The James Goldston Faculty of Engineering & Physical Systems recently conducted the first session in a continuing professional development course specifically developed for science teachers.

Eighteen existing science teachers from nine secondary schools within the Rockhampton/Yeppoon area are going back to University this term to take part in the accelerated learning course which will be run for three hours per week over 16 weeks.

The course, which is a three way partnership between Education Queensland’s ‘Spotlight on Science’ Initiative, local public and private secondary schools and CQU, has rallied to meet a community need to address the extreme shortage of high school physics teachers.

The syllabus is based on first-year university physics and is designed to equip science teachers, who may have studied very little physics as part of their teaching degree, with a broader knowledge of applied physics. This will better enable them to teach the current senior school physics curriculum and, in turn, encourage their students to look at CQU programs based on physical sciences.

District ‘Spotlight on Science’ contact and Head of Science at Rockhampton State High School, Rebecca Hack said; “A substantial percentage of eligible teachers from within the area have committed to the course. They are giving up their own leisure time to attend as they consider it to be a valuable tool for both the teaching profession generally and their own vocational development.” .

Photo: Science Teachers Natalie Hatch (left) and Mi-Chal Purcell (right) from Rockhampton State High School use prac equipment during the first session of the Physics for Teachers course.