1.  Sample Exam paper and Vicphysics Solutions.
The Sample paper for the revised study design for VCE physics is now available on the VCAA website. The formula sheet is also available.  The data values now all have three sig figs, so the value of g = 9.81 .  There is also additional material including Unit conversions and Nomenclature for forces. 
The sample paper was prepared because there are content changes, so it did not go through the same detailed vetting process as the Nov paper.  The paper is a full paper addressing the new content as well as the continuing content.  The last page has the answers to the Section A questions.  There seem to be more one-mark questions in Section B, possibly as a response to concerns from VCAA that previously a number of two-mark questions were mostly receiving either 0 or 2.
Vicphysics has prepared a set of solutions as with all exams. The solutions are designed to be used as part of revision, so the solutions are detailed and include a suggested marking scheme.  There are also additional revision questions generated from the stems of some of the exam questions.

2.  Seeking your Audit experiences
About 25% of schools were audited this year, because it is the first year of the revised study design for Units 3 and 4.  Vicphysics would like to hear about your experience of the process.

Here is a short google form where you can make comments anonymously.  We are interested to hear:

• whether the audit process was manageable for you, and
• how useful was the feedback from VCAA's audit panel of each of your assessment tasks,

3.  VSSEC: Quantum Computing and Radio Astronomy
VSSEC has 24 programs on offer.  Two recent additions are 'Quantum Computing and Radio Astronomy.

• Quantum Computing is designed for Year 10's and is a fifteen-lesson program.  It is available on-line, it can be run in your classroom or interested students can work away independently.  The course 'provides an introduction to the theory and practice of classical computing and quantum mechanics. The program addresses the following ‘big idea’: Quantum physics has changed our perception of classical Newtonian physics, resulting in the development of new technologies that will revolutionise the solving of complex problems'.  It is freely available.  It has lessons on Young's Interference, the PE effect and particle-wave duality
• Radio Astronomy.  Students use a real dedicated radio telescope to probe a region of deep space.  The facility could be used as a Practical Investigation, but it is accessible at all levels.  Note that this is a Virtual Program where VSSEC provides materials & telescope access and the session(s) are organised and delivered by the school using their teaching staff. Bookings are for exclusive control of the telescope and not for an incursion/excursion.  This program is funded by the Victorian Government through their Challenge and Enrichment Series for high ability students as identified by their school.  It is available to Victorian Government Schools only.  There is no cost.

4. Girls in Physics breakfasts and RAAF 5.  I do, We do, You do
'I do, We do, You do' is a teaching approach, known by many names, that many teachers would use.  Nevertheless the following resource may be of interest:

• Explicit instruction from the Aust Institute for Teaching and School Leadership
• Structural Learning a UK based website
• Australian Education Research Organisation
• Learning more with metacognition A UK based website

6. Events for Students

Girls in Physics Breakfast for 2024
Bookings are open and flyers are available.

• Wodonga, 30th May, Speaker Dr Renee Goreham, University of Newcastle, Topic: Nanobiotechnology: Building the Future of Medicine and Beyond
• Bendigo, 1st August.  Speaker: Dr Nadia Zatsepin, La Trobe University, Topic: Making molecular movies with X-ray lasers.
• Geelong, 15th August.  Speakers:  Prof Bre-Anne Sainsbury, Prof Wendy Timms, Deakin University, Topics: a) The Gentle Art of Breaking Stuff, b) Locking Carbon in the Ground: How, When, Where?

The cost this year is $25 per student inc GST with the first teacher free.  A discount is available.
Please check the website for more details.  Bookings can now be made for the ones with confirmed dates.  The others will open for bookings as venue and speaker details are confirmed.

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7. Events for Teachers 

a) PD on SACs in June

Dates:      After school program over two days - Weds, 5^th June, Weds 12^th June
Times:     5:00pm to 6:30pm, 2 x 45 min sessions, each day
Format:  Weds 5^th June: Choice of on-line or in person at Kew High School
                 Weds 12^th June: On-line only
Cost:        None
Purpose: The revised Study Design for 2023 – 2027 has a significant change in how the assessment tasks are designed.  There are only four formats and each must be selected once across Units 3 and 4 for the four Areas of Study.  The Unit 4 Practical Investigation has its own format.
 
You choose the format to assess each Outcome Statement.  The formats are listed here.

1. application of physics concepts to explain a model, theory, device, design or innovation.
2. analysis and evaluation of primary and/or secondary data, including data plotting, identified assumptions or data limitations, and conclusions.
3. problem-solving, applying physics concepts and skills to real-world contexts.
4. comparison and evaluation of two solutions to a problem, two explanations of a physics phenomenon or concept, or two methods and/or findings from practical activities.

 By June, you are likely to have completed two assessment tasks with two of these formats, with two more tasks later in the year with the other two formats.
 
The PD will enable you:

• to share your experiences of using two of the formats for assessment tasks so far this year and
• to learn from the experiences of others for developing tasks for the other two formats yet to be used.

 Registration: When you register you will be asked to complete a table like the one below on the formats of the assessment tasks that you have completed so far:

Assessment Tasks done so far
Areas of Study in Unit 3	Format: A, B, C, D or Yet to do
Motion in 2D	?
Fields	?
Electricity Generation	?

b) Out-of-Field PD for Science Teachers: Forces and Motion (Leongatha) in-person
Forces and Motion will be at Leongatha on 12th and 19th June. The cost is $220 and there is CRT coverage for Government schools.
Check here for details for this event.
Material is being developed for PD on Light and Sound, and Energy which are expected to be conducted in the 2nd half of the year.

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10.   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) Holiday hotspots for Physicists
The article explores some dream destinations – from scientific wonders in our backyard to flights into outer space 

b) China launches Chang’e-6 mission to return samples from the Moon’s far side
China has successfully launched a mission to bring back sample from the far side of the Moon – the first attempt to do so. Chang’e-6 was launched on 3rd May by a Long March 5 rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island. If the landing is successful, the craft is expected to collect and return to Earth up to two kilograms of soil from an area not previously sampled.

c) Artificial intelligence: developing useful tools that scientists can trust
Artificial intelligence (AI) is used just about everywhere these days and scientific research is no exception. But how can physicists best use the rapidly-changing technology – and how can they be confident in the results AI delivers?

This podcast features a conversation with Rick Stevens, who is a co-founder of the Trillion Parameter Consortium, which is developing AI systems for use in science, engineering, medicine and other fields.  He is a computer scientist at the Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago and he explains how AI can help with a wide range of tasks done by scientific researchers.

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