They would also be expected to:

• Attend regular subcommittee meetings leading up to CONASTA 2016;
• Help organise a program of dedicated activities for pre-service teachers attending CONASTA 2016;
• Work with STAQ to assist in their planning of a one day Senior Science Conference in November 2015, offering some program ideas focused on pre-service teachers;
• Contribute to relevant social media sites during and leading up to events (e.g. Step Up blog, STAQ & ASTA blogs, Twitter);
• Promote CONASTA, STAQ and Step Up to peers at their own institution through internal mechanisms (e.g. ‘O’ week, student guild education society, tutorials, posters etc.).

What do the judges look out for?

The judges, comprising staff from Step Up and STAQ, will assess applications on the following five criteria:

• Interest in extending your science knowledge and science teaching capacity;
• Demonstrated leadership and communication skills;
• Organisational skills and a demonstrated ability to deliver;
• Your capability and willingness to engage with peers at your institution throughout 2015 and 2016;
• Your ideas about what potential conference excursions or workshops would appeal to pre-service science teachers and why.

 Questions?

Please contact Dr Julia Davies.

Download this information and the application form.