Science Teachers’ Geology PD Tour

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain confidence and new techniques in teaching Geology, including fieldwork preparation
• Make connections between the classroom and the real world to share with your students
• Tour is escorted by award winning secondary teacher and Geologist Suzy Urbaniak, who will provide expert
  commentary
• Take a Lava Boat ride to see the lava entering the Pacific Ocean, an unforgettable sight (extra charge may apply)
• See the olive green sand at Papakolea (Green Sand Beach), which gets its colour from olivine crystals
  created by volcanic eruptions
• Walk on newly formed crust, steps away from flowing lava
• Drive from sea level to over 4,000 metres in around 2 hours
• Experience the Zipline Tour of the Umauma Falls (optional)
• Explore one of the island’s best kept secrets, a volcano where you can see craters, eruptive fissures, lava tunnels,
  spatter ribbon, cinders and much more
• View the late stage rift between the two shield volcanoes – Waianae and Koolau
• Hike the world’s most recognised volcanic crater – Diamond Head
• Participants will receive certification of participation in curriculum linked professional learning referenced to the Australian Professional Standards for teachers

TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1

Depart Australia.  Arrive Honolulu airport early a.m. Transfer for your flight to Hilo, the Big Island. Meet your coach and driver/guide. Enjoy a unique experience at Umauma Falls (optional).Visit the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Centre and beautiful Coconut Beach. Spend the evening at Mauna Kea Observatory 

Day 2

Visit the Lava Tree State Monument on the way to see the lava at Kalapana – stand on ground as little as a day old. Explore the Hot Springs then see where lava enters the Pacific Ocean on a Lava Boat Tour  (an extra cost may apply depending on numbers)

Day 3

Visit to the world famous Hawaii Volcanoes National Park including the Kilauea Iki Trek, the Devastation Trail, Chain of Craters Road, the Jaggar Museum and much more

Day 4

Travel to Papakolea (Green Sand Beach) and Punalu’u (Black Sand Beach) with plenty of geology along the way including an analysis of the coast line

Day 5

Visit Waipio Valley, Kohala Volcano, Pololu Valley and Hawi. Explore Hulalai and see the lava tunnels, eruptive fissures and much more.  Enjoy a Luau Feast and show tonight at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

Day 6

This morning fly to Oahu. Visit the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre and hike the Diamond Head Trail this afternoon

Day 7

More time to explore Oahu including the Koko Crater Tramway walk and beautiful Hanumea Bay (perhaps for some snorkelling)

Day 8

Flight back to Australia

Day 9

Arrive home to Sydney, Australia.  Take your domestic flight back to your home city (own cost)

BIOGRAPHY OF YOUR EXPERT GUIDE – SUZY URBANIAK

 BSc (Hons) Geology  Dip.Ed Secondary  Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists

Winner of the 2016 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools

Suzy is the 2016 winner of the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology and a Dip Ed Secondary.

Suzy loves rocks and climbs volcanoes in her spare time. She has always been passionate and curious about the Earth, its wonders and how it works. Suzy graduated with honours from ANU in 1988 and started work as a geologist in the Great Sandy Desert, WA at the Telfer Gold Mine. She found some ‘ounces’ and thoroughly enjoyed the implementation of the scientific process to find new ore deposits. After a stint in Kalgoorlie, she then became a single mother to 3 boys and spent many years doing various, short term jobs to support her family.

Teaching science and promoting geoscience literacy became her career pathway from 2004. In her classes, students are scientists. They learn how to think, problem solve and create solutions to situations. Suzy’s motto is #therealclassroom and science is about ‘doing’ not passively completing work sheets or prescriptive science practicals. Her learning environment is analogous to an industry work situation and the students work collaboratively in a project based learning scenario.

Field trips are a significant component of her teaching-learning practices. Students are visual learners and it is through these experiences that they understand how theoretical science applies to real world context. It is through this process that she believes science learning is fun!

An advocate of trans-disciplinarian, STEAM based learning, Suzy ensures that her students are exposed to external events and programs so that they also develop their enterprising skills.

Suzy maintains her industry networks and is abreast of technological developments within industry.  Her role as Chair of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, WA Branch, helps promote this association.