VCE Physics – Revised Study Design for 2023 – 2027
VCAA has released the revised VCE Physics Study Design. It is available on their website . The document is located at the bottom of the page. The new Units 1 and 2 were introduced in 2023, while Units 3 and 4 were introduced in 2024.
Maria James spoke at the 2022 Physics Teachers’ Conference on the revised study design. Following the conference Maria prepared this additional material to address the questions raised during her presentation. Additional Notes on Revised Study Design 47 kB pdf: The three pages article provides examples of assessment tasks and addresses questions raised about indicative grades, statistical moderation and SACs.
Vicphysics has produced materials to help unpack the revised study design and to assist teachers in planning courses. Check out the course planning page, and the two PD days one on Units 1 and 2 and another on Units 3 and 4
This document on connections between assessment tasks across the study design is an initial effort. Connections between Assessment Tasks 17 kB docx.
Newsletters from the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network
A regular email newsletter sent to teachers several times a term.
The newsletter has regular features such as Events for Teachers, Events for Students, Teaching positions, Physics from the Web as well as new teaching resources from around the world.
If you wish to receive the email newsletter “Vicphysics News” or to advise us of a change of email address please contact the Vicphysics Teachers’ Network.
The most recent newsletters are:
2026 Term 3
No 9 PHYSCON 2027: Call for Sessions, Fully funded Grad Cert in Maths and Physical sciences, Physics students numbers in England and Victoria
No 8 Checking your version of the study design, Copyright questionnaire, Resources on heat stroke, Events for students, PD for teachers
No 7 VicPhysics AGM with Talk, Dinner and Catching Up, Livestreaming of AIP Public Lectures, PD on Modeling Instruction, Girls in Physics events, Revision Lecture.
No 6 Talk, Dinner and Catching Up, More on AI in Physics Education, Girls in Physics events, PDs for Physics teachers, NZ Physics curriculum
No 5 Physics evening by Uni students for school students, Misconceptions in Unit 4 Areas of Study, Teacher Membership of AIP is now free.
No 3 Teacher Membership of AIP is now free. Just in Time PD, Topics for Practical Investigations, STAV Future priorities survey.
No 2 Student Competitions, AI: Think pieces and classroom resources, Events for students. What science do you need to know to be ‘cultured’?
No 1 NHT Exam paper, Two Websites of resources, Unit 4 PD, Royal Institution talk on Quantum, Events for students
2026 Term 2
No 9 Girls in Physics @ Kensington gets Bigger!, Help your new colleagues with Unit 4, Theory or Prac first?, PD events, events for students
No 8 Girls in Physics @ Kensington, World Cup, Swinburne Youth Space Challenge, Popular Science books, PD events, Other events for students
No 7 VCE Revision Lecture, More Physics Simulations, Using LED and a photocell, PD events, July Lectures in Physics, Girls in Physics Breakfasts plus other events.
No 6 Enriched learning: Talk and dinner, Out of Field events, Power sources around the globe, Unit of voltage: volta?
No 5 Physics Student Numbers and Grade distribution. Topic of Talk, Dinner and catching up, Survey on using LLMs, Impressive simulations, GIP programs
No 4 Talk, Dinner and Catching up, Out of Field PD, Resources on i) magnets falling through coils and ii) software for students to generate their own HR diagrams, Vacancy at Yarra Valley Grammar School, Girls in Physics Breakfasts programs.
No 3 Social Media, Microcredential course, Resources of the History of Physics and on Physics of Sport, Out of Field PD
No 2 Exam matters: Review of Formula Sheet, applying to be a marker, report on VCAA exam briefing; Schrodinger’s Chat, Synchrotron Tunnel Tours
No 1 Synchrotron Tunnel Tour for Teachers, PD events listed in Term 1 newsletters, Satellites in orbit, Science writing by Kepler, EU and UK journals for Science teachers
2026 Term 1
No 10 Short PD Videos, Why is I the symbol for current?, Hand rules for magnetic force plus PD events listed on Nos 8 and 9.
No 9 Special Relativity PD, Quantum battery, Multimeter puzzle, Perimeter Institute Workshop for Students plus PD events listed in No 8.
No 8 VCAA webinars on Nov 2025 exams, PD on SACs, PD on Physics Skills and Careers, Beginning Physics Teachers in-Service, Events coordinator position
No 7 Beginning Physics Teachers in-Service, Luna Park follow up, Events coordinator position, Out of Field PD in Mildura, Girls in Physics Breakfasts
No 6 Reports from Small Group Discussions on AI at PHYSCON, Gymnasium Lectures, Event coordinator position, Out of Field PD in Mildura, Girls in Physics Breakfasts
No 5 Recordings and Resources from PHYSCON 2026, More resources on AI in Teaching Physics,
No 4 Chief Assessor’s report, Update on bookings for Physics Days at Luna Park and the Synchrotron Tours
No 3 Extra Features in PHYSCON 2026, Just-in-Time PD, Professional Reading Learning Group, Headstrong: 52 Women who changed Science
No 2 PHYSCON 2026, Compendium of demonstrations, Tutor listing service
No 1 PHYSCON 2026, Update on Course Planning for 2026, Physics days at Luna Park, Misconceptions, Teaching Ideas on Electricity
No 8 PHYSCON 2026, Physics & Maths: a curiosity, Out of Field PD No 7 Just in Time PD, Monash Uni Revision resources, UK Physics teacher shortage No 6 NHT paper, Measurment: Sig Figs and precision vs accuracy No 5 VCE Revision Lecture, IOAA Astronomy and Astrophysics Conf No 4 Diffraction of water waves, The school’s Observatory No 3 Looking Glass Universe, video analysis software No 2 Researching Science Teaching: A resource, Astro Confs No 1 Vicphysics submission, Student numbers, Virtual Physics LabAccordion Content
2025 Term 2
2025 Term 2 No 9 Events for all, Holiday reading No 8 Just in Time PD, ‘Weighing a plane, while it is flying’, Free ebook on Saturn No 7 VCAA Review, July lectures in Physics, Revision Lecture No 6 250 teaching ideas on waves, Industry days, Microcredential in Physics No 5 Derek Muller lecture on AI in Teaching, Photon bricks with LEGO No 4 Physics World: Quantum briefing, Networking event on PE Effect, VCAA Review No 3 Harvard Physics Teachers Network talks No 2 Study Skills webinar, Networking event on PE Effect, Tennis ball towers, Grete Hermann No 1 Girls in Physics Breakfasts, Resources from Beginning PD, Lenz’s Law Demo
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2025 Term 1
2025 Term 1 No 10 Special Relativity PD, Holiday programs No 9 MeriSTEM resources, Transformers No 8 PD on SACs, \Girls in Physics Breakfasts, Beginning Physics PD No 7 International Women’s Day resources, 117 Stories from the History of Physics No 6 Perimeter Institute resources on quantum technology, aerobatic display No 5 Teaching the PE Effect, Just in Time PD, Exam Report No 4 Study Skills Webinar, Out of Field PD, Girls in Physics Breakfasts No 3 Circular Motion, PD on SACs in March No 2 Physics Days at Luna Park, Beginning Physics teachers InService No 1 PHYSCON 2025, Lots of Resources
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2024
A2024 Term 4 No 9 Astrophysics Scholarship, Space Weather resources No 8 Holiday reading, Physics in Advent activities, Readership Survey No 7 Exam solutions, Teacher’s website, IOP Physics Teacher Journal. Talk, Dinner and Catching Up No 6 Hannah Fry Videos, Exam review meeting No 5 Travelling Scholarship, Beam line for Students, Videos, PE Effect resources No 4 Talk, Dinner and Catching up, Synchrotron Tours with Physics Days at Luna Park No 3 AIP Congress Teachers’ Day, CERN course for students No 2 PHYSCON 2025 open, Nobel Prize in Physics, Quantum Computing, Resources No 1 Framework for Physics Teachers, Hannah Fry videos, Marvin and Milo 2024 Term 3 No 7 PHYSCON 2025 presenters, Photo Contest No 6 Astronomy Conferences, Online telescopes, Astro resources, Quantum computing for students No 5 Revision Lecture, Javelin at the Olympics, Formula Sheet, Astronomy Conferences No 4 Revision Lecture, NHT Exam solutions, Combined Classes No 3 Phone apps, Magnetic field viewing films, Out of Field PD for Science Teachers No 2 Data analysis task for SR, Energy Bar Charts, Out of Field PD for Science Teachers No 1 80+ idea on teaching electromagnetism, Resources from PD on SACS, Revision Lecture 2024 Term 2 No 9 July Lectures in Physics, More SACs from PD, Out-of-Field PD, Virtual Space talks No 8 VCE Revision Lecture, SACs from PD, Demos and Pracs No 7 Dick Gunstone talk, Participation on physics, Cow magnets No 6 Audit Experiences, PD on SACs No 5 Sample Exam paper and solutions, VSSEC quantum offerings, Teaching Strategies No 4 Quantum Computing, PD on SACs, Out-of-field PD on SR and Yrs 7 – 10 science No 3 Using AI when Teaching Physics, Demos of Decay, Live-Streaming of B’fast talk No 2 DC Motor videos, Untangling a slinky, Radiation dose, Perception of Colour No 1 Resources from Beginning PD, Facilities in a Physics Classroom, Free VCE Revision, Physics of Lawn Bowls 2024 Term 1 No 9 Melbourne Comedy Festival, Einstein’s only Experiment, Livestreaming of breakfast talk No 8 Exam format in 2024, Global Network of Physics Educators, Beginning Physics In-Service No 7 Special Relativity PD, Livestreaming of breakfast talk, Out-of-Field PD No 6 Next Time Questions and other strategies, PHYSCON follow up, Survey No 5 Survey, Synchrotron Tours, PHYSCON follow up, Assessor’s Report, Astronomy data in the classroom No 4 Open Access articles, Comparing curricula No 3: Building a Global Network of physics teachers: A Youtube channel of talks, Challenging problems, Sig Fig jokes No 2: Girls in Physics Breakfasts, Luna Park Worksheets No 1: Approaches to teaching Energy, Resources for Beginning Teachers, Prac Activities for home, Golf Impacts
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2023
023 Term 4 No 9: Holiday Reading, More material from Units 3 and 4 Planning Day No 8: Improving Science Education (Video), Material from Units 3 and 4 Planning Day No 7: Posters in the Study Design, High Energy particle detected, Climate Scientists’ burden No 6: Units 3 and 4 Planning Day Presentations, Exam solutions, Articles on Measurement, Articles on Thomas Young and Oppenheimer No 5: Perimeter Institute Resources, Sound waves deflect laser beam No 4: Michelle Simmon and Boyer Lectures, Dark matter Flow Chart, Modelling safe radiation levels No 3: Compendium of items from the newsletter, A context for Circular motion. No 2: Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry, Nobel Posters No 1: PHYSCON 2024, Units 3 and 4 Course Planning Day, Physics days at Luna Park 2023 Term 3 No 9: Revision Lecture follow up, Open Day activities, Forces and Motion Workshops No 8: Physics Days at Luna Park, NHT solutions, Teaching students about Climate Change, Using AI, students with low maths skills No 7: AI experiment, Revision Lecture, Gymnasium lectures No 6: Path of an object in circular motion after release, A beamline for students, Network Meeting on ChatGPT, Physics at 5 No 5: More on Oppenheimer, Gymnasium lectures No 4: Oppenheimer film and Veritasium, NHT exam paper No 3: PHYSCON 2024 No 2: July Lectures in Physics, Vicphysics AGM, AIP public Lecture No 1: Revision Lecture, Lab Techs Workshop, Network meeting on ChatGPT, Units 3 and 4 Course Planning Day 2023 Term 2 No 5: medical physics website for students, Communicating the science of Climaet change No 4: Geothermal energy in Gippsland, Datalogging and Flight, Enrolments in Physics No 3: Simple Pracs by Colin Hopkins, Exploring Exoplanets a Perimeter Institute resource No 2: Articles of cosmic ray showers, quantum metaphors, scientific process and EMI demo No 1: Einstein First, International Handbook on Physics Education Research, Physics of Playground Swings 2023 Term 1 No 3: PHYSCON 2023, ChatGPT, Combining classes, Caesium 137 No 2: Physics resources, Combining classes No 1: CSIRO STEM in schools, Luna Park and Phyphox, Hewitt Drew-it videosAccordion Content
2022
2022 Term 4 No 6: Units 1 and 2 Planning Day resources, High road low road demo, aerodynamics of soccer ball No 5: Units 1 and 2 Planning Day resources, 3D animations, Map of the Universe No 4: Exam solutions No 3: Teachers’ websites, Misconceptions about Electricity No 2: Nobel Prize in Physics, PHYSCON 2023, More on DART No 1: Preparing for 2023, NASA DART project, PHYSCON 2023 2022 Term 3 No 7: Beyond Bohr: PI resource, Call for Presenters No 6: Call for Presenters, Article on Newton’s laws No 5: Networking Dinner, Articles, Out-of-Field PD on SR, Exam survey No 4: Job Ads, Out-of-Field PD on SR, Articles No 3: July lectures, Exam survey No 2: Revision lecture, Public lecture, NHT paper and solutions No 1: NHT paper, Out-of-Field PD, VYPT, Melb Uni lectures 2022 Term 2 No 6: July Lectures in Physics, Careers in Engineering, Farm Hall in 1945 No 5b: PD for Out-of-Field Yrs 7 – 10 Physical Science Teachers No 5: Vicphysics Forum, Tournament mentors, Free Astrotours No 4: PD for Out-of-Field teachers on Physical Science, Girls in Physics Breakfast report No 3: Prac Activities Workshop, Student Lectures, Events for students No 2: Playful Learning, Online PD, Events for students No 1: Girls in Physics Breakfasts, VYPT, Poster Competition 2022 Term 1 No 7: Where to With Physics? – A careers website, Girls in Physics Breakfasts No 6: Grade distributions for the 2021 Physics Exam No 5: Conference follow up, Past paper Q’ns prepared by Colin Hopkins, Student Numbers, Investigation using simple equipment, Resources from Perimeter Institute No 4: Study Design released, Chief Assessor’s report, Teacher survey No 3: Physics Teachers’ Conference, World Engineering Day No 2: Conference Forum, Conf Details, Beginning Physics Teachers’ In-Service No 1: Physics Conference, Aerobatic displaysAccordion Content
2021
2021 Term 4 No 6: Conference Registration opens, Open access articles, Videos on car crashes and astronomy No 5: Physics Conf Program, Exam solutions, Wellbeing, Roller coasters No 4: Subscription change, Luna Park No 3: Conf update, Resources from Perimeter Institute and AAPT No 2: Nobel Prize in Physics No 1: Call for Conf Presenters, Revision lecture follow up, Climate change resources 2021 Term 3 No 7: Revision Lecture, Physics of roller coasters, PD for out of field teachers No 6: Prac Investigations in the Lock Down No 5: NH exam paper and solutions, Call for STAVCON presenters, Teaching Excellence Program No 4: Thermodynamics and links to Quantum mechanics, PD for teachers and lab Techs No 3: Prac Workshop for 7 – 10 Teachers, Response to draft Study Design, Talk, Dinner and Catching Up No 2:Workshops for Lab Techs, SKA No 1: Proposed Study Design, Scholarship for PhD in Physics Ed, Tutor Listing Service 2021 Term 2 No 8: Consultation Forum, Earth’s energy balance, Jim Al-Khalili No 7: Consultation Forum; Talk, Dinner and catching Up; No 6: Videos for teaching and studying Physics, Another context for half-life questions No 5: Using Maths in Physics, International Day of Light, Lightest Uranium isotope – A context for questions. No 4: More Teachers’ websites, Online revision courses from Quantum Victoria No 3: Teachers’ websites, Assessing Learning – a survey No 2: Assessing Learning, More teaching Resources, Climate change and the Earth’s axis. No 1: Resources from Beginning Physics ISE, VYPT Registrations open, Book on Irene Curie and Lisa Meitner, Release of Fukushima waste water. 2021 Term 1 No 9: Cross marking of SACs, Contributions of 20th C Women to Physics, Holiday reading. No 8: VYPT Returns, more resources from AAPT. No 7: VCE Lectures return. No 6: Physics in the News. No 5: More Conf Proceedings, Beginning Physics ISE, Grade Points on Physics Exam. No 4: Conf Proceedings, Chief Assessor’s exam report, Vicphysics exam solutions, VCE Physics Review and Consultation, PD events No 3: Conf update, Teacher survey, Climate change teaching resources, PD events No 2: Teacher survey, Physics conf, More teaching resources from AAPT No 1: Physics Conference, OAM to Colin Hopkins, Teaching resources from AAPT, Subscriptions to Vicphysics website
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Extracts from “News” regularly emailed to physics teachers
This email newsletter has been operating since 2003. While many newsletter items have been on forthcoming events for students and teachers, there have been many items of ongoing value on resources, teaching strategies, etc. These have been combined into this one document.
Items on teaching ideas, curriculum resources and useful websites from previous editions of the email newsletter ‘Vicphysics News’ have been compiled into the one Word document. The table of contents lists over 500 items.
Titles of the Items from “Selected items from ‘Vicphysics News’. The titles of items in the Resources section have been grouped by Area of Study. A 14 page Word document.
Dan Jones, the UK Physics teacher, whose website of simulations has had another idea. He asked an AI program, Gemini, to come up with a Physics calendar of facts with three facts for each day of the year. He shared his file on a UK Physics Teachers Email List.
As often happens with Email Lists, one idea suggests another. This link was subsequently added to the chat. It is a google drive with folders, one for each month, each of which has a set of colourful, well designed slides. It has been prepared by Kate Magary, a US Physics teacher, who also has a Youtube Channel with a collection of her videos.
The newsletter has also contained short news items on current physics research and technological developments that might be of interest to teachers and students. The stories can be accessed through either of the two files. The items can be used to add relevance to classroom presentations or used for topical classroom displays.
The featured items on the latest Physics research that might be of interest to teachers and their students. This list, in Word, contains all the titles of these items. The titles have been grouped by the email they were sent with and are hyperlinked for downloading.
The titles of the featured items on the latest Physics research now number over 700. They have now also been grouped by the relevant Area of Study. There is an article for every Area of Study. This Excel file lists all the titles by Area of Study and Date of the Email News. Articles can be found for the topic you are currently teaching and the story can either be posted on a classroom wall or actually referred to in class at an apppropriate point. The Date of the Email News is also hyperlinked for downloading.
TED is a nonprofit devoted to ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’. It started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.TED has many short videos by inspirational speakers, the presentations are designed to be accessible to the general public. There are 260 videos on Science. A search for Physics gave 156 talks by people such as Richard Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Brian Cox, Freeman Dyson, George Smoot, Lee Smolin and Martin Rees. This document lists videos relevant to physics giving title, duration (several minutes) , speaker and a short description.
