The conference starts
and finishes on
Field-Based STEM are holding conferences around New Zealand, at the end of Term 4 (November / December).
Registrations are now being taken for the Auckland (North) Conference. You can see what is on offer below and by clicking on the ‘Book This Conference’ button below:
This half day workshop will introduce participants to the concept of trace evidence. Wherever they step, whatever they touch, whatever they leave, even unconsciously,
will serve as a silent witness against them. We will guide you through a mock murder scene (with full PPE if required) describing the evidence that is critical to aid in the investigation through forensic science including Blood spatter, hairs and fibres, fingerprints and footwear and how we can utilise many differing chemicals to develop and preserve the items. Hands on workstations will allow you to develop and preserve fingerprints and footwear. We can show how this can be replicated for your students within the classroom.
This half day workshop will introduce participants to Identifying the use of science in the court of law. We will discuss the legal system’s reliance on forensic science
evidence in criminal cases and the admissibility of forensic evidence including discussing stated cases like the Baines, Crewe and Sounds Murders. Using fingerprint and DNA science within the court system over the years.
This half day workshop will introduce participants to the only unique form of identification in the world. The history and science behind fingerprints and how this
differs from DNA profiling. The many types of powders and chemicals that can be used to develop fingerprints from a multitude of substrates. We will then introduce
our very own Automated Fingerprint Identification System AFIS (The only one in private hands in the world) for you to search your develop crime prints from the mock crime scene.
Identifying the use of entomology & palynology within a crime scene and environmental factors and how this assists in the investigation of a serious crime
scene. The attributes of the specialist examining the crime scene and the unique science skills they use to obtain critical information to the investigating team.
This half day workshop provides an introduction to using all components of the SHMAK kit except macroinvertebrates (separate workshop)
Macroinvertebrate sampling and ID. Return indoors at the end of the session to do Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) calculations. This half-day workshop combines with Life or death under the microscope. Our specialist in entomology & palynology teams up with our CSI Guys. They will look at a crime scene and environmental factors and how this assists in the investigation of a serious crime scene.
Half day. The amazing Bugman – Ruud Kleinpaste will demonstrate how just about any outdoor space can enthrall and link into the curriculum. Places limited.
Half day. This workshop and presentation are based on research and world-wide experience. This approach is appropriate for all NCEA standards
How to establish a team based differentiated classroom.
The research and other evidence to support this approach
You will experience learning in a self-selected team-based classroom.
Teams will be 3 or 2 learners and your team will learn the structures required to ensure a successful team environment, both the team and individuals within the
team.
What it looks like at junior and senior level.
How students are more engaged working in teams and looking at the ‘Science’ not just the standard and credits they will get.
You will see media showing how this works.
You will see how to effectively measure the learning environment, team performance with quantitative and qualitative instruments.
PART 1 can be completed as a ‘stand alone’ or combined with PART 2 (below)
Half day. You will learn how to write a PBL/Inquiry task for NCEA using a PBL learning cycle and graphic organizer. This essentially is the main thrust of the ‘Curriculum Refresh’ draft New Zealand curriculum.
o Understand: the big ideas
o Know: rich contexts for exploring the big ideas
o Do: practices that bring rigour to learning
You will leave with a draft version.
What you will need:
o Relevant curriculum documents
o A standard you want to try
Note: This statement is extracted from the assessment specifications – ‘Questions may be asked within a variety of appropriate contexts, some of which may be
unfamiliar to the candidates’.
This approach will help students be more ‘comfortable’ working in unfamiliar contexts they may be given.
Learn how easy it is to use nature to support curriculum learning and well-being in your school greenspaces.
In this half-day experience, you’ll learn how to use nature as your classroom and co-teacher to integrate almost all curriculum areas and support wellbeing.
Walk away with the knowledge, skills, confidence and a curriculum-linked resource to start immediately!
We will also focus on how to use nature to integrate science, social science and support hauora – our session will focus on plant identification and uses, seasonal wisdom (mātauranga Māori) and nature connection for hauora (holistic wellbeing) – we’ll make and create with and in nature.
Big ideas and Significant Learning:
Science uses different inquiry approaches to develop understanding
Careful observations of the natural world contribute to the recorded practice, protocols and kōrero tuku iho of mātauranga Māori.
Science-based information can be used in decision-making and action:
Ākonga are empowered to take action in their own world. In Science, ākonga learn to explore different perspectives, develop and express their own reasoned opinions and make decisions.
Developing Key Competencies through Science: Thinking / Relating to Others / Managing Self / Participating and Contributing. Connections.
A workshop covering the development of the light pollution issue over the last few decades and the response that NZ had taken starting with Tekapo/Takapō and how this has also been implemented in New Zealand. We will look at the impact of light pollution on a range of issues including the effect on pollinators, birds and humans. We will show how the science around the impact of light pollution has developed and the role that citizen science has played in getting a better understanding of this global problem. This will be an indoor based workshop with a ‘ virtual field trip’ component in our inflatable planetarium to view the Moon garden and planting that promotes pollinators.
Half day. This workshop will examine the atmospheric column on Venus, Earth and Mars and how energy is moved around the atmospheres of these planets and the impact this has on the surface. We will also look at the movement of energy in the Sun and how this radiates out to the planets. The workshop will cover concepts such as pressure, heat transfer, the electromagnetic spectrum and gravity. It will be mainly based inside but we will observe the Sun through a Solar Telescope and make observations of sunspots and other prominent solar features. We will also look at an experiment to measure total solar flux (depending on the weather).
Half day. The movement of the Earth around the Sun and the Moon around the Earth is translated into the apparent movement of the celestial bodies as viewed from the Earth. This has been used by humans for thousands of years to mark the passage of time and for assisting with navigation. This workshop will utilise our portable planetarium to demonstrate how the apparent movement of the stars, Moon and Sun can be used to help navigate. We will look at both Pacific and modern techniques in navigation and how these have developed over time. This will be an indoor workshop mainly in the planetarium but also using a range of navigation devices outdoors.
Half day. In this workshop we will look at how observing celestial occurrences has helped us build an understanding of the universe. Using scientific investigative approaches and examining scientific method we will look closely at the moons of Jupiter to determine the mass of Jupiter. This workshop will look at how we can measure distances in space, angular distances using telescopes and calculating basic relationships. To finish the workshop we will have a session in the planetarium to view both Jupiter and Saturn and try and measure the distance from one of the moons to the planet.
