This professional development scholarship is aimed at teachers who require extra financial support to engage with ICRAR’s micro-credential course – ASTRM401 Features of the Universe for Teachers.
There are six (6) scholarships available for teachers up to the value of $1000 to support their enrollment the ASTRM401 micro-credential. This amount covers the $400 enrollment fees to the micro-credential, with the remaining funds to cover relief costs to do further intensive professional development with one of our educational experts or purchase educational resources for astronomy-focused lessons.
ICRAR recognises that the unequal levels of funding to schools and teachers across the country presents a barrier to entry for some teachers to participate in professional development opportunities. This scholarship, in partnership with ASTRO3D, is aimed at reducing this barrier by providing financial support for to facilitate participation on an equity and accessibility basis. This includes support structures in place for teachers in regional schools.
Features of the Universe for Teachers
The course covers topics from why seasons occur on Earth, all the way to how stars and galaxies form and how it all started with the Big Bang. It highlights science as a human endeavour, constantly evolving and developing, and also discusses common misconceptions and how to address them when teaching astronomy concepts. The culmination of this unit will be for teachers to learn how to use our exclusive classroom resource, the SPIRIT robotic 1 metre optical telescope and go through all the steps of observational astronomy, from planning of observations to interpreting the data to better understand the Universe we live in.
Thanks for your interest in this scholarship. Applications have now closed. Applicants will be contacted shortly.Applicants must be a registered teacher within Australia, with preference being given to secondary teachers in STEM topics. Applications will be assessed by the ICRAR Communications, Education, and Outreach (CE&O) team on an equity and accessibility basis. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application by the 7th March 2025, with enrollment in the ASTRM401 micro-credentials closing on the 17th March 2025. Assistance in enrollment can be provided on request. The enrollment fee is non-transferable and cannot be used on any other course, and is not applicable for the enrollment fee reductions for regional and low-ICSEA schools. The remaining $600 funding must be utilised within the 2025 calendar year.
For more information or any other questions, please get in touch with education@icrar.org