The professional development short courses for school science teachers have been an important science communication outreach effort by CPAS for the past eight years.

These short courses, known more popularly as 'Creative science teaching using simple materials', take the Questacon tradition into classrooms in Australia and internationally, through the use of simple, familiar and easily obtained materials.

The short courses give teachers the opportunity to experience creative science teaching through hands-on activities.

CPAS short courses for science teachers usually span a period of one or two days and mainly focus on teaching physics at secondary level. However, they also cater for specific curriculum topics and include elements of biology and chemistry for specialist teachers.