Space to Grow
Training and support
Our training and support is now customised for individual teachers for their unique needs. Large scale lecture-style professional development days have been shown to be ineffective in developing true professional learning in our experience. Our Professional Development strategy is now to provide tailored, one-on-one or small group 'hands-on' learning experiences related to the contents of the project that emulate what will happen in the classroom as closely as possible. This professional learning will be spread over multiple sessions before you implement the material in your class. We can also support you in implementing the materials within your science class. One of our team members can directly assist in a team-teaching format to help overcome the initial learning curve. We can also help address any unforeseen classroom issues and facilitate an increase in students' engagement and learning during these sessions.
If you are interested in finding out more about our professional learning strategy and support, please contact Carolyn Dow, Project Manager, Michael Fitzgerald (project PhD student - Teacher Professional Development) at Macquarie University or David McKinnon, (Chief Investigator) Charles Sturt University, Bathurst campus.
Training aids
Minitutorials designed to guide teachers and students through the various steps of implementing Space to Grow are being developed. View Dr Fred Watson's movie presentation made for the Space to Grow project - more online soon!
Workshop training sessions
2012
CEO Parramatta training, 2 March, 30 March 30 and 11 May, LEX, Aengus Kavanagh Centre, Mount Druitt - please contact Carolyn Dow or Paul Stenning for further information - spaces are limited.
2011
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25 July 2011 - The Department of Education and Training Western Region (DETW) and Catholic Education Office Bathurst (CEOB) had a combined Training day at Canobolas Rural Technology High School. The developed resources and teaching/ learning model were enthusiastically received by the participants as they were introduced to telescopes, researching for telescope targets and working through techniques for colour imaging (see Outputs). Video Conferencing training sessions reinforced the knowledge, skills and confidence to work on the project. |
Our thanks to Anne Marceau, Teaching and Learning Coordinator DETW, Warren Frew, Schools Education Consultant CEOB and Chris Condliffe, Principal Canobolas Rural Technology High School, for helping to make this day possible.
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May - December 2011 - A series of 5 training days for the CEO Parramatta 'Clusters' training was presented by A/Prof. David McKinnon along the same pathway as an implementation in the classroom at the Learning Exchange, Aengus Kavanagh Centre, Mt. Druitt and in an actual classroom situation. Science and Physics teachers across the jurisdiction were encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on the pedagogy and how they would implement Space to Grow in the classroom, providing valuable feedback to refine and adapt the program.
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After researching targets in groups and presenting a 'case' for study of the target, each participant then created their own colour image to become familiar with the software. These were then judged by Prof. Quentin Parker, who gave an overview of what could be discovered in the colouring. All participants toured the room to also vote - some of the coloured images created at, and after by keen particpants, are displayed on our Outputs page. |
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2010
Team members presented the revised Star Clusters project, underpinned by 'tools of engagement' such as video presentations, demonstration activities and techniques, for introducing Space to Grow to students. Hosted by St Columba's College, Springwood 18 October, the special Professional Development workshop feedback will shape further revisions. A continued focus on targets that are currently unstudied, or understudied, ensures new data is generated for potential scientific papers and further study by astronomers.
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This day followed interviews with teachers by Michael Fitzgerald and personalised training at Terra Sancta College and St Patrick's Marist College.
Professional Development workshops were held on 10 February at CSU Bathurst 24 February at Macquarie University.
Project educators, including David Evans, at the CSU workshop learned about the Research Methodology and implementation benefits run by Drs Lena Danaia and David Frew. Participants critically reviewed 2 applications submitted from the DEST ASISTM pilot project before researching a trial telescope application and worked through modules of their own choosing for the telescope time request with the team on hand to assist. USBs with preloaded software were distributed compliments of project partner MACICT (images 1-4 below).
At the Macquarie workshop, attendees worked on the Making Colour Images. Photos by Michael Thali were posted on the Space to Grow Ning site (now defunct).
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2009
The second teachers' Professional Development Day (workshop) held at Charles Sturt University Bathurst on Friday 6 November (images below) for a total of 12 Education Officers and science teachers from DET Western and CEO Bathurst groups. Run by Lena Danaia and David Frew, assisted by Carolyn Dow was aimed at training and reinforcing the skills required for successful and rapid project implementation. The main training exercise 'Age of Planetary Nebula' was challenging and made use of mathematical skills.
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The inaugural teachers' Professional Development workshop was held at Macquarie University ICT Innovations Centre 16 September with 6 team members. 13 Education Officers and science teachers from CEO Parramatta, DET Western and DET Northern Sydney groups, and Caroline Taouk, Macquarie University Science Liaison Oficer, attended.
The agenda was mainly 'hands on' so participants could familiarise themselves with knowledge and skills required to undertake the project in their own school. Covering history and aims of the Space to Grow project; using telescopes; navigating the Faulkes Telescopes: Space to Grow websites; Methodology; questionnaires and data collection; types of projects; software requirements and usage; getting an image from a selected proposal and scheduling on telescopes.
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Images above taken at the inaugural Professional Development Day workshop, MACICT
The full agenda can be downloaded as a word document here
A copy of the Feedback Form can be downloaded as a word document here
A copy of the Feedback Question Chart can be downloaded as a word document here
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