Methodist Ladies’ College

Anne-Marie Williams

MLC – Science Department

Evidence …. Student numbers

Over the past five years, student numbers in every science subject in Year 11 and 12 at MLC have increased, against the national trend.

Student

enrolments

Biology Chemistry Physics

Yr 11 Yr 12 Yr 11 Yr 12 Yr 11 Yr 12

2009 71 91 150 115 31 15

2014 119 101 144 119 34 20

% increase 25% 5.2% 1.7% 4.6% 14.3%

Senior School

Increase 30.2% 1.7% 18.9%

At Year 11 and 12 in Senior School in 2014, 73% of the cohort are studying at least one science subject.

Evidence ….subject scores

The Victorian state average of students achieving

a VCE subject study score of over 40 is 9%.

At MLC the percentage of students receiving a

score over 40 in … Biology 15.3 %,

Chemistry 14.9%,

Physics 25%

Psychology 28.2%

Evidence ….subject scores

Similar levels of performance exist in IB…

IB Subject Average World Grade Average MLC Grade

Biology HL 4.79 5.89

Biology SL 4.07 5.71

Chemistry HL 5.18 5.72

Chemistry SL 4.51 5.88

Physics HL 5.21 7.00

Physics SL 4.62 6.00

Evidence …. Tertiary selection

In 2013 302 students completed year 12 at MLC of

these students…

60 entered … ‘Natural and Physical Sciences’

40 entered … ‘Health’ related Tertiary courses

So how have we achieved these results?

So how have we achieved these results?

• staff

So how have we achieved these results?

• Staff

• Curriculum

So how have we achieved these results?

• Staff

• Curriculum

• Co-Curricular Activities

Year 7

• Gummy Bears Experimental Research

Year 8 Science Talent Search

Year 9

• Alternative Energy Investigations

Year 10

• Individual Investigations

Physics related topics

Year 7 - Robotics

Year 8 Electricity

Year 8 Electricity

Year 8 Electricity

• Makey Makey

Year 9 Bridge Building

Year 10 Forces and Motion

Year 11 Physics

Year 12 Physics

Year 12 Physics

• Synchrotron

Co-Curricular Activities

Co-Curricular Activities

• Astronomy

Co-Curricular Activities

Co-Curricular Activities

• Robotics Competition

Co-Curricular Activities

• STAV STEM Presentation Australian Grand

Prix

Co-Curricular Activities

• Spaghetti Machine Competition

Jessica Anderson

Factors that influence whether students

continue with STEM subjects

• Encouragement to be curious, to think, to

wonder …. To test and to try..

• A belief that science is understandable …

not a secret.

• Courses filled with practical activities.

• Making connections …seeing that science is

relevant.

• Positive experience …. with topics aligned

with Physics.

• Staff that are passionate , enthusiastic and

engaging.