2006 National UniServe Conference
27th - 29th September 2006
The National UniServe Conference is held annually at The University
of Sydney in the AVCC week in September. The conference is a platform
for presenting and developing high quality research in tertiary science
teaching and learning.
The three day conference is comprised of:
The First Year Experience Forum (FYE)
Wednesday 27 September 2006
Archive of previous First Year Experience Forums
Symposium of Science Teaching and Learning Research
Thursday 28 September 2006
Keynote Speaker
Professor David F Treagust, Science and Mathematics Education Centre, Curtin University of Technology Perth
David Treagust is Professor of Science Education at Curtin University and has research interests in investigating the conceptual problems that students encounter when learning science concepts and how teaching and curricula can be changed to address these conceptual problems. Related to this research is the the need for improved assessment that diagnoses conceptual understanding. Treagust was the 2006 recipient of the Distinguished Contributions to Science Education through Research Award made by the US-based National Association for Research in Science Teaching.
Keynote: Diagnostic assessment in science as a means to improving teaching, learning and retention
Of great concern in Australia education is the increasingly low participation rate of students taking science in Years 11 and 12, especially the more conceptually demanding calculus-based options that lead to acceptance in university science and engineering courses. Indeed, the success, and even the continuation, of science programs at university is dependent on foundational improvements in science education in secondary schools.
In this presentation, Treagust will describe a range of two-tier tests in science that can be used by teachers and lecturers for formative assessment that can help students question and understand the underlying science concepts. In the two-tier tests items, the first tier is a content response and the second tier is an explanation response. The items are designed so that alterative conceptions and scientifically acceptable responses are readily identified. Through the infromation from these items, teaching can be changed to accommodate identified weaknesses. In responding to these items, students are encouraged to think about the concepts and consider alternative explanations rather than memorise basic facts which are then forgotten. Two-tier test items of this type are used by The National Science Council in Taiwan as the central part of their recent national assessment project and acknowledged as being useful assessment by the American Chemical Society.
Theme for 2006 Symposium
The theme of this year's UniServe Symposium is
Assessment - a topic absolutely central to the business of teaching and learning, yet one which we have not yet devoted a whole symposium to.
Among the questions that might be discussed are:
- Does assessment drive learning?
- Does it matter if assessment drives learning?
- What does recent research contribute to assessment as practised in the classroom?
We invite the submission of abstracts for papers which address these questions,
or related questions of interest to attendees.
Proceedings of previous UniServe Science Symposiums
Discipline Specific Meetings
Friday 29 September 2006
2005 Discipline Specific Meeting
Reports
Prices
| Prices for 2006 |
Symposium or FYE Forum (1 day) |
Symposium plus FYE Forum (2 days) |
Discipline day |
| Full |
$199 |
$350 |
Free |
| Early Bird |
$180 |
$320 |
Free |
| Non-salaried full-time students |
$99 |
$175 |
Free |
Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations will not be accepted unless made in writing
to the conference secretariat, either by mail, fax or email. Cancellations
received at least 3 weeks before the conference date will be refunded
50% of the registration fee. No registration refunds will be made
after this date other than in exceptional cirmumstances and at the
discretion of the organisers. As an alternative to cancellation, your
registration may be transferred to another person from your organisation.
The secretariat must be advised in writing, at least 48 hours prior
to the conference. By submitting your registration, you agree to the
terms of the Cancellation Policy. Approved refunds will be processed
in October following the conference. Delegates are responsible for
their own travel and insurance coverage.
Download Registration form in MicroSoft Word.
Download Registration form in PDF.
