Continuing Education and Training Focused on Science within the Science Learning Network
The Science Learning Hub, a valuable resource for New Zealand's science educators, has unveiled an extensive Professional Learning Development (PLD) section designed to support teachers in their quest for continuous improvement. This comprehensive platform offers a wealth of resources aimed at refining teaching practices and boosting student learning outcomes.
### Key Resources Available:
The PLD section features a variety of resources tailored to the needs of science teachers, including webinars, planning tools, and pedagogy resources.
#### Webinars:
These interactive sessions cover a wide range of topics relevant to science teaching, such as curriculum updates, pedagogy strategies, assessment methods, and leadership in science education. The webinars are designed to be accessible and practical, making them an ideal choice for teachers seeking ongoing professional learning opportunities. Some webinars are available free of charge, while others may require a subscription or purchase fee, with options available for individual or group access. Subscriptions often provide access to both live and recorded webinar sessions over a 12-month period.
#### Planning Tools:
The PLD section offers resources to aid in curriculum planning and lesson design, helping teachers align their science instruction with the New Zealand Curriculum. These tools support differentiation, curriculum mapping, and integration of science capabilities, allowing teachers to create effective and engaging science lessons.
#### Pedagogy Resources:
Extensive resources focusing on best teaching practices in science education are also available. These resources emphasize learner inquiry, engagement strategies, and incorporating key competencies such as critical thinking and understanding of scientific concepts. Resources support active learning approaches and help teachers foster curiosity and scientific literacy among students.
#### Support for Holistic Development:
While focused on science, PLD resources also recognise the importance of integrating scientific knowledge with broader developmental goals, such as environmental awareness and critical cognitive skills.
#### Linkages to Other Professional Development Providers:
The Science Learning Hub connects with other educational organizations and programs that offer complementary professional development, such as Curious Minds and national environmental institutes, providing additional content and training related to science education in New Zealand.
### Accessibility and Support:
The PLD opportunities are accessible from any section of the Science Learning Hub's website, and the team is available to help with questions about Professional Learning Development. Each webinar is saved as a video that can be watched at any time, and most webinars also have a slideshow that can be browsed or downloaded. A timecoded index in the webinars allows users to search for specific content, making navigation easy and efficient.
The Science Learning Hub's PLD section serves as a comprehensive support platform for science teachers in New Zealand, providing ongoing education through webinars, practical teaching aids, and pedagogical guidance, all aimed at improving science teaching quality and student learning outcomes. This resource contributes significantly to helping teachers stay updated with curriculum developments, adopt innovative teaching methods, and foster students’ scientific thinking and engagement.
For further information about the Science Learning Hub's PLD offerings, readers are encouraged to explore the article "Introducing our PLD." The Pedagogy section offers resources on forming connections, fostering belonging, and deepening learning, both at home and in the classroom, while the Planning section provides resources for contexts for learning, learning from home, building science concepts, and support with building collections. The Related content and activity ideas section offers suggestions for further resources to use with learners.
In the Professional Learning Development (PLD) section of the Science Learning Hub, you'll find a rich collection of resources for continuous education and self-development in science teaching. These resources encompass online-education opportunities such as webinars, planning tools, and pedagogy resources, all designed to enhance learning outcomes for students.
Whether you're interested in curriculum updates, pedagogy strategies, assessment methods, or leadership in science education, the Science Learning Hub's webinars offer practical and accessible professional learning opportunities. These resources are beneficial for science educators seeking ongoing improvement, with some webinars available free of charge and others requiring a subscription or purchase fee.
