Bush Blitz TeachLive 2023 – Australian Alps

* To be eligible for the Australian Alps Bush Blitz TeachLive expedition, you must be an Australian teacher currently based in a New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victorian or Tasmanian school.

The Bush Blitz TeachLive team are looking for a committed but diverse range of teachers to assist scientists on the 2022 Bush Blitz TeachLive expedition. All primary and secondary teachers based in the above-mentioned states/territories, who are passionate about teaching STEM and geography are encouraged to apply.

Bush Blitz TeachLive provides the opportunity to broaden teacher knowledge and experiences beyond the classroom. You do not need to be STEM or geography trained nor an experienced teacher, you just need to be passionate and keen to share your experiences with your school community. We particularly encourage teachers who might benefit from participation. These could include early career teachers, teachers with limited experience in teaching the STEM disciplines, experienced teachers who are keen to improve their fieldwork skills in order to instruct their students and/or teachers that want to actively demonstrate to their students the biodiversity of Australian ecosystems.

To be eligible you must be an Australian teacher currently based in NSW, ACT, VIC or TAS.

• If you have previously participated in Bush Blitz TeachLive, you will be ineligible to apply.
• Education providers outside of schools (such as environmental education providers) may also receive lower priority, as the program requires teaching “live” direct to a class.

Selection will be based on:

• A two-minute (maximum) video submission.  The video will form the main component of the application.
• Your response to three key selection criteria.
• A supporting statement from your Principal.

See below “How to apply” for further details about the application requirements.

The final selection of teacher participants is at the discretion of the selection panel, which includes representatives from Bush Blitz, Earthwatch Australia and ASTA.

Support from Principal (please refer your school Principal to this section)

The applicant must:

• Indicate they have their Principal’s endorsement of their application, through checking a box on the application form. 
• Provide their Principal’s contact details on the application.

A member of the Bush Blitz TeachLive selection committee will contact the Principal of each shortlisted applicant. The purpose of this contact is to find out how the school will support the applicant to achieve the objectives of the program and more specifically what support will be provided leading up to and during the Bush Blitz survey and how the applicant will be supported to share the outcomes of the Bush Blitz Teach Live survey with the school and school community.

Please note: All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in early December 2022. Due to the Christmas and New Year holiday period between applications closing and the expedition itself, successful applicants must commit to responding promptly to all requests regarding travel and training requirements.

A fully-funded place on the 2023 Australian Alps Bush Blitz TeachLive survey includes:

• Travel  reimbursement for getting to and from the Bush Blitz 
• Accommodation in the field
• All meals while in the field
• Full teacher replacement costs (6 school days)*
• Training in field research methods
• Training in website content management
• Detailed briefing materials prior to the expedition
• Bush Blitz TeachLive merchandise

* Only standard school days during the stated expedition period, and where teacher replacement costs are actually incurred, are eligible for school reimbursement, up to a maximum of 6 days.  Distance or remoteness may mean that some participants need to travel on additional school days at either end of the expedition period, which are generally not eligible for teacher replacement costs.  In such cases, teachers should make private arrangements with their school for those additional days.

This program will require a dedicated commitment by teachers.  Your acceptance of a place on Bush Blitz TeachLive constitutes an agreement to fulfil all requirements outlined below.  Successful applicants are expected to commit to the following:

Pre-survey commitments

• Be available for a group induction and web training seminar (via a Zoom video call).
• Have your own laptop available to bring to the Bush Blitz.
• Plan a couple of suitable times you would like to video call (e.g., Google Meet, Skype, Zoom) your class from the field, or plan to film and edit a video blog.
• Have reasonable IT and social media skills in order to post content and share your experiences via the Bush Blitz TeachLive website.
• Be physically fit and active, and prepared to work up to 8 hours a day in the field.

During-survey commitments

• Participate and engage in daily field activities, including any community events. Fieldwork times may vary and you will need to be flexible with your time (both daytime and evening fieldwork will occur).
• Write and upload a blog each day to the Bush Blitz TeachLive website, including a ‘teachable moment’ or a fun activity, to ensure your students learn from your experience.
• Set up at least one video call with your class from the field; or if reception doesn’t allow, put together at least one
  video blog including interviews with the scientists.

Post-survey commitments

• Design and write an engaging teaching and learning curriculum resource (3 or 4 lesson plans) based on your experiences on the survey. This resource will be uploaded to the Earthwatch Bush Blitz TeachLive website. See the resources provided by previous participants here: (https://www.earthwatch.org.au/teacher-resources).
• Contribute to an article on Bush Blitz TeachLive to Teaching Science (ASTA’s professional journal) through the preparation of a written reflection. The STA member participants may be requested to submit a brief article to their STA journal or newsletter.  It is best practice to prepare your written reflection immediately upon return from the expedition whilst your thoughts and responses are still fresh in your mind.
• After collaboration with fellow participants / scientists / Earthwatch staff, aim to implement a biodiversity-themed project at your school.
• Participate in ongoing evaluation of the Bush Blitz TeachLive program with Earthwatch Australia.

1.  Develop a two-minute (maximum) video submission

This will form the main component of the application. We feel it is a chance to let your real passion shine through! In addition, Bush Blitz TeachLive is centred on the use of technology to communicate to your students from a remote location. Therefore, a video application ensures that you are familiar with use of relevant technologies. We encourage all interested teachers to just have a go! Your video will only be viewed internally. In this video, you must include:

• why you would like to be involved in this Bush Blitz TeachLive expedition, and
• how you would use the experience to support your teaching to increase the benefit for your students.

Suggestions for those unfamiliar with video editing: Use smart phones for filming, and edit your video using free video- editing apps. For desktop devices, iMovie and Microsoft Video Editor are software which are often already available on Mac and PC computers.

2.  Upload your video application

• Ensure that it is named “YourName_BushBlitzTeachLive_2023”
• Upload to the platform of your choice (eg. OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox or YouTube) using a private link.
• Share the video link with the following email address:  bushblitzphotos@hotmail.com.
• If you have issues with this process, please contact smccullough@earthwatch.org.au or projectofficer@asta.edu.au.

3.  Submit the written application form through the Survey Monkey form

The application form is in three parts.