The Advanced Science Institute is a series of instructional programs focused on 21st century emergent and cutting-edge scientific research.
The programs aim to provide opportunities for students to develop skills in working scientifically by engaging them in thinking critically and creatively in problem-solving processes.
The proposed ASI program consists of the following instructional programs:
This website, Quantum Computing, is the first to be officially published. Biofuels and Forensic geoscience are neariong completion.
The Advanced Science Institute is designed to lead students on a pathway to improving scientific and mathematical literacy. It provides a solid foundation for the completion of the VCE Extended Investigation subject.
The VCE Extended Investigation enables students to develop, refine and extend knowledge and skills in independent research and carry out an investigation focused on a rigorous research question. Through this study, students develop their capacity to explore, justify and defend their research findings in both oral and written forms to a general or non-specialist audience.
Students work individually and/or teams in planning and conducting investigations. They are expected to critically analyse data and information, evaluate issues and problems, develop questions for inquiry and investigation and draw evidence-based conclusions.
Students will be required to apply and communicate their findings, understanding and viewpoints in a scientifically literate way. This is required in the form of, for example, conference style oral and poster presentations as well as online publishing.
The focus is on the engagement of students in a range of learning experiences that build on prior learning and are set in meaningful and relevant contexts. Students are led to a more scientific understanding of their world and the way that scientists work. It is through these experiences, which include inquiry and investigation, that students cultivate a deeper appreciation of scientific endeavour, of science as an evolving body of knowledge, of the provisional nature of scientific explanations and of the complex relationship between evidence and ideas.
The programs will include:
The Quantum Computing Program
Quantum Computation is a developing field in science and computing. Its aim to effectively design the next generation of computers which are capable of utilising the quantum mechanical laws of the universe to solve problems that could otherwise not be solved using conventional computing.
The Quantum Computing Investigation Program was developed by a team of educators from the Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC).
The program aims to address the following ‘Big Idea’:
Quantum physics has changed our perception of classical Newtonian physics resulting
in the development of new technologies that will revolutionise the solving of complex problems.
The program is designed to allow students to explore the development of Quantum Computing and the implications it will have on complex problem solving. Specifically, the course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of classical computing and quantum mechanics, which are then extended and applied to the basic ideas behind current quantum computer designs being developed locally and abroad.
Before beginning this unit, teachers should allow time to carefully read this guide and ensure that the necessary steps have been taken to gather and prepare the materials needed to conduct lessons, as well as familiarise themselves with the content.
The course is designed to cover a series of 15 key sessions of varying length: the term "lesson" should not be construed as applying to a classroom "period." Depending on the student cohort and teacher discretion, these lessons can occupy a whole term, However, while time allotted to each of the 16 key sessions is flexible, the design of the course is not.. Each consecutive lesson builds upon the previous, developing student understanding of Computing and Quantum Mechanics as the course proceeds, so the skills acquired can be applied to a final research project.
The materials needed to conduct the unit are outlined in each lesson document.. All worksheets, experiment outlines, activity instructions, extension and homework activities and links to websites and digital resources are described and linked within the lesson plan.
Some lessons will require additional prior preparation, as well as the purchase or acquisition of materials to conduct experiments and class activities.
The program was designed on the assumption that students will have access to mobile or desktop devices and that they can access high-speed internet from home in order to conclude flipped lesson activities prior to classroom hours.