Introducing our PLD
The Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao offers a range of opportunities to support teachers’ science teaching and increase their own science knowledge and understanding. These include the resources and articles published in the Teacher Professional Learning and Development (PLD) section. You'll find information from webinars, and about planning and pedagogy. Other opportunities are outlined below.
We advertise upcoming webinars under the Professional development filter in our Events section and in the Education Gazette. To be alerted to upcoming sessions or find out about other new content, subscribe to our monthly newsletter (see the bottom of each web page to subscribe or update your Profile). Keep an eye on the notification bell on our website (top right-hand corner) to see alerts on upcoming PLD. We also regularly promote upcoming events via our social media channels, such as our Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram pages.
We have a very helpful video about our PLD content and support in the How the Hub can help article here. Our webinar Science support at your fingertips gives you an overview of our site's capabilities. Our recorded webinar What does the Hub look like in the classroom? demonstrates what it looks like to plan using the Hub and how you might adapt resources for your students.
Poutama pattern
The poutama pattern can represent learning.
Webinars
We host a large number of webinars that have been recorded, edited and uploaded as webinar articles. These can be viewed online or downloaded. The live webinars are generally held on Thursday afternoons from 4.00–4.45 pm. The published articles also usually include a downloadable slideshow and related links. The Science Learning Hub produces about 8 of these each year, and they cover a wide variety of topics ranging from contextually based sessions to those designed to support teachers in planning and pedagogy.
Well done! So glad I was a participant today – resource rich, fun, totally engaging and relevant. Ka mau te wehi korua.
To run the live webinars, we use Teams. Teams is a web-conferencing tool being used by a number of other organisations. In 2025 we changed from Zoom to Teams, but our registration process is the same as before and you will be emailed with a link to the webinar so you can join us on the day.
Information about our webinars are also shared through our social media channels, newsletters and on our website.
In our Teacher PLD section, use the PLD type – Webinars filter to see all our recorded webinars.
Upcoming PLD webinars and opportunities
We have now finished our 2025 season of webinars – but watch this space for information on our PLD webinars lined up for 2026.
If there is anything you would like, we'd love to hear from you, please email us: enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.
Using Teams to join the webinar
Follow these simple steps to join our webinar on Teams:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android by clicking on the Teams link that we will send to all those who register just prior to the webinar, then follow the instructions.
Find the chat box located in the toolbar.
Using the chat box, introduce yourself, where you teach and, if you are in a group, how many people are there.
Set up your screen for optimal viewing. If you are using a mobile device, you may wish to view in landscape. You can select full screen under View>More options.
Then you can:
watch, listen and respond via chat to the presentation and discussion
ask questions using the chat box at any time
The Science Learning Hub team will be there to support you and answer questions or you can email us.
Planning
Many of these articles have been written specifically to support teachers in planning science programmes and activities. Some of these are based on specific science topics, and others are more generic. The resources offered here include planning pathways, unit plans and contextual support materials. These can be used as is or downloaded and modified to suit specific needs. Some of the webinars are also designed to support planning.
In our Teacher PLD section, use the PLD type – Planning filter to see all our Planning content.
Pedagogy
The Science Learning Hub offers a range of articles written to support teachers in effective science pedagogy. These resources include case studies of different approaches taken to science teaching, aspects of curriculum implementation, science capabilities and the nature of science. As with the resources to support planning, some are embedded within a particular context, and others are more generic. Some of the webinars also offer pedagogical support.
In our Teacher PLD section, use the PLD type – Pedagogy filter to see all our pedagogy content.
Collections tool
The collections tool helps you sort and classify resources when you are signed in. It has been developed to help you with your science planning and teaching. You can save, sort, classify and annotate resources. Students can also use the collections tool for class tasks such as research or as a study tool. PLD providers or school leaders can use it to provide support and ideas for others. You can access your personal collections from your profile page.
Use the ‘Add to collection’ button on individual resources to begin a new collection or add to an existing collection.
Within a collection, use the notes function to add comments to resources, including public or private notes. These can be used for creating a lesson plan, notes for extension ideas or prompts for students.
Your collections are private, but you can create a shareable link – just copy and share the public URL. If you receive a shareable collections link, click the copy icon to make it part of your private collection. You can now rename it, make changes and/or add extra notes. You can also collaborate with others by inviting them to your collection. Our Creating collections article has more tips on making the most of the collections tool, including a how-to video.
The Science Learning Hub team has created some collections for you to use – you will find them within the related content boxes on some of our resources.– some examples are The periodic table of elements, Climate change and Takahē – science capabilities. There's a full list in the Creating collections article.
If you need more help navigating through your collections, please just ask the team – enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.
Curated resource collections on Pinterest
In Pinterest, we have curated collections of resources that have been compiled to support a context or theme, such as the topic of a webinar or a current event, for example, Conservation Week or Seaweek.
Curation of media articles
The Science Learning Hub uses social media platforms like Pinterest to curate content specific to the needs of educators. Here, we set up a board to collect media articles around the Rocket Lab Electron rocket test in 2017 for a class at Napier Central School.
Social media
The Hub has an active presence across Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. These social media platforms allow us to interact with and support Hub users by facilitating closer connections between scientists and educators. They are also key in promoting other relevant resources, connections and conversations in the science/technology education and communication space. You can also find us on Pinterest.
Following us is a great way to make connections between topical events and Hub resources and for keeping up to date with upcoming events and new content. Find out more on how we can help you here.
Primary teachers' help
Use our filters to find content specifically suitable for primary teachers within our topic and concept collections, search or locate our primary level PLD resources in this helpful article.
Strengthening science learning highlights common themes from Te Tari Arotake Mātauranga Education Review Office 2021 science reports and suggests resources to support effective science teaching and learning.
