Science

from St Edward's College 2021 Year Book

Year 12

Trent Foster

”The important thing in Science is not so much as to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them Sir William Lawrence Bragg

More so than any other year, 2021 has challenged us all to think, problem solve and be creative in new and innovative ways. The delivery of teaching and learning during Term 3 and five weeks of Term 4 saw students having to engage in lessons online and in a variety of different modes. The adaptability and resilience shown by students, and the creativity and enthusiasm for developing new learning opportunities by staff, fostered positive outcomes over this period.

Some of the highlights of 2021 occurred during the home based learning period. One such highlight was the quality assessment tasks submitted by students in Year 9 on “The Neuron”. Students were challenged to be resourceful in finding materials around the home to create a scale model of a neuron, labelling all of the functional parts and explaining the effect a neurodegenerative disease has on the neuron. The quality of the work submitted was exceptional, showcasing the talents of the boys, as well as the depth of learning gained over the home based learning timeframe.

Model making is now viewed as integral skill in science, with HSC Biology students having to create functional models, either physical or digital, explaining the steps in polypeptide synthesis or DNA replication. The quality of the submissions for this school based assessment, linked with the deeper knowledge and comprehension of the key steps, allows the senior boys to grasp the intricacies and vital role of these processes in maintaining correct function within organisms. Year 12 Physics students were assessed on their ability to transfer the theory they had covered on the

Marine Studies

structure and function of DC motors, generators and the “motor effect” when tasked with creating a working model. The model had to be powered by no more than 12V, be self-starting and be able to run continuously without “burning out”. The boys demonstrated ingenuity in their designs and materials used, with some amazing models being created, varying from simple DC motors to motors with multiple split rings and armatures, to a working microphone. Again, excellent examples of the ability of the boys to transform classroom lessons to real world applications.

These skills were also put to the test during the annual Science and Engineering Challenge, which the College has hosted for the past seven years. Selected Year 10 students competed against the top students from other Central Coast schools in activities ranging from bridge building, to creating functional robotic hands, working hover crafts, ciphering skills and much more. The ability to work collectively as a team, problem solve within time constraints, give and receive critical feedback to improve on design, are skills that the boys develop on the day, which then can be transferred to future endeavours. As it is a competition, each activity gains points towards a total, with the winning school representing the Central Coast at the NSW All Schools Finals. This year saw the closest of finishes in the 20 year history of the Challenge, with the boys falling short by only a few points to a very strong Gosford High School. The boys are to be commended for their efforts and the positive way they carried themselves and represented the College throughout the day.

Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to the amazing Science faculty and the work they did throughout the year, creating a variety of learning opportunities for the boys to challenge them to think outside of the box, to come up with ingenious solutions and to become more patient about the world around them. I am always hopeful that the lesson learned will serve the boys into the future, and that the teachers have helped open their eyes to the wonderful world around them.