2013 Annual Report on TESEP (Teacher Earth Science Education Programme) by Jill Stevens (Chairperson) 03 April 2014 Earth and Environmental Science (EES) is a large component in the new Australian Curriculum. Over the years 2011 to 2013, TESEP representatives on the ACARA National Curriculum Board education committee as well as geological society letters of endorsement have had a significant part in influencing the current higher level of applied Earth & Environmental Science EES in the new national curriculum at junior science and at senior elective levels. The new integrated aspect of EES (as taught in junior/middle secondary) should encourage more students to elect to do EES at senior secondary and tertiary levels. TESEP teaching material is aimed at junior‐middle secondary (with additional higher level material, activities and web links). Teachers nationally, across 5 states and 2 territories, (except WA) have benefitted from TESEP professional development workshops. In the implementation years 2013 to 2016 of the new national Australian Curriculum, I am pleased to report the following TESEP top statistics: 1. Total of 1434 teacher attendances, 120 one‐day PD workshops, in 25 locations (as of 03 April 2014). 2. The multiplier effect of each teacher influencing 2 to 5 other teachers results in over 400,000 students being impacted by TESEP EES teaching resources 3. Teachers recognize the direct application of TESEP’s teaching resource material and its place in the new Australian Curriculum. Year 8 focus (in 2013 curriculum rollout) has been PD1 Round & Round with Rocks (from ore to metal) and Year 9 focus (in 2014 curriculum rollout) is been addressed with a new PD9 Plate Tectonics teaching unit (the framework around the 8 existing topics of energy, minerals, groundwater and climate). This has been well‐received. 4. Overwhelmingly, positive teacher feedback ‐ on PD theory and hands‐on exercises and fieldtrip/site visits. Teachers from upper primary, trainee, and all levels of secondary (from Science, Maths, Geography streams) have attended. Feedback comments ‐ “having the blinkers lifted” and there have been requests for more “difficult” EES topics. After winning the AAPG Harrison Schmitt Award 2012 , the TESEP Board (comprised of representatives from AGC, AIG, PESA, AusIMM, MCA, GA, ASTA) urged the team to keep up the momentum and continue face‐to‐face workshops, particularly in new locations, while also taking steps to convert PDs to online format for online webinar delivery to ensure that as many teachers in new and existing locations have access to all of ”The Challenging Earth” series PD workshops. Field excursions/mine visits will be integral to many PD workshops (depending on the location), and in‐kind support of mining and exploration industry staff in guided tours and short talks is sought. Teachers have been very enthusiastic about the 15 field excursions and 18 tours of mine sites/laboratories/geo‐museums previously run. Teachers have particularly appreciated the participation by industry and academic professionals. TESEP is running to Budget, with approx. $239,000 funds remaining. See Budget Summary – 28 Feb 2014. Highlights of TESEP in 2013 comprise: 
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New PD9 Plate Tectonics ‐ a new PD on this overarching theme (to meet the needs of year 9 curriculum rollout in 2014). Completion of the original planned 112 PD workshops and the continued running of face‐to‐
face professional development PD workshops. Significant rural TESEP hubs have developed at Dubbo NSW, Gladstone and Rockhampton Qld and Burnie Tas. Some workshops include half‐day fieldtrips (mine site visits). Industry professionals (PESA, AusIMM, mines departments) have assisted as in‐kind support. Webinars trials have been run on 2 topics ‐ for a 4 x 1hr or 6 x 1hr once‐weekly format. This gives remote teachers (and others with time‐constraints) the flexibility to be involved in PDs in an after‐school‐hours timeslot, where they can ask the presenter questions online, as well as to do the webinar at another time of their choosing. Development of a case studies supplement to the national Year 11‐12 Textbook for Earth and Environmental Science (developed by Earth Science WA) ‐ this consists of the development of national case studies that give teachers local and regional examples from all over Australia. Ten have been drafted so far from work submitted by academic, industry and society geologists of diverse backgrounds from across Australia. Coordination is being undertaken by TESEP Executive Officer Greg McNamara. Case studies will be uploaded to our website for free downloading by teachers. Development of field guides for teachers and students – simply‐worded stop‐by‐stop descriptive guides for teachers and worksheet questions for various year levels. TESEP presenters have tested several new fieldtrips and set up student and teacher worksheets and pre‐trip questions, e.g. Sydney Basin Illawarra Coast NSW fluvial and coal stratigraphy, Otway Basin Vic shelfal stratigraphy, Western Victoria Volcanics, Sleeps Hill/Jupiter Creek Gold SA. Site visits and collaborations: 18 excited teachers were flown to OzMinerals’ Prominent Hill Copper Mine SA and staff guided them through how this opencut mine operates, Melbourne Museum hosted several PDs and staff discussed their Dynamic Earth Exhibition, Scienceworks/Planetarium held PDs on climate and VSSEC hosted PDs on Our Place in Space. Free downloadable teaching materials and approachable presenters and coordinators: TESEP evergreen website www.tesep.org.au (TESEP EO is webmaster), local state coordinator contacts in all states and territories (except WA) & freely‐downloadable PD teaching material on www.geosciencepathways.org.au (webmaster co‐funded by PESA and ASEG). AAPG‐funded 2014 planned trial of TESEP PD teaching material in Jakarta, Indonesia ‐ by local university staff and students (after training by TESEP and AAPG presenters). Inquiries can be addressed to Jill Stevens (Chairperson) cp@tesep.org.au or Greg McNamara (Executive Officer) eo@tesep.org.au We hope you have enjoyed reading about the 2013 success of TESEP. The TESEP team looks forward to discussing future funding of 2014‐2016 TESEP with you. See our website http://www.tesep.org.au/default.htm Yours faithfully Jill Stevens (Chairperson TESEP)