Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning (ASELL) in Victorian Schools

It is known that a need exists for improved practical and key science skills in students going into the VictorianCertificate of Education (VCE, years 11 and 12). And there is a shortage of interested students who elect to take studiesin science and mathematics at VCE. As part of the federal government\u27s Australian Maths and Science PartnershipProgram (AMSPP), ASELL (Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning) for Schools has beensuccessful in receiving funding to provide professional development to high‐school teachers to assist them in improvingthe quality of teaching and learning in laboratory programs in science. Nationally, ASELL for Schools has developmentcentres in Sydney, Melbourne/Geelong, Armidale, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin. Progressing over three years, theauthors are forming partnerships with Victorian schools to design, test, and implement a number of focused laboratorylearningactivities for use in years 7‐10. To accomplish this, several schools were invited to nominate a laboratorylearning activity that needed either development or improvement. With the assistance of expert scientists andengineers, the ASELL team produced a number of activities that were tested by both students and teachers in aworkshop setting. In addition to developing general activities in a variety of STEM fields, the authors have also focusedon activities that help students develop inquiry skills