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1. Advertised Physics Teacher position
The Vicphysics website has a page where schools can place an ad for a Physics teacher.
Scoresby Secondary College has placed an ad for an Instructional Leader Physics and Science. The position is full time and on-going and begins next year, For more details click here. Applications close 7th September.

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2. Tutor Listing Service
The Vicphysics website has a Tutor Listing Service. It can be found under the Students section of the website. There are extra names on the list. If you tutor and wish to add your name to the list, please click the email link on the webpage.

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3. An Experiment: Using AI to answer an Extended Response Exam Question
Could an AI generated answer be useful in the classroom? Could students check the answer for any errors? rewrite it in dot point form?
To see what AI could do, the last question in this year's NHT paper used. The question is not clearly expressed and was first modified slightly.
The original question is: 'The energy levels of the hydrogen atom are discrete (quantised) and there are no levels between them. Explain, in terms of the properties of the electron in the hydrogen atom, why only certain energy levels are allowed.'
The question asked of AI was 'Answer the following question like a secondary school student. The energy levels of the hydrogen atom are discrete. Explain, in terms of the properties of the electron in the hydrogen atom, why only certain energy levels are allowed.' The answer was informal as if written for a Year 9 student. It was 265 words long and used interesting analogies for various concepts.

The second attempt was to reduce the answer to less than 100 words. The result was again informal, but with different analogies. The third attempt was to keep the shorter length and specify the student as a final year secondary student studying physics. This response was succinct, appropriate in level and logical in structure.

The next refinement was to ask for the answer in dot point form. There were eight dot points in the response, which probably suggests that the exam question was not well designed in the first place. The final refinement was to limit the number of dot points to four or less. The points are logical in sequence, but the initial demanding challenge of the exam question meant the density of content in the response was almost overwhelming. The previous eight dot points was a more persuasive response.

How could such responses be used in the classroom? One task might be to ask the students to take the text-based response and extract the key dot points. In hindsight, it is perhaps unlikely that AI would generate a response with errors of physics for students to identify.

The version for a younger audience included some clever analogies for concepts such as standing wave in an atom, which might be worthwhile incorporating in usual teaching practice.

The questions and the AI responses along with the text above are available here.

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4. Events for Students

a) . Physics Gymnasium Lecture for Students: Weekly on Thursdays at University of Melbourne
The University is holding its lecture series again this year. This year they will be held a week apart.
The remaining lectures in the program are, note the one for 31st August is especially relevant to Year 12 students and can also be viewed online:

Aug 24^th: Quantum Computers – Approaching Fast – Prof. Lloyd Hollenberg. Bring a laptop and join Prof Hollenberg as he introduces you to just enough quantum mechanics to start programming a quantum computer!
Aug 31^st: Light and Matter – Prof. Harry Quiney Exploring the photon - is it a wave or a particle? Could it be both? Take a journey into the amazing world of the photon. Its history, present and future (In person and live-streamed)
Sept 7^th: Using Stars to Awaken the Giants at the Heart of Galaxies – How Unlucky Stars Reinvigorate Black Holes – Assoc. Prof. Katie Auchettl. What happens when a star wanders too close to a supermassive black hole just minding its own business? It gets messy!. Join us as Associate Professor Katie Auchettl unpacks this rare, but sticky situation and explains how observing them can help us understand more about these hungry behemoths.

They are mostly live in-person only events, except for 31st August and they will be held in the Hercus Theatre.
At 5:30pm, there will be snacks and drinks with the lecture starting at 6:00pm and finishing at 7:00pm
To register click here.

Girls in Physics Breakfasts in 2023
Below is the date and venue for the last Breakfast for the year with the speaker and her topic.

1st September, Bendigo. Speaker: Dr Amanda Karakas, Monash University Topic: Stars as chemical element factories

The cost this year is $20 per student, the first teacher attends for free. There is a discount to $5 for low ICSEA schools, you need to contact Vicphysics to request the discount.
For more details and to book go to the Vicphysics website.

Revision Lecture: Sunday, 10th September. Online and in person at Swinburne University of Technology
The Revision lecture this year will be delivered on-line and in person. The presenter will be Colin Hopkins, with chat room support for online participants from Sandor Kazi and Paul Cuthbert.
The program will run from 10:00am until 2:50pm with two 50 min morning presentations and a 10 min break in between, followed by a 60 min lunch break, with two more 50 min sessions in the afternoon.
Swinburne University is not only providing lunch, but also offering 25 min Astro Tours and campus tours at lunch time. They will also have Course Advice booths in the lunch area.
Notes will be available in a digital format.
Cost: $25, payment by credit card only. If schools wish to book a large group, please contact Vicphysics.
Venue: Level 2, AMDC Building, Swinburne University of Technology, Burwood Rd, Hawthorn.
Students can register for the lecture and the tours at the Students webpage on the vicphysics website.
Getting there: Glenferrie railway station, Six tram routes (16, 48, 70, 72, 75 and 109). Free car parking across Burwood Rd in the council car park.

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5. Events for Teachers

Talk, Dinner and Catching Up: ChatGPT and Physics Teaching and learning - Friend or Foe? , 6pm, Weds, 30th August at the Auburn Hotel

The Vicphysics Teachers’ Network invites physics teachers and others interested in physics education to gather in an informal setting for a series of dinners with a guest speaker. The guest speakers will address diverse topics touching on curriculum, pedagogy and the discipline itself. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion and network with colleagues over dinner.

The next occasion will be Wednesday, 30th August at the Auburn Hotel at 85 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn starting at 6:00pm.

Topic: ChatGPT and Physics Teaching and learning - Friend of Foe?
Speaker: Prof Andrew Greentree from RMIT, Andy is a theoretical physicist, with a background in quantum optics and quantum information.

The cost is $45 ($40 for Vicphysics subscribers) and covers a main course and drinks.

For more details and to book click here. To download the flyer, click here. For some background, check this video and this article:
16 min video , How ChatGPT can help physicists in their daily work

Physics at 5. An opportunity to network
Wanting to bounce around some lesson ideas, mull over a tricky question, or unpack a physics concept?
Vicphysics is hosting a weekly, half-hour online Zoom drop-in session on Tuesdays at 5:00pm.
Great opportunity to check in with other colleagues about any aspect of Physics teaching and learning! The discussions will be moderated by members of the Vicphysics Committee.
This is the zoom link. The Meeting ID is 815 1456 7258 and the Passcode: 459295. The Waiting Room will be used.
The same link, ID and passcode will be used for future Tuesday gatherings.
Each meeting is planned to go for about 30 minutes.
The last newsletter referred to a discussion about question 5, the transformer question in Section A, on the NHT Exam paper. Check the paper here and our solutions here. Some people initially thought B was the correct answer, but on closer examination realised that it was in effect a Transmission line question with two correct answers, A and C.

Lab Techs Workshops, Weds 13th September, Camberwell Grammar School
The Workshops are on again this year, back in the last week of Term 3.
The program offers a range of workshops including:

Learning new skills e.g. repairing a multimeter, using a CRO, using a Ruhmkorff coil,
Soldering: An introduction to the Art with Harvey Edwards from Principles and Practice
Electronic data method in the Physical Sciences with Megan Simkins from Ciderhouse
Electronic data collection with Amanda Lovett from Modern Teaching Aids
Physics Demonstrations for Open Days and Using Science Toys with Man Lam from Mount Alexander College (to be confirmed)
Safe handling of ionising radiation and storage of radioactive sources with Dan O'Keeffe, Vicphysics
Tour of lab and prep room facilities including animal house plus Laboratory management hints with Svetlana Marchouba, Camberwell Grammar School.

Cost: $75, lunch is included.
For more details and to book, click here.

The Force and Motion Workshops: John Monash Science School and Christian College Geelong
The intensive module steps teacher through the key concepts and skills to successfully teach the relevant Year 7 - 10 curriculum content.

Why your colleagues should participate:

Deepen their conceptual understanding of key concepts in electric circuits
Engage in practical activities that they can directly deploy in your classroom
Unpack typical student misconceptions and learn best practice pedagogy for combating them
Improve their ability to differentiate curriculum and assessment student achievement
Access materials to support your classroom practice prepared by experienced teachers and science education academics associated with the Vicphysics Teachers' Network
Become part of a network like-minded teachers who are striving to improve their practice

These two events are next term. They will be six two-hour sessions with the JMSS event on Thursdays from 26th October and the Geelong event on Tuesdays from 24th October, starting at 4:30pm for both venues.
Cost $240 per participant for each workshop. A discount is available for teachers from low ICSEA schools.
For more details and to book click here.

Course Planning Day for Units 3 and 4 in 2024, Friday, 10th November. Online and in person at Swinburne University of Technology.
Vicphysics is organising a Course Planning Day for Friday, 10th November, the day after the Physics exam and the day before the assessors' meeting. It will be held at Swinburne University of Technology and also online. The program is:
9:00       Welcome
9:15       Presentation on new content in the Study Design, in particular additions to Special Relativity with Theo Hughes, Cornish College
10:00     Small Group Discussion on Course Planning: teaching order, weeks per Area of Study, etc.
11:00     Morning Tea
11:30     Presentation on styles of practical activities with Rachael Gore, Albert Park College
12:00 Small Group Discussion on selecting practical activities
12:45 Lunch
1:30 School-based Assessment for Unit 3 and 4 with Maria James, VCAA Science Manager
2:30      Small Group Discussion on Assessment Tasks: consideration of examples, completion of a draft, ...
3:30       Finish
Lunch will be provided for in-person participants.
Cost: $90 non-subscribers, $80 subscribers in person. $50 non-subscribers, $40 subscribers online.
Registrations are open at the Vicphysics website.

PHYSCON 2024: 23rd February, 2024. Call for presenters

Victorian Physics Teachers' Conference Friday, 23rd February, 2024 at Swinburne University of Technology

Call for Sessions:
After the buzz of PHYSCON 2023, Vicphysics is really looking forward to presenting another hybrid conference for Physics teachers in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology. The mix of local, national and international presenters and participants made for an excellent event.

For PHYSCON 2024 we are scheduling four workshop sessions in addition to innovative and inspiring keynotes from quantum specialist Dr Liam Hall and astronomer Dr Sara Webb, check our PHYSCON 2024 webpage for details.
We will be live streaming as many suitable sessions as possible, so that the experience is accessible to all physics teachers. Participants will also be able to attend important VCAA update sessions and presentations from the Chief Assessor of the VCE Physics examination.
We welcome your submissions of workshop proposals here as soon as possible so that we can build an event that inspires and invigorates all teachers of physics.
Closing date for submitting workshops is Monday, 28th August.

Conference fees:

Type	Early Bird	After 20th Dec
In Person	$320	$350
Online	$270	$300

Discounts:

Individual Vicphysics Subscribers: $50
Student and Retiree Subscribers: $100
School Vicphysics subscribers: $10

Registrations will open in early September.

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6. Seeking a Physics teacher? Seeking a new position?
The Vicphysics Teachers' Network has a Job Ads page to assist schools in finding a physics teacher.
There are (13) schools seeking a physics teacher. The Vicphysics webpage above has a link to the Government schools' jobs website. The following Gov't Schools are seeking a physics teacher.

Scoresby Secondary College (closes 7th September)
McKinnon Secondary College (closes 31st August)
Upwey High School (Closes 31st August)
Mill Park Secondary College (31st August)
Virtual School Victoria (closes 30th August)
Hawkesdale P-12 College (closes 29th August)
Ashwood High School (closes 28th August)
Balwyn High School (27th August)
John Monash Science School (closes 23rd August)
Heathmont College (closes 24th August)
Mount Rowan Secondary College (closes 21st August)
Elevation Secondary College (closes 20th August)
Fitzroy High School (closes 20th August)

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.

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7. Vicphysics matters

i) 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.

ii) 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.

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8. 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) El Niño and its impacts this year and in the future
Anyone who has ever tried to predict something months away—the weather, the stock market, the seasonal flu—knows what a tricky business it is. Even a hint of how things might turn out is an advantage. For seasonal climate prediction, that advantage comes from the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a pattern of coupled anomalies in tropical Pacific sea-surface temperature and atmospheric circulation that recurs approximately every two to seven years (see the article by J. David Neelin and Mojib Latif, Physics Today, December 1998, page 32). With two active phases, El Niño (warmer-than-average tropical Pacific surface) and La Niña (cooler-than-average), ENSO alters global atmospheric circulation in known ways, providing months in advance a means to predict potential seasonal precipitation and temperature, tropical cyclones, coastal flooding, and other impacts.
b) The changing carbon cycle at Mauna Loa Observatory.(MLO)

The data from (MLO) shows a seasonal variation. Prof Rachel Webster mentioned in her talk at the Girls in Physics Breakfast in Traralgon last week that the reason for the dip is tree growth on the Northern hemisphere summer. The graph, therefore, reveals the capacity of increased tree planting to mitigate the effects of climate change. To find out more about the seasonal change, check the link to the article in the title above.
c) What’s the matter with condensed matter? Getting past the relative obscurity of solid-state physics in the public eye
From the macroscopic to the microscopic physical properties of the world around us, condensed-matter and materials-science research have a huge impact on daily life. And yet, the field remains on the periphery of popular-physics outreach – especially compared to astronomy and big science

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