Annual Reports
What is TESEP?
TESEP is a teach-the-teachers program to help Science teachers (& laboratory technicians) confidently teach Earth and Environmental Science (EES) & STEM curricula in junior-middle secondary & upper primary years, years 4-10.
TESEP is a not-for-profit, run in all states/territories under the auspices of the Australian Science Teachers’ Association, ASTA for 17 years, but transitioning to a CLG in 1Q 2025.
The TESEP program has won International & National AWARDS:
- 2009 PESA Distinguished Service Award
- 2012 AAPG Harrison Schmitt Award
- 2022 GSA Vic Selwyn Medal
TESEP Unique Integrated Australian Teaching Content
- TESEP staff are both experienced teachers and qualified, experienced industry geoscientists, sharing their career stories.
- TESEP offers face-to-face and online Professional Development workshops to teachers, unique teaching resources and classroom incursions with students. Teaching resources are for online and classroom use.
- Professional Development courses for teachers, webinars and classroom incursions include plate tectonics, critical minerals, rock cycle, fossils and 5-big extinctions, energy transition, climate and water.
- The TESEP Rock Kit is one of the best available in the world and 1300 have been distributed to schools.
- NEW Critical Minerals Kit released in July 2024.
What’s New in 2024 for TESEP?
- ASTA Aust. Science Teachers Association auspice agreement CEASED mid Dec 2024, resulting in TESEP starting the process of becoming a CLG company limited guarantee (Jan-March 2024)
- NEW Secretariat Association Executive Services AES
- NEW 4 Directors Dr Geoff Clarke (ex-deputy dean Science U Sydney), Dr Steve Mackie (UAdelaide), Dr Louis Moresi (ANU) and Jill Stevens (Chairperson Director)
- NEW Digital Registration System – using Humanitix software
- NEW M$10 Public Liability Insurance – using Berkley Insurance Aust. Specialists in not-for-profit
- NEW registered address: 8A Boronia Road, Vermont, Victoria 3133 Phone: 03 8393 9382
- NEW Self Fund-Raising product TESEP Aust. CRITICAL MINERALS KIT, released July 2024
- NEW Partners ASEG and AIC Mines.
Australian Critical Minerals Kit and Mineral Stories
Integrated teaching of rocks and minerals in context of plate tectonics, rock & mineral stories, key facts, uses - (70 Min Kits sold in 6 months, TESEP now in profit with this product).
How we use critical minerals in infrastructure, the energy transition & our high technology lives.
Complements the Rock Kit & Plate. Tectonics poster (host rocks marked).
Critical Minerals Kit is available from Haines Educational $295 (excl. GST)
26 medium-sized Critical/Metallic/Rock-Forming & Useful Minerals, with a
Teaching Pack including online mineral stories.
Teachers in PD events
Timetape exercise in Roxby Downs SA.
Mineral kit exercise in Port Pirie SA
Wet Rocks PD in Loxton SA
Events & Feedback
TESEP Statistics for 2024
- Attendees 466 PD
- 231 webinar attendees
- 322 students
- 44 on fieldtrips
"Presenter was incredibly knowledgeable"
"A great way of presenting the way in which the story of rocks can be used to engage students"
"Timeline and artefacts are very helpful"
"Great to see some real hands on examples"
"Excellent, very interesting, loved the use of the tape measure (for geological time and evolution / extinction events)"
"This kind of course - where we can get out an expert to update our knowledge and fill in knowledge gaps - is such a rarity"
"... use of technology was impactful and will be something I will use in the classroom"
TESEP Over the Years
- Early years – large PD face-to-face events held at central venues, then regional PDs dominate in later years, post Pandemic
- Pandemic years March 2020-2021 – online webinars FREE nationally
- Requested Incursions with students more in 2022-2023
- Fieldtrips continue
TESEP Event Statistics – 2008 to 2024
2024 Events
- 51 PD event locations
- 31 webinars
- 7 fieldtrips/site visits
Post-Pandemic, in 2022 to 2024
REGIONAL school visits, 11 TESEP presenters
Multi-topic PD events, 12 PD topics, sponsored Rock Kit for Host school, a hit.
Understaffed schools, with teachers tired & stressed
PD take-up is 40-55 / year. Regional schools very keen.
Student incursions & webinars popular.
New at TESEP
- NEW Collaborations
- Seismometers at Schools
- Seismology Research Institute
- NEW Partner/Sponsor
- ASEG Aust. Soc. Exploration Geophysicists
- AIC Mines Ltd
- H&S Consultants Ltd
TESEP’s aim is to develop confident, well-informed, enthusiastic teachers of STEM/Earth and Environmental Science, with the multiplier effect of flow-on to tens of thousands of students over the years of most science teachers working lifetimes. These STEM/Earth and Environmental Science-oriented students would have the potential to do tertiary studies and take up Australian positions in industry as professionals or technicians.
- TESEP is a not-for-profit running under the auspices of ASTA Australian Science Teachers Association.
- TESEP is the winner of 3 awards for community service, one international & two national. The 2022 Selwyn Medal (from the GSA Vic) was awarded to TESEP Chairperson Jill Stevens.
- TESEP relies on funding from geological societies, mining companies and others to keep its program for science teachers running. TESEP functions on a shoe-string budget and depends on significant volunteer (unpaid ) time & effort.
- TESEP is also part-funded by sales of volunteer-made TESEP Australian Rock Kit for Schools.
2008-2023 All Events
In 16 years we have had:
- Over 3800 teacher attendances at PD events
- Over 2200 teacher attendances at webinars
- Over 800 teacher attendances at fieldtrips/site visits
- Over 4300 student attendances at class sessions
2023 TESEP Event Map & Support letters from regional schools
Xavier Catholic College, QLD "... the concepts of geological timeframes and climate change are pivotal in understanding the environmental challenges we face today. However, it has come to my attention that there is a need for improved education and training for teachers in these areas. I am humbly requesting the support of TESEP in providing resources and opportunities for professional development to teachers".
Roxby Downs Area School, SA "... we have in class had Aboriginal students open discussion of landforms important to them and explore the geological and geophysical explanations of these culturally important locations. Rather than being divisive, it appears that the students have gained insight and enrichment through sharing the knowledge and their experience".
TESEP Successes in 2023
- 47 PD events in all states and territories (excluding NT), 28 webinars, mostly regional or remote.
- Over 500 teachers attended PD events, and over 1000 students in our school incursions.
- Continued support from many long-term Partners.
- SMEDG generous one-off funding in 2023 has allowed for flexibility in schools in 4 states.
- Several new EES/STEM-oriented PD topics have been developed (i.e., Energy and the Energy Transition).
- PD at many new remote, regional locations.
- Lots of interest in Energy Transition, Critical Minerals and, Riding the Climate Rollercoaster.
- Lots of interest in the Life, Fossils & the 5 Big Extinctions PDs and webinar.
- Training Day (in VIC) for some new presenters, incl. 3 young female geoscientists
TESEP Dissapointments in 2023
- Limited interest in PD events in capital-city urban schools.
- Difficult to engage stressed, tired teachers in under-staffed schools.
- Postponement/cancellation of some events due to low registrations.
2023 Teacher Feedback
Nyngan, NSW "I enjoyed your talk at our school and the mine tour - so much so, I enrolled in and began a Bachelor of Science".
Lithgow HS, NSW "... well-planned & engaging, students enjoyed hands-on with rock samples, I will definitely incorporate this! The visuals paired with the information were awesome".
Townsville-Ayr NQld "Most useful - cyclical economy of critical minerals, recycling program links and careers in geoscience".
Bordertown SA "... discussion about taking what we learnt straight into our classrooms. Staff are a lot more confident".
Liverpool, NSW "... wealth of knowledge & the passion of the the presenter".
Nowra-Ulladulla NSW "... data on climate, career paths, being able to physically touch the rocks".
Palmyra WA "Being made aware of the relevant websites & the idea that rocks have a story".
Avila Coll, VIC "... fascinating set of webinars on climate. I learned so much".
Roxby Downs SA "... precontact with the presenters enabled us to tailor the focus to local contexts & provide locally relevant information and activities".
Stawell SC, VIC "... most enlightening overview of how we are tracking & what else needs to be done for our Energy Transition!"
TESEP Plans for 2024-2025
- Develop at least one new topic – Sustainability of Earth Resources - linking Water, Soil Minerals/Agriculture, Rock Cycle/Landforms.
- Weathering, and Critical Minerals/remote sensing exploration/technology relevance.
- Utilizing a diverse range of male/female geo-educators nationally.
- Keep running face-to-face PD workshops, national FREE webinars and some class session/incursions.
- Keep explaining local geology/its relevance to agriculture/land utilization/STEM technology of modern life.
- Keep running fieldtrips for teachers (with worksheets that can be used for students, at subsequent visits).
As a TESEP presenter noted in Energy & The Energy Transition PD,
"The energy transition presents an IMMENSE challenge but also an amazing opportunity for humanity. This is truly a global challenge that requires global solutions.
There is no silver bullet – multiple technologies matched with the right application will be the answer. TESEP has a significant place in inspiring Australian teachers & students".
TESEP’s aim of enthusing and equipping junior-middle year secondary (& upper primary & labtech) teachers in regional and urban schools, has a demonstrated flow-through to students (the next generation), some who will seek careers in Science/STEM and land use.
