Centenary of Federation Teaching Award in Chemistry - Secondary

The RACI has established a series of annual awards for the recognition and reward of outstanding excellence in the teaching of chemistry in Australia at both primary and secondary schools. Candidates whose teaching is only partly chemical and teachers of general science (with some chemistry) are also encouraged to apply. There is no RACI membership requirement in this category.

Ms. Tatiana Anesbury & Dr Deborah Beswick

MS. TATIANA ANESBURY

A passionate educator whose efforts extend beyond the classroom to offer educational opportunities not only to her students but also to her peers.

Ms Tatiana Anesbury MRACI CChem is a science and mathematics teacher in South Australia. She was a joint winner of the 2011 Unsung Hero of South Australian Science Communication Award (see Chemistry in Australia October issue, p. 17). Ms Anesbury is a passionate educator whose efforts extend beyond the classroom in developing experiences, organising events and collaborating with scientists, colleagues, and university and industry personnel, to offer educational opportunities not only to her students but also to her peers.

She has engineered a climate of student participation at the Australian Science and Mathematics school through the development, support and access to hundreds of competitions. Students look forward to being taught by her as she is able to bring the complex worlds of chemistry, physics and mathematics to life.

Ms Anesbury uses a comprehensive range of teaching methods and challenges students through innovative tasks, discussions and experiences. Her tenacious nature and vast repertoire of teaching methods has seen her present material in many different forms. She also incorporates real world examples and scenarios along with the latest research. Where possible, she utilises an expert in her lessons, with researchers, academics and scientific experts sharing their passion and knowledge with students. She also takes her students out of the classroom into as many environments as possible. She is always looking to improve and update her knowledge and skills and is very active in a vast array of extracurricular activities.

Ms Anesbury holds numerous high profile and executive positions and has done so for many years. Presently her main roles include ASMS Coordinator Curriculum Innovation of Chemistry/Science as well as the schools Competition and Outreach Coordinator. She is RACI South Australian Branch President and is on the Chemistry in Australia Management Committee; she is also a South Australian Science Teachers Association (SASTA) Board member and South Australian Certificate of Education Physics Curriculum Leaders Group committee. She mentors early career teachers and is the convenor of the SASTA annual conference and the Early Career Teachers’ conference as well as a judge for various competitions such as National Youth Science Forum. Ms Anesbury has presented many workshops over the years at the ASTA, SASTA and RACI Teachers Conferences.

DR DEBORAH BESWICK

Recently completed a PhD in Science Education with a review of the effectiveness of the Key Teacher in Science Program.

Dr Deborah Beswick MRACI CChem gained a BSc (Chemistry) from the University of Tasmania, followed by a Diploma of Education and Master of Educational Studies. More recently she completed a PhD in Science Education through the Curtin University of Technology, Western Australia. This study was a review of the effectiveness of the Key Teacher in Science Program, which could be used as a model for future professional development programs in the implementation of new curriculum initiatives.

Dr Beswick is currently the Manager of Science & Mathematics at Elizabeth College, Hobart, Tasmania. Students are in years 11– 12, and the College is part of the Tasmanian Academy, Tasmanian Department of Education. Deborah currently teaches Chemistry and Physical Sciences (a pre-tertiary course that comprises components of both Chemistry and Physics).

Science Week is featured at Elizabeth College, attracting about 1000 kinder to Grade 6 students, with activities directly or indirectly related to science organised by classes of students. Dr Beswick says: ‘It is wonderful to see the interaction of our year 11 and 12 students with the younger children, and the excitement of our visitors. I believe that a positive attitude to science and all that it entails must be engendered from a very early age. I have been able to promote the theme of Science Week across many of the college learning areas, and now teachers have started making suggestions of activities before I have even reminded them of another event.’

Dr Beswick is a committee member of the Tasmanian Branch of the RACI, and a member of the Tasmanian Teacher’s Registration Board. She has been involved in curriculum development and career education. She strongly believes in the value of science education and chemistry in particular.