Each year National Science Week is an important celebration on the calendar of schools, universities and all kinds of science-tech related organisations. This year it is on from the 15th to 23rd of August; it will be a little different because of COVID19 restrictions, with many online events, virtual tours and stay-at-home STEM experiences planned instead.

A small team of educators in the School of International Studies and Education invite you to join them for ‘What is new in STEM and STEAM in K-6 Schools?’ STEMinar from 5-6 pm on the 19th August – register online here.

This event is teacher-identified professional development and will feature:

One of the challenges for integrated STEM in preservice teacher education is that conventionally, subjects in our degrees align with the Key Learning Areas in the NSW syllabus. With no STEM syllabus per se, subject delivery can be siloed. And, that’s a challenge we seek to address, and we’re looking forward to sparking more discussion about the issue.

Dr Kimberley Pressick-Kilborn
  • Dr Jane Hunter will share some of what she learned from research with teachers in 14 public schools about integrated STEM learning in practice using a pedagogical framework.
  • Melissa Silk, PhD candidate at UTS, and her fabulous STEAMpop work who will provoke us with her innovative ideas on STEAM as the future for STEM.

The ride into STEM promotion begins when we open our children’s eyes to the possibilities of integrated STEM. Often, the gateway to this path can be found in the Arts. STEAM aims to reconcile the problem of siloed approaches to learning in STEM.

Melissa Silk
  • Three local primary school teachers – Trish Ryan, Esra Smerdon and Lindsay Bosch – will also incite participants to think differently about STEM and STEAM in the classroom.

There will be opportunities for participants to share their practice and the STEMinar will close with some new thinking about Engineering in primary schools, an inquiry template plus some terrific books that might create different kinds of STEM projects and STEAM challenges for students. Can’t wait to see you online in the middle of National Science Week 2020 – don’t miss it!

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