1. Vicphysics Membership and Access to the Teachers' Resources on the website.
Vicphysics has changed its membership structure, benefits and fees. Previously, subscription to the website resources was separate from being a member of Vicphysics. Access to website resources is now being included as one of a number of member benefits.
Membership benefits are:
- access to teacher resources section of the website
- discounts to attend conferences, in-services, etc,
- certification for attending each PD event,
- PL certificate for committee meetings supplied at the end of the calendar year and
- voting rights.
Membership fees are:
- Individual: $60
- Retired: $40
- Student (tertiary): $40
- School: $120
Vicphysics also offers a Resources Access Only option without the discounts and other benefits listed above. The fees for this option are the same as above.
Existing subscribers currently receive the discounts, which will cease when the subscription expires. At which point subscribers will need to choose between the two options above for continued access to the Teacher resources.
We are looking forward to increasing the membership base of Vicphysics and to fostering member input into our extensive range of activities from Physics teaching professional learning such as our recent SAC PD events or the Physics Teachers Conference to supporting activities for students, such as the Luna Park Physics Days or photo and poster competitions.
2. VCE Physics Revision Lecture, School bookings are now available. Sunday, 15th September, On-line and at Swinburne University of Technology
Update: Some schools wish to pay for the students to attend the revision lecture by EFT, rather than by credit card. Booking on the Students webpage only accepts credit cards. So, in the Teachers section, a Revision Lecture: School Bookings webpage has been set up that accepts EFT payment as well as credit cards.
Also teachers who accompany their students, either online or in person, do not have to pay. If you have already paid, a refund will be issued. Also check the information below on the Government support for attending revision lectures.
This year's Revision Lecture will be held on Sunday, 15th September from 10:00am until 2:50pm.
It will be offered as a hybrid event, on-line and in person at the Hawthorn campus.
The presenter will be Colin Hopkins. The on-line chat room will have experienced teachers available to answer questions.
Lunch will be provided by Swinburne University for the students.
Swinburne University will also provide campus tours and their Astro tour at lunchtime. These can be booked at Registration on the day.
The cost is $27.50 inc GST and participants will get access to revision material.
Students can book at this webpage on the Students of the Vicphysics website, where there is additional information.
State Government Initiative: Revision Lectures
The VCE Revision Lectures initiative recognises that rural and regional students face unique barriers in attending VCE revision lectures due to additional travel and accommodation costs.
Targeted funding is available to support rural and regional students from government schools to access VCE revision lectures and other exam revision supports across Victoria. Click here for information for schools.
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3. Cosmos in your classroom, Astronomy Education for Teachers, 25th and 26th September
Deakin University's Research for Educational Impact (REDI) is running a PD event for teachers from across Year 7 - 12 interested in an opportunity to learn from experts and colleagues in the field of astronomy.
This symposium and professional development brings together teachers who are interested in incorporating astronomy into their teaching. The aim
is to learn from other teachers, but also provide teachers with the resources and support allowing them to incorporate the awe and wonder of astronomy into their teaching. Learn from researchers, astronomers and other teachers about their experiences and perspectives, and the potential of astronomy to be a gateway context to making connections between STEM and non-STEM
disciplines.
Venue: Tower 2 level 12/727 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3008
Cost: Free
To Register: click here, places are limited, 25 teachers only.
Further information: Contact Dr Saeed Salimpour Click here for flyer and program.
Also check out the online international astronomy conference below in 8b.
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4. Formula Sheet for the VCE Physics Exam
The formula sheet uses two different expressions for the summing of forces. The expression for Newton's 2nd law is while the equation for uniform circular motion is Fnet = mv2/r . This is not likely to perturb students. It is expected to be corrected for next year. Check VCAA website here to download a copy.
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5. AIP Congress 2024: Teachers' Day, Weds, 5th December, Melbourne Convention Centre
The Australian Institute of Physics Congress is running from 2nd-5th December at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will have a focus on education in the program running on Wednesday 4th December.
The program will start with a physics in education breakfast on the topic of 'AI in Physics Education', followed by a plenary presentation from Professor Majula Sharma, Professor of Science Education at the University of Sydney and Director of the STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy.
A focus session on 'Bridging High School and Tertiary Physics' will bring together secondary and tertiary educators with lightning talks and table discussions on laboratory learning and university-secondary outreach programs in physics.
After lunch, a series of invited and contributed talks will look at effective approaches to physics teaching and physics education across settings.
Venue: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: Weds, 4th Dec
Cost: $130
To register: AIP Congress 2024 website
Stay tuned for more detailed program information.
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6. Sports investigation: Javelin at the Olympics
The telecast of the javelin event at the Paris Olympics provided some data that students might like to investigate. After each throw, the throw was replayed in slow motion from side on, and as the javelin was released its speed at release and the release angle were displayed. Once the throw was measured the distance was displayed as well.
Here is a link to a spreadsheet of data from the men's and women's events as well as data from the decathlon and heptathlon. The data is an opportunity to explore how well the equations of parabolic motion explain the throw of the javelin.
These are some articles and resources of interest:
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7. Events for Students
a) National Science Week (NSW) Events
This is a list of some NSW events in Victoria. Check here for details of this and many others.
- Dark Matter road trip 6:30pm, 30th August, Carlton
b Gymnasium Lectures (in person and online): 6pm Wednesdays, fortnightly in Term 3, University of Melbourne
This popular series is back in 2024, the remaining lectures are listed below.
- September 4: Light and Matter (Prof. Harry Quiney)
- September 18: Special Relativity (Prof. David Jamieson)
All lectures will be held in the Hercus Theatre at the School of Physics, University of Melbourne and will begin at 6 pm sharp, with snacks beforehand. Whilst this is an in-person event, a Zoom link will be sent out to all participants in the hour before the lecture.
To register, click here.
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8. Events for Teachers
a) Lab Tech Workshops on Years 7 - 10 Physics, 17th September
Vicphysics is again running an in-service for lab technicians on practical activities for Years 7 to 10 Physics. There are nine workshops to choose from. There are workshops on improving skills with CROs, Ruhmkorff coils and Van de Graaff generators, as well as workshops by Harvey Edwards, Ciderhouse, Modern Teaching Aids, Haines Educational and Man Lam from Lyndale Secondary College.
Cost: $85 includes lunch and morning tea.
To register and for more details of the program: click here.
b) Global Hands-On Universe Conference 2024, Online 23 - 27 September
This international conference is online from anywhere in the world. Sessions will be offered in three time zones. The cost to participate is only 10 €. The program has not been finalised nor keynote speakers announced, but topics include: Astronomy education research, Best practices in Astronomy education, Citizen Science, Research in the classroom with robotic telescopes, etc. The program will be announced in early September.
It plans to offer:
- astronomy/data activities that are ready for the classroom
- a chance to join a group of similar innovative educators who want to help you
- an opportunity for your students to use networks of remote telescopes around the world, to measure the characteristics of planets around other stars and undertake well-developed and tested activities, such as measuring the mass of the black hole in the center of our Milky Way, from genuine data.
To register an expression of interest and for more detail, click here.
This link to the 2023 conference will give you some idea of their program
c) Out-of-Field PD for Science Teachers: Hamilton and Kew (Light and Sound)
The next PD events are in Term 4.
- Hamilton on Wednesday, 13 November and Tuesday, 19th November, 9:30am to 3:30pm. Morning tea and lunch provided.
- Kew High School on Thursdays from 24th October to 29th November at 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Check here for details for these events and to book.
Costs: Hamilton ($220 per participant), Kew ($330 per participant). Discounts available for teachers from Government schools and for teachers from schools with a low ICSEA rank. CRT coverage is available for teachers from Government schools.
d) PHYSCON 2025 - Making a Quantum Leap: Call for Presenters
Vicphysics Teachers’ Network Inc is excited to announce that “PHYSCON 2025 – Making a Quantum Leap,” a hybrid conference for all teacher of Physics, will be taking place on Friday, 21 February online and at Swinburne University of Technology’s Hawthorn Campus with the support of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
2025 is the international “Year of Quantum” and we are very fortunate to have Professor Nicolas Menicucci from RMIT giving a keynote address at the conference. He is an outstanding communicator who is leading the Australian national campaign to raise awareness of the ubiquity and importance of quantum phenomena as well as the opportunities that quantum technologies present for those who have physics knowledge and skills.
Vicphysics received a great deal of positive feedback following PHYSCON 2024 and we are looking forward to presenting an even better event in 2025. In particular, feedback emphasised the value of online access and many of the sessions were accessed multiple times after PHYSCON 2024. We will continue to work towards optimising both the in person and online experience and present a mixture of livestreamed, in person only and online only sessions.
We hope that you will take this opportunity to share your expertise and knowledge with your colleagues by presenting and look forward to receiving your submission for an in-person, streamed or online interactive workshop (click here). Presenters and up to one co-presenter receive free registration for the conference. We would appreciate receiving submissions by 19 September to assist with timely planning for the conference.
Looking forward to a rich spread of contributions that will inspire and support the Physics teaching community!
7. Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position?
There are thirteen schools seeking a physics teacher.
Macleod College has placed an ad for a position on the Vicphysics website .
The webpage is updated every weekend. The webpage also has a link on how schools can register a position and lodge a payment for this service.
- Prahran High School (Closes 28th August)
- Melton Secondary College (closes 26th August)
- Kyabram P-12 College (closes 26th August)
- Stawell Secondary College (closes 26th August)
- Fitzroy High School (closes 25th August)
- Macleod College (closes 29th August)
- Wantirna College (close 29th August, 2 positions)
- Wellington Secondary College (closes 1st September)
- Glen Eira College (closes 2nd September)
- Western Heights Secondary College (closes 3rd September
- Wangaratta High School (closes 3rd September)
- Thornbury High School (closes 3rd September)
- Brentwood Secondary College (closes 4th September)
i) Resources from the PD on SACs
A PD on SACs was held last term. It covered the Unit 3 Areas of Study and Unit 4 AoS 1 and was in all the four formats: Explaining, Analysing, Applying and Comparing. Material for and from the PD has been uploaded to PD on SACs in June webpage .
The material includes:
- Questions for the groups on the Motion in 2D and Fields Areas of Study which participants had already done and questions on Electricity Generation and Unit 4 AoS 1 which most participants were yet to do or design.
- A short Powerpoint (5 slides) on the key pointers for each format,
- Spreadsheet of Performance Descriptors for the Area of Study and the skills of Communication, Data Analysis and Arguments and Conclusions, along with information on constructing a rubric for an assessment task from the worksheets in the spreadsheet.
- Check lists for each format. Vicphysics has prepared these to assist teachers in thinking of the aspects of each type of assessment task. The check lists are not intended to be exhaustive, nor authoritative, but more a guide to the aspects worth considering when designing an assessment task or evaluating commercial tasks or those of other teachers.
Contributed SACs. Participants have contributed assessment tasks. Copyright watermarks have been added and they have been uploaded to a google drive to which teachers can request access by email, in the same way that Luna Park Solutions are made available.
Currently there are now 13 SACs on the google drive along with the material described above.
To get access to this google drive, please email Vicphysics from a school or education-linked email address.
ii) Vicphysics Forum: Tips and Questions for the Physics Teaching Community
The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network has set up an online Forum for teachers to raise issues, seek ideas, offer suggestions, etc. The link is on the top line of our website’s home page: https://www.vicphysics.org/ We hope it will be an opportunity for mutual professional development.
The forum is open to all teachers. If you are a subscriber you can login in the usual way. If you are not a subscriber you can register to just use the forum at ‘My Account’. Given the purposes of this Forum, we ask that you use your real name when generating a topic or a lodging a post.
We hope this Forum will become a valuable medium for the exchange of ideas as we begin planning for the new study design.
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9. Physics News from the Web
Items selected from the bulletin of the Institute of Physics (UK).
Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.
a) Solar-driven atmospheric water extractor provides continuous freshwater output
A team have recently developed a solar-driven atmospheric water extraction (SAWE) device that can continuously harvest moisture from the air to supply clean water to people in humid climates.
In SAWEs, the sorbent material first captures moisture from the air. Once saturated, the system is sealed and exposed to sunlight to extract the water.
b) Physics for a better future: mammoth book looks at science and society (open access)
The European Physics Society (EPS) has produced a 829 page book called Grand Challenges which looks at how science and physics can help drive positive change in society and raise standards of living worldwide as we approach the middle of the century. It has contributions from 115 physicists. "In this book, we will look at the challenges, going from particles, via atoms, cells, stars, galaxies, our place in the universe, to explore what makes us, human beings, really unique in nature: our ability to imagine and shape the future by making use of the scientific method".
The book is available as an open access where you can download a specific chapter. Chapter headings include: Physics bridging the infinities, Matter and Waves, Physics for understanding life, Physics for Health, Physics for secure and efficient societies, etc. The Matter and Waves Chapter has sections on: quantum many-body systems and emergent phenomena; the search for new materials; manipulating photons and atoms: photonics and nanophysics; extreme light, and systems with numerous degrees of freedom
The link above is to a podcast interview with the editor.
c) Could targeted alpha therapy help treat Alzheimer’s disease?
A team at the University of Utah is investigating a new way to use radiation to reduce plaque deposits and potentially alleviate Alzheimer’s symptoms. The therapy works by delivering an alpha particle-emitting radionuclide directly to a target, where it releases energy into its immediate surroundings. As alpha particles only travel a few micrometres in tissue, they deliver a highly localized dose. The approach has already proved effective for treating metastatic cancers, and the Utah team postulated that it could also be used to break bonds within amyloid-beta aggregates and facilitate plaque clearance.
The radionuclide bismuth-213 has a short half-life of 46 min and decays by emitting a single alpha particle. The team found that a dose of 0.01488 MBq per picogram of amyloid plaque was required to reduce amyloid plaque by 50% in vitro.
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1. Benefits of Vicphysics Membership and Access to the Teachers Resources on the website.
Vicphysics has changed its membership structure, benefits and fees.
Membership benefits are:
- access to teacher resources section of the website
- discounts to attend conferences, in-services, etc,
- certification for attending each PD event,
- PL certificate for committee meetings supplied at the end of the calendar year and
- voting rights.
Membership fees are:
- Individual: $60
- Retired: $40
- Student (tertiary): $40
- School: $120
Vicphysics also offers a Resources Access Only option without the discounts and other benefits listed above. The fees for this option are the same as above.
Existing subscribers currently receive the discounts, which will cease when the subscription expires. At which point subscribers will need to choose between the two options above for continued access to the Teachers resources.
By linking the discounts to the Membership, we hope to encourage more teachers to be more involved in the extensive range of Vicphysics activities.
Members can:
- contribute to reviews of VCE exam papers,
- assist with assessing competition entries,
- participate in curriculum discussions,
- introduce presenters at conferences
2. VCE Physics Revision Lecture, School bookings are now available. Sunday, 15th September, On-line and at Swinburne University of Technology
Update: Some schools wish to pay for the students to attend the revision lecture by EFT, rather than by credit card. Booking on the Students webpage only accepts credit cards. So in the Teachers section behind the paywall, a Revision Lecture: School Bookings webpage has been set up that accepts EFT payment as well as credit cards.
Also teachers who accompany their students, either online or in person, do not have to pay. If you have already paid, a refund will be issued. Also check the information below on the Government support for attending revision lectures.
This year's Revision Lecture will be held on Sunday, 15th September from 10:00am until 2:50pm.
It will be offered as a hybrid event, on-line and in person at the Hawthorn campus.
The presenter will be Colin Hopkins. The on-line chat room will have experienced teachers available to answer questions.
Lunch will be provided by Swinburne University for the students.
Swinburne University will also provide campus tours and their Astro tour at lunchtime. These can be booked at Registration on the day.
The cost is $27.50 inc GST and participants will get access to revision material.
Students can book at this webpage on the Students of the Vicphysics website, where there is additional information.
State Government Initiative: Revision Lectures
The VCE Revision Lectures initiative recognises that rural and regional students face unique barriers in attending VCE revision lectures due to additional travel and accommodation costs.
Targeted funding is available to support rural and regional students from government schools to access VCE revision lectures and other exam revision supports across Victoria. Click here for information for schools.
Return to top
3.
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4.
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5. Events for Students
a) National Science Week (NSW) Events
This is a list of some NSW events in Victoria. Check here for details of this and many others.
- Dark Matter road trip 6:30pm, 30th August, Carlton
b Gymnasium Lectures (in person and online): 6pm Wednesdays, fortnightly in Term 3, University of Melbourne
This popular series is back in 2024, the remaining lectures are listed below.
- September 4: Light and Matter (Prof. Harry Quiney)
- September 18: Special Relativity (Prof. David Jamieson)
All lectures will be held in the Hercus Theatre at the School of Physics, University of Melbourne and will begin at 6 pm sharp, with snacks beforehand. Whilst this is an in-person event, a Zoom link will be sent out to all participants in the hour before the lecture.
To register, click here.
Return to top
6. Events for Teachers
a Lab Tech Workshops on Years 7 - 10 Physics, 17th September
Vicphysics is again running an in-service for lab technicians on practical activities for Years 7 to 10 Physics. There are nine workshops to choose from. There are workshops on improving skills with CROs, Ruhmkorff coils and Van de Graaff generators, as well as workshops by Harvey Edwards, Ciderhouse, Modern Teaching Aids, Haines Educational and Man Lam from Lyndale Secondary College.
Cost: $85 includes lunch and morning tea.
To register and for more details of the program: click here.
b) Global Hands-On Universe Conference 2024, Online 23 - 27 September
This international conference is online from anywhere in the world. Sessions will be offered in three time zones. The cost to participate is only 10 €. The program has not been finalised nor keynote speakers announced, but topics include: Astronomy education research, Best practices in Astronomy education, Citizen Science, Research in the classroom with robotic telescopes, etc. The program will be announced in early September.
It plans to offer:
- astronomy/data activities that are ready for the classroom
- a chance to join a group of similar innovative educators who want to help you
- an opportunity for your students to use networks of remote telescopes around the world, to measure the characteristics of planets around other stars and undertake well-developed and tested activities, such as measuring the mass of the black hole in the center of our Milky Way, from genuine data.
To register an expression of interest and for more detail, click here.
This link to the 2023 conference will give you some idea of their program
c) PHYSCON 2025 - Making a Quantum Leap: Call for Presenters
Next year's Physics Teachers' Conference will be held on Friday, 21st February, 2025. It will again be a hybrid event, online and in person at the Hawthorn campus of the Swinburne University of Technology. We invite teachers to present a workshop at the conference. It can be on Senior School Physics or Middle School Physics. Your format can be in person, online or pre-recorded. You can have a co-presenter.
Both you and your co-presenter will get free registration for the conference. If you would like to present a workshop, please complete this google form.
The closing date for lodging workshops is Friday, 20th September.
We are looking forward to another conference of innovative ideas, inspiring speakers and invigorating conversations. We welcome your contribution. If you have any queries, please get in touch.
7. Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position?
There are ten schools seeking a physics teacher.
Macleod College has placed an ad for a position on the Vicphysics website .
The webpage is updated every weekend. The webpage also has a link on how schools can register a position and lodge a payment for this service.
- Prahran High School (Closes 28th August)
- Belmont High School (closes 18th August)
- Melton Secondary College (closes 26th August)
- Kyabram P-12 College (closes 26th August)
- Stawell Secondary College (closes 26th August)
- Fitzroy High School (closes 25th August)
- Drouin Secondary College (closes 21st August)
- Bundoora Secondary College (closes 20th August)
- Macleod College (closes 29th August)
- Wantirna College (close 29th August, 2 positions)
i) Resources from the PD on SACs
A PD on SACs was held last term. It covered the Unit 3 Areas of Study and Unit 4 AoS 1 and was in all the four formats: Explaining, Analysing, Applying and Comparing. Material for and from the PD has been uploaded to PD on SACs in June webpage .
The material includes:
- Questions for the groups on the Motion in 2D and Fields Areas of Study which participants had already done and questions on Electricity Generation and Unit 4 AoS 1 which most participants were yet to do or design.
- A short Powerpoint (5 slides) on the key pointers for each format,
- Spreadsheet of Performance Descriptors for the Area of Study and the skills of Communication, Data Analysis and Arguments and Conclusions, along with information on constructing a rubric for an assessment task from the worksheets in the spreadsheet.
- Check lists for each format. Vicphysics has prepared these to assist teachers in thinking of the aspects of each type of assessment task. The check lists are not intended to be exhaustive, nor authoritative, but more a guide to the aspects worth considering when designing an assessment task or evaluating commercial tasks or those of other teachers.
Contributed SACs. Participants have contributed assessment tasks. Copyright watermarks have been added and they have been uploaded to a google drive to which teachers can request access by email, in the same way that Luna Park Solutions are made available.
Currently there are now 13 SACs on the google drive along with the material described above.
To get access to this google drive, please email Vicphysics from a school or education-linked email address.
ii) Vicphysics Forum: Tips and Questions for the Physics Teaching Community
The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network has set up an online Forum for teachers to raise issues, seek ideas, offer suggestions, etc. The link is on the top line of our website’s home page: https://www.vicphysics.org/ We hope it will be an opportunity for mutual professional development.
The forum is open to all teachers. If you are a subscriber you can login in the usual way. If you are not a subscriber you can register to just use the forum at ‘My Account’. Given the purposes of this Forum, we ask that you use your real name when generating a topic or a lodging a post.
We hope this Forum will become a valuable medium for the exchange of ideas as we begin planning for the new study design.
iii) Subscriptions: A Vicphysics subscription gives you access to the Teachers section of the website. The subscription will last for a year from the day payment is received. Both individual and school subscriptions are available. Check the homepage for subscription link.
Return to top
9. Physics News from the Web
Items selected from the bulletin of the Institute of Physics (UK).
Each item below includes the introductory paragraphs and a web link to the rest of the article.
Return to top
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