Hi Folks,

We had a great discussion about the agenda- you can see the raw whiteboards here:

https://goo.gl/photos/vhEFyhTahC54vn489

They will be transcribed and summarised in due course.

For the record, the previous discipline days are also being summarised:

2015 (Curtin): SoLT (Jasmina)

Journal article draft (IJISME)

https://goo.gl/photos/AvGEkzurxMwcwHdSA

2014 (UTS): Flipping (Theo, Chris) 

AIP PEG white paper

2013 (Uni of Canberra): Accred/standards/TLOs (John)

AIP PEG white paper

https://goo.gl/photos/uw4VKRiEC7YCgLXU9

cheers,

David.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

David Hoxley

Lecturer

Department of Chemistry and Physics

La Trobe University

Agenda for discipline day 2016 at UQ

Hi Folks,

the gathering will be relatively informal, with a simple agenda:

1. WIL and employability in Physics degrees; past and future
2. Report of outcomes of previous ACSME discipline days
3. Advance call for nominations for Chair of AIP PEG (to be decided at AIP congress)

Here are a few questions to think about before tomorrow. Please feel free to email me any responses (d.hoxley@latrobe.edu.au) and to invite anyone you think appropriate to do the same.

• Do you have complete records of where your physics students go after they graduate?
• Can we pool this information nationally to get a picture of employment outcomes?
• Has this already been done?
• We talk in general terms about how employable our students-what evidence do we have?
• What do you tell Parents at open day?
• If you had to get a new job outside the University sector tomorrow, where would you apply?

Look forward to seeing you there.

--David.

ACSME discipline Day

Australian Institute of Physics Education Group

Discipline network meeting

To be held in conjunction with the 2016 Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (ACSME)

At the University of Queensland on Friday, 30 September, from 11.00am – 12.30pm, followed by light lunch

The meeting will be held in building 24 (Social Sciences) room 24-328

It is free to attend and all physics teaching colleagues are welcome. Please feel free to circulate this invitation.

Further information about the ACSME conference and venue map are attached, and online at:

http://sydney.edu.au/iisme/conference/2016/program.shtml

Please rsvp to d.hoxley@latrobe.edu.au for catering purposes

See AIPEG blog at http://aipeg.blogspot.com.au

Australian Council of Deans of Science Teaching and Learning conference

Just about to go to ACDS T&L conference- go to one of these if you can. Most Associate Deans of Teaching and learning- smart, dedicated, experienced people.

SAGE: Athena SWAN for australia

https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/gender-equity

http://www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan/

Advice to a first year student interested in a career in astrophysics

As first year co-ordinator, I get quite a few emails like the below. Am I doing it right?

Hi David. I would like to pursue a career in astrophysics and have enrolled in PHY1AST. I have enrolled in math subjects such as MAT1ICA, MAT1NLA and MAT1CDE. Are there any other maths subjects I need to enrol in or are recommended?

Hi Slartibartfast,

You don’t need any special maths to do PHY1AST, but you will need lots in order to pursue an astrophysics career. So yes, all the ones you have listed will be useful.

I very much recommend any of these excellent moocs:

https://www.edx.org/xseries/astrophysics

Here is a reddit AMA done by the driving forces, Paul Francis and Brian  Schmidt:

https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/3u3ijv/askscience_ama_series_we_are_brian_schmidt_and/

In general, the more maths you do at first year, the better- but don't do more than you feel comfortable with. Depth not breadth, and all that. :-)

Best wishes,

........

ACDS first year teaching conference: science co-ordinators unite and cast aside your chains!

Hi Folks,

Most of you know the incomparable Liz Johnson and her work with the Australian Council of the Deans of ScienceTeaching and Learning group. Liz is leading a precipitation/coagulation/crosslinking of first year science and mathematics educators,  to articulate common issues and help guide the Deans in speaking with one voice regarding first year teaching and learning. In a nutshell, this is a wonderful chance to fix the pressing problems many of us would love to fix.

This flyer describes two workshops the ACDS  T&L mob are organising- please consider if you are able to come, If you would like to come, but have no funds, let me know. No promises, but we would like to gauge interest.

This is also  the inaugural message of the first year physics network we agreed to get going at the last AIP congress. I will be sharing the admin load with Chris Creagh, who will be providing much of the clear thinking (as you know, Chris is ace). Please forward this email to anyone who you think should get it- the more interested people involved, the better.

As usual, please email me directly with any issues. 

Cheers,

David.

David Hoxley

Lecturer

First Year Co-ordinator

Department of Physics

La Trobe University