• Teacher skills and understandings are updated and improved each of the priority areas: literacy, numeracy, mathematics, science, information technology and vocational education.

• The status of teaching in Western Australian schools is to be enhanced.

Program implementation in WA government schools consists of two elements:

• Strategic system-wide initiatives; and
• School-based action learning projects

The purpose of the project is to develop, trial, implement and evaluate a program for teachers of lower secondary science that will act as a model for further professional development.

It will support teachers implement science programs for their students that are consistent with the type of science described in the WA Curriculum Framework, using pedagogies consistent with contemporary best practice, providing students with a challenging and engaging experience of school science, and achieving international competitive learning outcomes for students in the compulsory years of secondary schooling.

A/Professors Denis Goodrum and Mark Hackling from Edith Cowan University have been contracted to develop, trial and report on the program. Sandra Halley, a science teacher from Lakelands SHS is a write and research assistant.

Teachers in six schools are trialing the program during Term 2, 2001:

• Geraldton Senior College
• Balcatta SHS
• Perth Modern SHS
• Lockridge SHS
• Mt Lawley SHS
• Wanneroo SHS

The unit being trialed focuses on the outcomes of Energy and Change, Investigating Scientifically and Acting Responsibly.

The results of this study generated a great deal of interest, resulting in the study being extended to include other countries, including Australia, in 1999. Several Western Australian Schools were invited through the sampling process to participate.

PISA 2000 assessed three domains: reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy.

Scientific literacy involves three dimensions:

• Scientific concepts, which are needed to understand certain phenomena of the natural world and the changes made to it through human activity. The concepts will need to be applied to real-life scientific problems rather than just recalled.
• Scientific processes, centered on the ability to acquire, interpret and act on evidence.
• Scientific situations, selected from people's everyday lives rather than from the practice of science in a classroom or laboratory, or the works of professional scientists.

The Australian Council for Education Research (ACER) is leading an international consortium to implement PISA.

Most were developed by Fred Deshon, Senior Curriculum Officer, Science and Elaine Horne, Curriculum Support Officer (1999).

• Module 1 focuses on the nature and purpose of school science and how this is illustrated through the Working scientifically outcomes.

• Module 2 focuses on the conceptual outcomes to understand the progression of learning described in the Student Outcome Statements.

• Module 3 focuses on bringing together the principles of teaching, learning and assessment to develop models for planning.

In anticipation of a new Bill being legislated, the Education Department, Curriculum Council, Catholic Education Office and Association of Independent Schools of WA formed a planning group to establish:

• Cross sectorial schools' Animal Ethics Committee
• Advice for teachers on the use of animals in schools.

The members of the planning group were:

• Fred Deshon, Education Department
• Jenny Donovan, Curriculum Council
• Vaille Dawson, Association of Independent Schools WA
• Christine Rodgers, Catholic Education Office

The group identified issues related to the use of animals in schools and guidance on the nature of support material required through a series of two forums with invited representation from primary and secondary school teachers, agricultural college teachers, science laboratory technicians, agricultural farm officers, RSPCA and tertiary Animal Ethics Committees.

A resource package containing a wall chart and booklet will be available to schools during 2001.

The fairs are jointly organised by the Universities of Curtin, Edith Cowan, Murdoch and UWA, STAWA and the Education Department.

They are held at schools spread around the Perth metropolitan area.

The Education Department is represented on a steering committee for the GDC. It is planned that the Centre will provide a range of sculptural and interactive displays and facilities designed to appeal to a broad range of visitors.

The Centre will focus on the big questions of life and the universe as well as gravity technology and the pristine environment of the sand plains.

Edith Cowan University, in partnership with the Australian Science Teachers' Association, Australian Academy of Science and Curriculum Corporation prepared the report.

The authors are A/Professors Denis Goodrum and Mark Hackley from the Edith Cowan University and Professor Léonie Rennie from Curtin University of Technology.

Scitech staff are available to deliver these to primary teachers in metropolitan Districts.