STEAM News

There have been lots of exciting things happening in STEAM this term. We have begun our training for the FIRST Lego League competition, had many students involved in other STEAM competitions and events and seeing some really interesting projects happening in classes. In the picture above, some of our Year 10 Digital Worlds students are using python coding to create their own structures in Minecraft.

Car Sales and Python Coding

The wonderful people from CarSales are coming back on the 7th of September for another Python coding session. There are still a few spots left if you are interested. Email Mrs Keen if you want to join us.

Go Girl, Go for IT at Deakin

Zack Pretlove and Anthony Keen escorted over 30 students to Deakin’s bi-annual event, Go Girl, Go for IT. Students are given the opportunity to engage with industry leaders who showcase careers in the field of IT. The event is run by the Victorian ICT for Women network. Secondary School Girls from across Victoria were able to hear about the incredible range of vocational avenues that are available in IT.

Go Girl, Go for IT aims to excite and engage female secondary school students by introducing them to the vast range of global, lucrative and varied career options in IT. The event focuses on inspiring students with fantastic role model speakers, showcasing technology of the future and challenging their preconceptions of a career in IT. There will be access to a wealth of information that will assist students in making informed decisions about a career in IT.

Girl Power in STEM Camp, by Sam Kintanar

During the school holidays, I was part of the Girl Power in STEM Camp run by Melbourne University. I spent three and a half days learning what it takes to have a career in engineering, what dorm life is like (hint: it’s pretty lit) and most importantly, getting to know 29 other like-minded girls in my year level!

I arrived at the Trinity College Campus on the afternoon of Sunday 8 July. After a quick briefing from 3 female Melbourne Uni staff on why the world needs more female engineers, I got to know the other girls in my group through a game of bingo. While the parents munched on some complimentary scones and fruits, I learnt a lot about the hobbies of the girls I met and even figured out who my dorm buddy was. The rest of the evening was spent tucking into a great meal at the Dining Hall before participating in an intense Trivia Night.

On Monday, we spent most of the day at the Melbourne Uni campus. With an Engineering School student as our tour guide, we spent most of the morning having a look at the state-of-the-art buildings and laboratories that can be found in the different parts of the campus. My favourite equipment would have to be the large-scale testing equipment in the Civil Engineering lab Additionally, we found an underground carpark that has been featured in several movies and a cosy creperie. Then we explored mechanical and software engineering through three separate workshops. From these workshops I learnt how engineering students can apply their skills overseas through volunteer work. I also had a fun - yet stressful - time in my group trying to diffuse a virtual bomb during our Virtual Reality workshop! The busy day ended with (another) exquisite dinner as well as a screening of Hidden Figures.

Tuesday saw the 30 of us spend another day at the Melbourne Uni campus. On this day our workshops focused on environmental, chemical and software engineering. A lecturer at Melbourne Uni told us about her experience living in Antarctica for several months through her career in chemical engineering. Finally, our day concluded with a catered dinner at The Gateway on Trinity and an extremely insightful Q&A evening with 5 female engineers.

Before we knew it, it was Wednesday! On our last morning at Melbourne Uni, we spent roughly an hour learning about electrical engineering by being taught how to use a basic Arduino kit that we were given for free. Lastly, we spent lunch with the MUR Racing Team. We were given a tour of space where they build their racing car and I had a go at trying out the racing simulators the MUR drivers use when training! Then after that, it was time to say goodbye to the friends I had made over such a short time.

I highly recommend applying for this program if you are a Year 8 student and have an interest in STEM. I feel that after this camp I’m more interested in pursuing a career in engineering now. If I learnt one thing, it’s that you shouldn’t believe any stereotypes about female engineers, because they simply aren’t true. If engineering is your passion, then please apply, because this 4 year program will open your eyes to the possibilities ahead.

First Lego League

Preparations for this year’s Lego League Competition is well underway. This year’s topic is “Into Orbit” and our two teams are constructing their Lego robots and preparing their projects in time for the regional finals. Due to overwhelming popularity in Victoria, MGC has become a regional centre for the event and the College will be hosting up to 20 teams in November before the state finals.

Mic Lowne will be our head referee on the day and we are very lucky to have such a passionate supporter of the First Lego League to be helping us. His experience and legendary status of all things Lego is very well known, and his participation is very much appreciated!

Volunteers will also be helping run the robot game, helping with the judging of the projects and robot design.

It’s a great day and I encourage anyone interested to attend at MGC’s library on the 10th of November.

Finally, big thanks to Dr Therese Keane at Swinburne University for bringing MGC together with other members of the First Lego family.

Year 8 DigiTech Bootcamp

At the end of Term 4, the Year 8s will be participating in our first Digital Technologies Bootcamp. For 10 days, Year 8 students will be engaging in a range of IT activities including Coding and Entrepreneurship. Details to be finalised but the program will reflect the new Digital Technologies Curriculum.