About Science EdNet

Science EdNet is part of the Curriculum Communities project. This project has been developed to help primary and secondary Science educators gain confidence in using the Internet.

Science EdNet website contains a modular online tutorial that you can work your way through at your own pace. Whether you are a complete novice or a practised Internet user, the tutorial is structured so you can pick and choose topics to increase your Internet skills. Task-based exercises help you learn by experience. You will find the many links to Science Resources useful long after you have completed the tutorial.

At Science EdNet you can join a moderated online discussion group to engage with your peers. The website directory will provide you with invaluable electronic resources and the noticeboard will keep you informed of events. You will find useful links to education systems and discussion groups. If you want to see the whole site go to the sitemap, or use search to find something specific.

Read on for more information on the project, or start exploring the site.

Key aims
Background
Strategies
Services
Outcomes
More information

Key aims

The key aims of Curriculum Communities are to:

• support the development of information and communication technologies (ICT) literacy and information literacy among educators in key learning areas;
• provide a supportive environment for educators to develop online communities within their learning area.

Background

The Curriculum Communities project is an initiative of Curriculum Corporation. It is based on the highly successful Asia EdNet project. This project is being developed and managed by Curriculum Corporation.

Each Curriculum Community has its own distinctive name. In the case of the Science learning area it is Science EdNet.

Curriculum Communities is being developed in association with national teacher professional associations. Science EdNet has been created in consultation with ASTA (Australian Science Teachers Association).

Strategies

The Science EdNet project revolves around two major strategies:

1. the provision of online services that assist participants to network with each other and share ideas and resources related to teaching about Science;
2. a professional development strategy, including a train-the-trainer workshop, and online tutorial, to help participants use the Internet critically and creatively in their classrooms.

Services

Science EdNet provides professional development and free online services for educators:

• professional development workshops;
• an email-based professionally moderated discussion group;
• a website directory of evaluated Internet resources;
• a noticeboard of events;
• a self-paced online tutorial;
• links to relevant teacher professional associations and State and Territory education jurisdiction websites.

Outcomes

Science EdNet will help you to:

• feel confident in using online services;
• use the Internet to support the curriculum;
• participate in informed and focused discussion related to your subject area;
• have a valuable repository of resources at your fingertips;
• create opportunities for collaborative projects;
• make connections with educators across Australia and the world;
• build a network of peers for professional interaction.

More information

For more information about the project, please contact:
Science EdNet Project Manager
email: science@curriculum.edu.au
Tel: +613 9207 9600
Fax: +613 9639 1616
Fax: 1300 780 545 (within Australia only)