STEAM News

Digital Literacy Program

From the 4th to the 8th of December, a group of girls from MGC went to Lauriston Girls School to participate in the Digital Literacy Program with Loreto and Lauriston. The week was full of planning, prototyping, designing and thinking. Everyone was put into groups and each group was given a client. Each client had an impairment and we, as a group, had to collaborate, communicate and think to make a prototype to help our client in their daily life. The week started off with each group attending different workshops at Lauriston that would benefit us during the week, each day we had different stages that we needed to achieve.

On Tuesday we attended more workshops at Melbourne Girls’ College and we started to come up with many different ideas. Wednesday and Thursday were the only two days that we could make our prototype, so each group had to collaborate and use their time wisely, so we could have something to present and a product that would help our client. Our group encountered many problems and together we had to “fail early, fail fast and fail forward” so that we could do the next step and improve. Many other groups came into different problems which they solved using the different resources from Lauriston and Melbourne Girls’ to help us get through the problems. As part of the project, it wasn’t just about making the prototype but also showing what we have learnt by creating a Prezi and poster of our steps and progress we have made during the whole week. In the Prezi we had to show each step of the way with photos and the making of our prototype and on our poster, we had to describe our challenges and what we have made and our ideas.

On the final day, which was Friday, each group had time to touch up their prototype and prepare for the exhibition. It was very busy with each group trying to make everything as best as they could, putting every effort in before the exhibition. In the end the exhibition was very successful, and Ms Money, Mr Houghton and other Melbourne Girls’ College teachers were very impressed and happy with our efforts and how we had collaborated with our group to create products in under a week that work and benefit someone else’s daily life. Overall the week was stressful for everyone, giving each day their full effort and using their skills to create amazing products. Everyone had fun and were proud of each other. Doing this project, we met new friends and most importantly had lots of fun. This was a great week for everyone and a great opportunity that we participated in.

By Tiffany Li 8B

A Great Year in STEAM

Thanks to everyone who has helped with the many STEAM events this year – we have entered many external competitions, attended conferences, hosted visitors from many schools, ran a busy lunch time program, introduced a new robotics elective, held our first STEAM camp, met astronauts, expanded our robotics family and sorted a mountain of Lego. We have also had a lot of laughter!

I want to especially thank Eleanor, Veronique, Claudia, Scarlet and Arabella for making STEAM such a priority, Anthony and the IT guys for always being there to help and the many, many teachers who have worked with us this year. Also to all the students who have visited and played this year – hope to see you back in 2018.

To infinity and beyond!