Educator Association Updates | June
- Lian Soh
- Jun 7
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 12
This article contains updates from educator association representatives. While you may have received information via other channels, the updates below are indicative of topics which are trending in the Bay of Plenty.
This is a live article so please continue to check-in as our key contacts may provide new information as the month progresses.
Biology Educators of Aotearoa New Zealand
BEANZ has published the following mock exams:
NCEA Scholarship Biologyhttps://beanz.org.nz/resources/beanz-exams/2025-beanz-scholarship-exam
NCEA Level 3 Biologyhttps://beanz.org.nz/resources/beanz-exams/2025-beanz-level-3-exams
NCEA Level 1 CB Genetics Exams (92022)https://beanz.org.nz/resources/beanz-exams/2025-beanz-cb-l1-92022-genetics-exam
Two new BEANZ QAAM Tasks for AS91604 (Bio 3.4) Homeostasis are also availablehttps://beanz.org.nz/resources/quality-assured-assessment-material
Ngā mihi nui,
Vicki Wallace
BEANZ Regional Representative
Empower Kaiako for Equity Aotearoa
Jayatheeswaran Vijayakumar has created and coded a web-based game called Kahurangi to support learners with AS 91388 (3.2 – Spectroscopy). Students can choose between practice modes or challenge themselves in a timed mode, which adds a competitive, gamified element to their learning. There’s even a leader board feature in development to celebrate student effort and achievement.
Part 2 of the webinar series "Text Anxiety and Memory" is now available. For ease of access, the entire series is listed below:
Ngā mihi nui
Keri Tan Garlick
President of Empower KEA
New Zealand Association of Science Educators
If you are after some NZASE-funded PLD, Term 3 dates have been finalised. Our closest venue is Auckland (Western Springs) on Monday 4th of August. An online date is yet to be confirmed. SCICON grants of $500 per person are also available here.
NZASE are writing to Rt. Hon. Erica Stanford regarding updates to Animal Ethics.
The NZASE annual AGM will take place online on Tuesday July 15th, Term 3 Week 1.
Ngā manaakitanga
Lian Soh
NZASE Regional Representative
Secondary Chemistry Educators New Zealand
SCENZ has received feedback from NZQA on their application for QAAM assurance for the suite of assessment tasks developed last term. NZQA have recommended a few changes that will require some minor adjustments to the current questions.
Question structure: Questions can’t mix requirements from different bullet points within the same level of the standard. SCENZ are reorganising some material within Questions 1(b) and (c), and between 2(a) and (b), to align with this.
Context for modelling: While lab experiments can still be used for modelling, any questions about them must be framed clearly within that specific context. SCENZ are adding some extra phrasing to make this explicit.
Chemical equations: NZQA has advised that specific chemical equations must appear in the data booklet, not within the question itself.
As a result, SCENZ are holding off on running their CB1.2 webinar until these details have been clarified. In the meantime, we an updated PowerPoint on teaching and assessing CB1.2 for 2025 will be published here once it is available.
Ngā manaakitanga
Lian Soh
SCENZ Regional Representative
New Zealand Institute of Physics (Education)
Reminder that Physikos is 1st to 3rd of July. There are some pretty amazing speakers and a good range of workshops to attend. Also note, there is likely funding available via the NEX funding from the Ministry of Education, as well as the PPTA Subject Association Grants.
Here is a link to the NZIP Physikos page with information.
For those unable to attend, I will look at organising a regional catch up early next term to share anything of interest. Date and times to follow.
Ngā manaakitanga
Mat Synge
NZIP Regional Representative
Earth and Space Science Educators New Zealand
Are you teaching or considering the ESS 2.6-- Stars and Planets standard? Good news--there's a webinar coming up for you!
Join Bruce Ngataierua and Najin Suvi for a webinar at 7pm on Thursday 12th of June (next week). We will cover aspects of teaching order, introduce a range of activities/simulations, and ideas for how to raise your levels of achievement for the standard.
Sign up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY-RYalEnoa-MW1BxS-NVblv6bhjpLqFwO6aty3jXroAcWJw/viewform
Astrobiology 2025: September 22 - 24.
The 150-year celebration of Scientific partnership between NZ and the US starts in the morning. We have Universities from around the country participating, as well as other presenters. Judith Collins is opening the event, the US Embassy is sending a representative as well. We have not got confirmation on who they are sending. After a couple of hours speaking to all the stallholders, we finish with a panel discussion with guests from JPL and Blue Marble Institute.
The movie in the early evening is about the Opportunity Rover. Oppy was supposed to work for 90 days, but ended up working for 15 years! This documentary charts the progress of Oppy and the bond that grew between the Rover and its team from JPL.
https://events.humanitix.com/good-night-oppy-with-an-introduction-from-dr-mitch-schulte-nasa
Ngā mihi nui
Jim Critchley and Erin Nolan
ESSENZ Regional Representatives
New Zealand Association of Primary Science Educators
The Waikato Science Fair people are happy to get entries from the BOP. The criteria and entry admin is quite different but details are on their website. Update: See this post about the Bay of Plenty fair.
Ngā manaakitanga
John Marsh
NZAPSE
Tauranga Moana Māori Teacher's Association
No updates yet - please check back later.
Ngā manaakitanga
Whaea Tania Jackson
Tauranga Moana Māori Teacher's Association
