Science
STELR In2Science Program
Mr Kuruc, Mr Blattman, Ms Vrettos and Ms Love all have the In2Science program with Monash University happening weekly for the next 10 weeks within our classes.
This program involves a bringing onboard a trained mentor from Monash University to work with our students. Mentors are current undergraduates who volunteer their time to work with students to actively share their journey and promote all things science.
To give you a snapshot, my Year 8 Accelerated Science class has a lovely young lady by the name of Elly Walters - she currently studies Microbiology at Monash University and is a 2nd Year student. Due to COVID-19 she has been forced to do her studies remotely - interestingly she lives in Adelaide yet attends classes online from Monash Clayton (*around the corner from us).
Elly has shared wonderful aspects of her coursework with our class and has engaged a group of highly enthusiastic students to participate in a project whereby she allows students to co-learn with her the content she is currently studying. This opportunity extends our high ability students by giving them insights into University life, course material and the expectations/demands of tertiary life.
I look forward to sharing more about how this project pans out... currently students have looked over the topics that Elly has shared and are deciding a course to follow as we speak.
On another topic, 20 of our Accelerated year 7 Science students today will participate in a Webinar to learn and talk to some amazing engineers about their journey and successes. I have copied the blurb to the event below.
A Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series event for high-ability students in Years 5-12.
STELR is offering an exciting opportunity for Gifted and Talented students at your school to meet and be inspired by young, award-winning scientists and engineers from Victoria.
This unique opportunity is being delivered under the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, through which STELR is hosting a series of online Science and Technology Role Model Program events.
The first events in this program is being held online, September 3 from 10 am to 12 noon with Professor Madhu Bhaskaran and Associate Professor Matthew Hill.
Madhu and Matt will be engaging with students and talking about their work, such as how they themselves got to this point in their career, and the career options and choices available for students to pursue a career in engineering.
*here is the link if anyone would like to know more
After accessing the link and sharing this with my class - we had an 80% uptake of participants.
A big thank-you goes to Elly Walters and the other mentors from the In2Science program for volunteering.
Steve Kuruc
Head of Learning: Science/Mathematics/Technology
STELR Conference Stories from our students
I enjoyed the talks from the engineers, Matthew and Madhu. We got to ask questions and we got good answers, and while I don't really want to pursue a lot of things in STEM (I mainly like math and I'm incredibly interested in quantum physics), I still may want to in the future. One thing that surprised me was how both of the people speaking never thought they would ever be in the field they're in now. STEM was also surprisingly flexible in what the scientists did, as one thing they design can get noticed by people and used in ways that weren't thought of when built e.g. a flexible material that can be used to detect the health of people wearing it was noticed by mattress companies for aged-care homes.
George Shaddick
Year 7
I really enjoyed the Webinar this morning, and I was grateful that I could get an opportunity like that. I learnt lots about what type of inventions and technology will be coming out in the future, and how important and life-changing it can be. The Webinar really made me think about becoming an engineer, and I hope to learn more about the topic in the future.
Antonios Rentzis
Year 7
I found that the STELR meeting really showed me that there are so many branches to engineering that you can go down and they are all so different from each other in what they do so that you can find a type of engineering that suits what you like. I found that all of the different projects that they do help so many different people around the world. They also said that you don't have to be the absolute best at what you do, as long as you love what you do, you will try hard to do it and will succeed. They said about how they like diverse teams because when you have different beliefs you will disagree with other people’s ideas and that way the whole team can see your way and move forward better.
Alicia Robinson
Year 7
I really enjoyed the webinar: I was very intrigued by the wearable tech and MOF. The webinar was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was happy that there was a female scientist because it was good to see some gender and race diversity between scientists. I hope more opportunities like this come up again.
Isavella Dimopoulos
Year 7
In2Science Update
Last week, Elly Walters (our Mentor from Monash University) trialled a Tertiary Level program aimed at giving Accelerated Year 8 Science students an opportunity to co-learn her curriculum around Developmental Cell Biology.
Our students did an admirable job of keeping pace with Elly. The shared coursework certainly pushed students to their limits and beyond. Upon reflection and open discussion, students gave insightful feedback and provided agency about how best to use Elly’s skills next term.
A big thank you goes out to Elly Walters and the other Mentors from the In2Science program for volunteering.
Steve Kuruc
Head of Learning: Science/Mathematics/Technology
Victorian High Ability Program
It is with pleasure that I announce 11 of our Year 7’s students have been chosen to participate in the Victorian High Ability Program.
This program focuses on tasks that stimulate students’ critical thinking, problem solving and creativity – enriching their understanding of English and Mathematics.
Students will participate in specially prepared classes next term via the Virtual Schools Victorian Portal.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
Only students who have been selected by the Department of Education and Training are able to participate in the program.
As part of the selection process, the Department has analysed student achievement data to assess readiness for participation. Selected students will only be offered a place in up to one course each term.
Students may also be invited to participate across multiple years if they are deemed eligible.
Four further selection opportunities will commence in 2021.
THE PROGRAM
Students will participate in one virtual class per week over a 10-week period. Students will also engage with learning materials using the web based, Learning Management System, Virtual School Victoria Online. Teachers who have been specifically trained for this role will run classes each week, engaging students through a range of virtual strategies using Cisco WebEx. Teachers will also engage with students via forums, quizzes and blogs at Virtual School Victoria Online.
I am looking forward to inviting more students into this fabulous enrichment program next year.
Steve Kuruc
Head of Learning: Science/Mathematics/Technology