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 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE, years 11 and 12). And there is a shortage of interested students who elect to take studies in science and mathematics at VCE. As part of the federal government's Australian Maths and Science Partnership Program (AMSPP), ASELL (Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning) for Schools has been successful in receiving funding to provide professional development to high‐school teachers to assist them in improving the quality of teaching and learning in laboratory programs in science. Nationally, ASELL for Schools has development centres in Sydney, Melbourne/Geelong, Armidale, Adelaide, Perth, and Darwin. Progressing over three years, the authors are forming partnerships with Victorian schools to design, test, and implement a number of focused laboratorylearning activities for use in years 7‐10. To accomplish this, several schools were invited to nominate a laboratory learning activity that needed either development or improvement. With the assistance of expert scientists and engineers, the ASELL team produced a number of activities that were tested by both students and teachers in a workshop setting. In addition to developing general activities in a variety of STEM fields, the authors have also focused on activities that help students develop inquiry skills.