Premier’s Teacher
Scholarship Reports
Volume 8
PREMIER’S TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS
 2011 Department of Premier and Cabinet NSW
This book is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part
may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission of the Premier's Department
of New South Wales.
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PREMIER’S TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS
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PREMIER’S TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS
NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships
The NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships were introduced in 1999. In their first year, five
American History Scholarships were offered. In 2011 thanks to the generous support of our
corporate partners, 30 scholarships across 20 curriculum areas are offered to all teachers in NSW
government and non-government schools and TAFE NSW Institutes.
Since 1999, over 300 teachers across NSW have received NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships.
The Premier’s Teacher Scholarships are strongly supported by a number of professional teachers
associations in NSW, including the History Teachers Association, the Secondary English
Teachers Association, the Primary English Teaching Association, the NSW Science Teachers
Association, the Australian Association of Special Educators (NSW Chapter) and the NSW
Agriculture Teachers Association.
Corporate supporters of the Premier’s Teacher Scholarship Program include Macquarie Capital,
Xstrata Coal, EnergyAustralia, Westfield Holdings, The Royal Bank of Scotland, John Brown
Sport and Tourism Foundation, Kingold Group Companies Ltd, Genworth Financial, NSW
TAFE Commission Board, KPMG, Country Energy and The Anika Foundation.
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PREMIER’S TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS
Table of contents
Premier's Macquarie Capital Science Scholarships
ICT in secondary science: A sustainable professional development model ...................................... 7
Brett McKay, Kirrawee High School
Innovative and engaging use of technology in K-12 science and environmental education...... 16
Neil Bramsen, Sussex Inlet Public School
Premier's Special Education Scholarships
2010 NSW Premier’s Special Education Scholarship report ............................................................. 26
Lyn Alder, Orara High School, Coffs Harbour
Collaborative problem solving model: “Kids do well if they can” … a different way of
understanding and working with young people with challenging behaviour……………….. 35
Keith Marshall, Caldera School, Tweed Heads
Premier's English Scholarship
A critical approach to literacy: Improving outcomes for students from lower socio-economic
backgrounds/ESL students.................................................................................................... ........... 45
Eve Mayes, Condell Park High School
Premier's TAFE Scholarship
An investigation into workplace training and assessment in the United Kingdom ....................... 54
Paul Lowe, TAFE NSW – Hunter Institute, Newcastle Campus
Premier's Westfield History Scholarships
Report: Contemporary perspectives on Ancient Greece for the NSW History Syllabus ............. 63
Sasha Jessop, De La Salle College, Revesby
The role of the international community in the conflicts of Croatia and Slovenia ........................ 73
Joanne McFarland, Killara High School
The Romanisation of Celtic Gaul .......................................................................................................... 80
Ronald Griffith, James Fallon High School, Albury North
Digitising the image of Augustus: Rome, Italy and the Western Empire ........................................ 90
Dennis Lendon, Colo High School
Research into the strategy and tactics used by Lieutenant-General Monash and the AIF on the
Western Front 1917-1918 ....................................................................................................................... 99
Michael Connolly, Picton High School
Developing excellence in historical inquiry: Engagement and learning through “hands on
history” ....................................................................................................................................................106
John Staats, Mount Annan High School
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PREMIER’S TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS
Premier's EnergyAustralia Environmental Education Scholarships
Cultural landscapes: Enhancing the cultural aspects of environmental education.......................116
Sue Saxby, Awabakal Environmental Education Centre, Dudley
Sustainable agricultural practices in peri-urban areas: What can we learn from England and
Germany? ................................................................................................................................................129
Alan Woods, TAFE NSW – Western Sydney Institute, Richmond College
Effective leadership of whole-school approaches to education for sustainability development
(ESD) in secondary schools in the United Kingdom and Germany ..............................................139
Donna Pearson, Mullumbimby High School
Premier's Xstrata Coal Rural and Remote Education Scholarships
How schools in Leeds are extending educational opportunities to enhance academic success for
students from low socio-economic backgrounds through sport and personalised learning ......147
Doreen Conroy, Orange School Education Area Office
Exploring road safety programs in England and America ..............................................................159
Grant Godfrey, Singleton High School
The use of technology in rural and remote special education settings ..........................................166
John Kotlash, Mudgee High School
Video conference content providers and new educational opportunities for NSW schools .....175
David Foley, Distance and Rural Education Unit, Dubbo
Premier's Country Energy Indigenous Education Scholarship
Supporting Indigenous students in the middle years of high school .............................................185
Noeleen O’Neill, Carroll College, Broulee
Premier's Kingold Chinese Language Teacher Scholarship
Facilitating the learning of Chinese Grammar: A report incorporating
a study tour in China .............................................................................................................................194
Xi Ping Chen, TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute, Ultimo and Randwick Campuses
Premier's Agriculture Scholarship
Implementing organic farming techniques into a school farm: An investigation of organic
farming principles and practices and the Food for Life program ...................................................204
Jane Swan, Dapto High School
Premier’s Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarships
Can positive psychology have an impact on youth depression if accessed at an early age?........214
Christine Barrett, Batemans Bay High School
Strengthening the case management thus outcomes of students with mental health needs within
our school system ..................................................................................................................................221
Dianne Watt, Cowra High School
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PREMIER’S TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP REPORTS
Premier’s The Royal Bank of Scotland Creative Arts Scholarship
Taming the You Tuber .........................................................................................................................233
Craig Malyon, Methodist Ladies College, Burwood
Premier’s Genworth Financial Mathematics Scholarship
Algebra: The key to mathematics ........................................................................................................245
Shane Scott, Holy Cross College, Ryde
Note: Due to travel arrangements, the reports by the 2008 Premier’s Westfield History
Scholarship recipient, John Staats, Mount Annan High School, and the 2008 Premier’s
Genworth Financial Mathematics Scholarship recipient, Shane Scott, Holy Cross College,
Ryde, are published here in Volume 8, 2010.
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