TEE Revision Seminar Content and Presenter Profiles

Courses Seminars available, click for Presenters' Profile
Accounting | Applicable Mathematics | Applied Information Technology | Biology
Chemistry | Discrete Mathematics | Economics | English | Geography | History | Human Biology
Physics | Study and Examination Techniques

Accounting

Content Overview
The session will prepare students for the TEE and help them maximize their performance in the examination.

• Second-guessing the examiners: an analysis of past papers to make some general predictions about the form of this year’s exam
• Workshopping main topics: we will work through typical questions in all the major topics, indicating strategies for tackling them successfully. Students will receive an additional question and suggested model answer for each topic.
• Theory questions and the essay: identifying what you need to know and strategies for successfully answering theory questions.

Presenter
Chris Durrant MA, Grad Dip Ed
Chris has recently retired after 20 years teaching Year 11 and Year 12 Accounting, as well as Economics and Business Studies. Chris was a member of the Accounting Syllabus Committee for many years and also served on the Reference Group for the Accounting and Finance Course of Study, of which he was one of the writers. He has been a TEE marker and is the co-author (with Ian Duffy and Leo Munro) of Introductory Accounting : Principles, Practice, and Exercises Books 1 & 2 which was for a long time a recommended text for the WA Accounting courses. He has also written a number of commercially available Accounting Examinations for Year 11 and Year 12.

Applicable Mathematics

Content Overview
During the seminar the following areas will be covered using workshopping and interactive sessions:

• a review of key concepts for selected topics. (The selection will depend on topics which have already been covered by participants.)
• the development of strategies for effective study and revision.
• a discussion of successful examination techniques.
• a review of past TEE questions to analyse examiner's expectations.

Presenter
Margaret Clark BSc (Hons), Grad Dip Ed
Margaret's extensive experience has included teaching at both secondary and tertiary levels. She is currently teaching TEE Mathematics courses at SIDE.
Margaret has been a writer of Mathematics materials for lower and upper school students in the Curriculum Design Centre. She has also presented TEE preparation courses in Mathematics for SIDE and for private providers.

Applied Information Technology

Content Overview

• Production component of the WACE – preparing students for the production section of the examination including using the Technology Process, annotated storyboards, design principles, production and time management processes used, intended audience characteristics, evaluation of products and processes.
• Consolidation of the main topics in both Stage 2 and 3 units:
• components of multimedia/business computers.
• Networking computers
• software, file formats and digital data.
• processing and managing data
• design elements, principles of design navigation techniques
• inclusivity used in the information productions developed
• work practices and management skills
• ethics, law and legislation used in the computing environment
• roles of developers and users
• career, work and jobs
• past and emerging trends
• Practise questions to help consolidate course content.

Presenter
Terry McIntosh Dip Teach, Cert IV Assessment and Training
Terry has been involved in Computer Education in secondary schools for the past twenty years and has been teaching Applied Information Technology at Shenton College for the past five year. He has taught a range of TEE and WSA computing subjects including AIT, Digital and Interactive Media, Information Systems, Computer Science and Applied Information Technology 2A/2B and 3A/3B. Terry has been involved in the development of the new Year 11 and 12 subjects over the past six years, is actively involved in curriculum development at the Curriculum Council, and has been preparing materials which are being used in schools across WA. Being a TEE/WACE examination marker for the past six years, including the 2008 Applied Information Technology WACE exam, Terry is aware of how students need to prepare for the WACE exam and this revision seminar will assist all students who attend.

Biology

Content Overview
In this lightning tour we revise key concepts covered in:

• Module 0 - Scientific Method
• Module 1 - The Cell
• Module 2 - The Organism

So fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the ride because at the end of this session you will have:

• a good understanding of exam techniques that you can use to improve your score.
• a summary of important diagrams, tables, equations and flow charts to help you learn the essential content.
• practice in typical TEE questions.
• a good understanding of what the examiners are looking for when they mark TEE papers.

The sessions are very interactive, with hands on activities to engage students. You will be so motivated that you will want to race home immediately after the session to begin your TEE revision for Biology. Remember, “Today is the first day in the rest of your lives.”

Presenter
Leonie Wilson. BAppSc. (Biology), Grad Dip Ed
Leonie has tutored at University level in Biology and taught Year 12 Biology in schools for 30 years, which is remarkable considering she is only 21 years of age! She is still just as passionate and enthusiastic about the subject as the day she started and enjoys taking her students out into the field to bring Biology to life. She has extensive experience as a curriculum writer in Biology and is a member of the Biology Reference Group.

Chemistry

Content Overview

• Review of major concepts in the six areas of the chemistry course with special emphasis on areas not covered in year 11.
• Discuss a range of exam of questions (multiple choice and short answer).
• Discuss summarising and re-summarising.
• Exam techniques and hints will be discussed and applied to sample questions.
• Use of the Data Sheet
• Sketching outlines for periodic trends
• Highlighting key words and phrases in questions
• Flow charts in calculations
• Planning an extended answer
• Time and stress management in an exam
• Opportunity for students to ask question during class and group sessions.
• A booklet of worksheets will be provided.
• A CD containing summaries and a wide range of tests and exams, with detailed solutions, will be provided for follow-up revision.

Presenter
Peter Spasic BSc (Hons)
Peter has taught in a number of government schools in Western Australia (including SIDE) and has taught senior chemistry for more than 25 years. Currently, he is Senior Chemistry Teacher at Murdoch College, where he has written extensive study guides for Years 11 and 12. Peter has had seven years’ experience as a government chemical analyst before entering the education profession. This has added to his extensive experience in the subject. He is a current marker for Chemistry exams set for the Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (organised by TISC). These exams are at TEE standard.

Discrete Mathematics

Content Overview
This session is designed to analyse the course objectives and revise a selection of topics in order to prepare students for their Discrete Mathematics TEE exam with a view to maximising student performance:

• unpack the course objectives. What do they mean? What do we have to learn?
• analyse past papers and current trends.
• practise questions requiring comment and/or interpretation.
• practise problem solving.
• practise poorly done questions from past TEE papers.

Presenter
Ron Dymock BEd
Ron has been a secondary maths teacher for 33 years, and has taught Discrete Mathematics since its inception in the early 90s. He presented at the TEE Revision seminars at SIDE in 2005 and 2006 and at Australind SHS (on invitation) in 2005 and 2006.

Economics

Content Overview
The revision seminar will focus on key aspects of the syllabus as well as specific exam preparation.

• Macroeconomics: the business cycle, the AE model and the multiplier, AD/AS model, inflation and unemployment, and current economic indicators.
• International Economics: free trade and protection, the balance of payments and foreign debt, exchange rates, and the terms of trade.
• Economic Policy: government economic objectives, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and microeconomic reform.
• Exam Preparation.

Presenter
Steven Kemp Associate Head of School (Teaching & Learning)
School of Economics and Finance, Curtin University
Steven has had a long association with economics education in Western Australia at both university and secondary level. He currently teaches in the School of Economics at Curtin University but has also taught economics in several Western Australian schools. Steven is a co-author (with Greg Parry) of a number of Economics textbooks, including Pathways in Economics (year 11), Exploring Macroeconomics (Year 12) and the TEE Economics Revision Guide. He has been a past Chief Examiner for Economics and has served as the Chief Marker for Economics for the past 17 years, including 2008. Steven is actively involved with the Economic Teachers’ Association of W.A. in promoting economics education and is a current member of the Assessment, Review and Moderation Panel for Economics.

English

Content Overview
Television is awash with DIY programs. Thousands of viewers out there want to be shown ‘HOW to’ – ‘How to’ revitalise that patio area, ‘How to’ knock down a wall or give new life to an old kitchen. You may not want to know about kitchens and patios but perhaps you do want to know about ‘HOW to’ improve your English mark!

The English seminar is about ‘HOW to’ but the good news is that all you will need is:

• yourself.
• some writing materials.
• motivation.

Not too difficult, really.

This seminar will empower you to deal with the end of the year Curriculum Council exam as well as offering insights and understandings that will help you with your Semester Two Unit. What more could you ask for?

By attending the seminar you will have:

• A better understanding of how to approach each section of the examination paper.
• more confidence about key concepts.
• A better understanding of key concepts.
• A better understanding of the skills you need top bring to the exam.

Presenter
Gerry Lane BA, Grad Dip Ed
Gerry is an experienced teacher and Head of English. He has been a TEE marker, a Moderator for the Curriculum Council and has represented the Department of Education and Training as a presenter of professional development for teachers in the city and country centres. He co-authored a booklet about Leadership and Change as a part of a program developed through Curtin University for Heads of Learning Areas in government schools. He has also written materials for Random House Publishing Company. For four years he delivered one of the TEE Revision lectures for English at Curtin University.

Geography

Content Overview
Preparation for the TEE exam covering the following aspects.

• Mapping and Practical skills. A broad range of mapping and practical skills will be covered.
• Key content in the areas of Australian Landscapes, Settlement Patterns and Urban Australia will be presented.
• A variety of assessment tasks will be used to identify individual student strengths and weaknesses.
• Maximising marks strategies will be discussed with analysis of exemplar answers to past TEE papers.

Presenter
Mike Fazio, MEd, BA, Grad Dip Ed Admin
Mike has taught Geography in a number of government and non Government schools in Western Australia. He has also taught geography methodology to trainee teachers at university level. He has experience in the marking of TEE exams and in the current year 12 Geography Course. He has both graduate and post graduate degrees majoring in Geography as well as curriculum development. These support his extensive experience in the subject.

Mike is the immediate past president of the Geographical Association of WA (GAWA) and a board member of the Australian Geography Teachers Association (AGTA). Consequently he is able to keep abreast of current thinking and practices in geographical education.

History

Content Overview
The seminar will concentrate on the major skills students need to be successful in the mock examination and the TEE history paper.
The topic areas covered during the seminar will be:
Unit One: Australia 1900 - 1945 and Australian 1945 - 1990
Unit Two: Cold War Europe
Unit Three: Revolutions - Russian Revolution and Chinese Revolution.
Interactive workshops, practice materials, question and answer sessions, and tutorials will address the following areas.

• Revision skills, study and memorisation techniques applicable for History.
• What students need to know when answering the TEE history paper.
• How to structure and write a history essay under examinations conditions.
• Evidence and analysis in a history essay.
• The main types of documents used in exams.
• Document analysis and answering the set questions.
• Examples of good and excellent student exam responses.

Presenter
Jan Bishop BA (Ancient History and Anthropology), Grad Dip Ed
Jan is an experienced History teacher and TEE History marker. She has been a regular presenter at Student Revision Seminars organised by the History Teachers’ Association of WA. Jan has had four years as an Examiner for History and three years as Chief Marker of TEE History.

Human Biology

Content Overview
The focus of this session is on maximising student performance in the Human Biology TEE. Topics will be covered in tutorial and workshop modes and will include:

• Syllabus content areas such as Nervous Control, Hormonal Control, Regulation (Exercise), Regulation of the Control of Body Fluids, Prevention and Control of Infection, and Genetics and Mechanisms of Evolution.
• Skills such as experimental design and microscope calculations.
• Exam techniques.
• Analysis of past TEE questions with opportunities to practise questions and receive feedback.

Presenter
Julie Clark BEd
Julie is an experienced teacher of Human Biology having taught for over 20 years in government schools in Western Australia. Her extensive experience includes working as a presenter of Human Biology segments for the GWN Live Science television program, as a Curriculum Council moderator (Biological Sciences) and writing the new Human Biological Sciences course materials at Westone. Julie is also currently teaching at SIDE where she has presented TEE revision sessions for SIDE students over the past 10 years.

Physics

Content Overview
Through directed problem solving, the following areas of Physics will be covered:

• sound waves.
• movement.
• structures and materials.
• electric power.
• atomic physics.

Students will have the opportunity to ask and discuss questions. A comprehensive booklet of worksheets and answers will be provided. Areas such as exam technique, use of the data sheet, and answering comprehension and interpretation questions will be covered. A systematic study program is provided to improve motivation and enhance performance.

Presenter:
Eric Tasker AASc (Physics), Assoc Dip Bus, THS
Eric has over 30 years extensive experience in teaching Physics, Chemistry and Physical Science at TEE level in government schools throughout WA. He is currently the Head of Department of Science, and a Senior Lecturer at Tuart College. He has experience in TEE marking in all upper school physical science subjects, and is currently a moderator for the Curriculum Council in the subjects of TEE Physics and TEE Physical Science and was past moderator in TEE Chemistry. He is a past marker of WAUFP Physics and Chemistry papers and a past Chief Examiner of WAUFP Physics. He is currently chairperson of the Curriculum Council syllabus committee for TEE Physical Science. He was a contributing author for the STAWA Physics Laboratory Manual and Physics Problem Book and Answer Books and was a co-writer of Teacher’s Guides and Student Resource Books produced as a Curriculum Writer for the Department of Education and Training (DET). Eric has conducted many year 12 TEE Revision Seminars in country and city schools for the subjects of TEE Physics and Physical Science.

Study and Examination Technique

Content Overview
Feeling unmotivated? Stressed about exams? The Study and Exam Technique session can help you with these concerns, so familiar to Year 12 students.

The focus of this session is on understanding how to take positive action, practising strategies for active study. Good examination technique, based on the foundation of a systemic study program, leads to maximum performance in TEE examinations. The session includes tutorials and workshop approaches on topics such as:

• the psychology of study: motivation and self-belief.
• re-defining study time and using it effectively.
• active study strategies.
• self evaluation and using feedback.
• memory training.
• making use of individual strengths.
• exam techniques relating to before, during and after the exam.
• health issues.
• techniques for managing study and exam stress.

Presenters
Karen Loreck BEd (Career Education)
Karen has had an extensive background in education, having taught at secondary and tertiary institutions in both regional and metropolitan locations. She was the Career Counsellor at a metropolitan high school for five years and was responsible for its Study Skills camp, delivering individual/small group sessions to students to assist them in maximising their TER. Karen has been in Student Services at SIDE for the past six years and has worked with students on time management and study skills issues with the aim of assisting students to reach their academic potential.

Vicki Masters BA (English), Grad Dip Ed, Grad Dip (Reading Studies)
Vicki Masters is the Program Coordinator for Student Services at SIDE. She has been a Student Coordinator at SIDE for the past seven years with particular responsibility for the Kimberley and Central West Regions. Her duties include all aspects of student enrolment, regional contact and course counselling. Vicki’s background is English teaching, specialising in literacy programs to improve student outcomes at the secondary school level. She has extensive experience in presenting at conferences on topics including pastoral care, literacy initiatives and SIDE services.