Global Hands-On Universe Conference 2015. 4-5 August 2015, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Abstract: “The School of Astronomy and Astrophysics” (TSAA). TSAA is an “eSchool” initiative with its administration based at Atherton State High School in Far-North Queensland, Australia. TSAA delivers advanced STEM related courses in Astronomy and Astrophysics to high school students across Queensland via a virtual classroom administered through Blackboard. The challenges of providing this contemporary form of learning and engagement has seen the partnering of an innovative digital educational delivery model with university options that fast track students into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. TSAA’s vision is to create a sustainable but tangible and meaningful nexus between student, teacher and professional academics while studying Senior Astronomy, Senior Astrophysics and other STEM related courses online. TSAA has entered into a 2 year collaborative partnership with USQ to develop syllabus and online curriculum and resource materials for courses in Data Science, Coding and Scientific Literacy. TSAA is committed to supporting the future development of teacher expertise and STEM related curriculum for middle and junior secondary schooling throughout Australia. Through qualified GHOU facilitators, TSAA plans to develop, maintain & provide quality face-to-face and online professional development workshops for teachers to learn how to engage students from grades 4 to 9 in the classroom through GHOU.

1. STEM Education “eSchool” initiative
The School of Astronomy
& Astrophysics
(TSAA)
Conference
2015

2. Collaborative
Partners
Slide 2
www.learnastro.eq.edu.au

3. TSAA has been developing STEM based education for over 11 years
The curriculum is contextualised with the main focus on
Astronomy and Astrophysics
The courses are robust with an aim to challenge gifted and talented
high-school students
TSAA currently offers two online courses which students study
consecutively over 2 years
Senior Astronomy and Senior Astrophysics
Slide 3

4. The online courses are delivered through Blackboard (Bb)
Students study 3 x 70 min lessons per week autonomously
while at school or at home
Students can progress at their own pace
There are no online lessons that students need to attend
at any specific time.
Slide 4

5. Slide 5

6. Slide 6

7. Lesson-by lesson documents
and information appears
as the student progresses
Basic Course Structure
Slide 7

8. Lesson Materials Slide 8

9. Supplement Material to cater for
all types of students
Slide 9

10. Student self-appraisal and
feedback on progress
Students can request assistance
from instructors at the end of
each lesson.
Slide 10

11. Next lesson materials
appear after feedback is
submitted
Slide 11

12. End of Unit Quizzes
Intermediate Surveys
Alerts appear when students
approach milestones &
assessment
Slide 12
Links appear to make
navigating easier

13. Many students access the
courses outside
school hours
Slide 13

14. Senior Astronomy and Senior Astrophysics
are the only QCAA Recognised Advanced
School-based Subjects in Queensland
Each course contributes 2 QCE Credit Points
towards Student’s Learning Account.
Slide 14

15. 2015 Enrolments
13 High-schools across Queensland
• Atherton SHS
• Mareeba SHS
• Trinity Bay SHS
• Ignatius Park College (Townsville)
• Australian Christian College
(Morton)
• Pacific Lutheran College
(Sunshine Coast)
• Unity College (Sunshine Coast)
• Smithfield SHS
• Flagstone State Community College
(Logan)
• All Saints Anglican School
(Gold Coast)
• St Stephens College (Gold Coast)
• Genesis Christian College
(Brisbane)
• Burdekin Catholic College
Slide 15

16. Slide 16

17. Slide 17

18. TSAA - 2016 Onwards
TSAA has recently received AU$ 500 000 for Collaborative
& Innovative partnerships.
Proposed Collaborative Partners:
• University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
• Affiliates of Global Hands-On Universe (GHOU)
• Education Queensland “eLearning”
• Brisbane Planetarium
Slide 18

19. Collaboration Initiatives:
• Continue to develop online STEM related curriculum in Astronomy
and Astrophysics (Yr 4 to 12) incorporating GHOU and remote access
to the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope (LCOGT) Network;
• Development of online STEM related syllabus:
Data Science through Applications in Astronomy
Fundamentals of Coding
Scientific Literacy
Slide 19

20. • Collaborative digital instructional designing and editing for courses
delivered through Blackboard
• Collaborative development of quality editable mathematics
assessment banks using SageTEX to enhance authenticity of
responses and provide instant feedback online
• Develop collaborative school-based projects linked to Mt Kent
Observatories and the LGOCT Network.
Slide 20

21. Potential future GHOU
Remote Telescope
14” SCT Reflector
Hopefully operational
this year.
Slide 21

22. Positioned to Lead
Incorporating GHOU in our middle and junior school
curriculum is essential to attract students into TSAA’s
pre-tertiary curriculum offerings
TSAA’s goal is to promote the use of GHOU materials and
activities in Australian classrooms
With our collaborative partners, TSAA is in a position to set
new standards in digital pedagogy and curriculum
development in STEM education across Australia.
Slide 22