STEAM

STEAM is the integrated teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. It is currently at the forefront of educational practice across secondary education, university and TAFE sectors in conjunction with Industry leaders such as Westpac, BAE Systems and Johnson and Johnson. Labour force data collected between 2013 and 2018 shows that STEM related occupations have grown by 16.5% which is 1.6 times higher than the growth rate of non-STEM based jobs. (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2018). 

The Year 8 STEAM program aims to develop innovative mindsets, creators of technology and tomorrow’s engineers and designers. Students are currently developing their collaboration, communication and Grit (ability to persevere with challenge tasks) skills, through a series of challenges that form the Makerspace unit. They are also formatively assessed on these skills and receive a level of mastery based on their participation in each Challenge.

Students have worked in collaborative learning teams consisting of approximately three students. Each student is placed in a role such as Project Manager, Engineer and Mathematician. Students navigate the design process: Emphasise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test and Evaluate to create the fastest and lightest water vessels, design a paper plate marble maze and paper plate roller coasters. They are given variables and time constraints for each build. 

Mrs Courtney Freebody | Leader of Learning - Digital Technology and STEM