Ecolinc is offering a full day Professional Learning Program called "Hands on STEM" for Primary Teachers on Tuesday 13th March 2018 for Government Schools and Wednesday 14th March 2018 for Non-Government Schools. The keynote speaker is Dr Kathy Smith, Senior Lecturer on STEM Education at Monash University. The aim of the professional learning day is to provide teachers with curriculum resources, activities and rigorous, real world, age-appropriate "hands on"; learning experiences that will engage, challenge and excite students about STEM. The emphasis will be on professional sharing, showcasing good practice and networking.

Cost: Government Schools – Free, Non-Government School: $90.00 per participant

"Hands on STEM" Professional Learning Program

Tuesday 13th March (Government Schools)

Wednesday 14th March (Non-Government Schools)

Program:

Workshops:

Workshop 1:

1A Finding design in ScienceAngela Gigliotti, Primary Connections

Experience an example of integrating a design technology focus into an existing Primary Connections unit. Participate in a hand-on design challenge, identify how a design brief may be embedded into an existing unit, and experience an example of an assessment strategy. Audience: F-4

1BFoundation – 2 CodingSally Ericksen, Coder Academy

This session will look at introducing computational thinking in K-2 by getting hands on with Bee Bots, Cubetto, Osmo, Lego WeDo. CS Unplugged activities will also be discussed for integration.

1CUsing Augmented and VR in the classroomKatrina Don Paul & Andrew Nicholls, STILE Education

We're all about exploiting the best of technology to use in the classroom. Come along to this hands-on workshop and learn about how to integrate some great virtual and augmented reality resources in your STEM classroom. Audience: Grade 3-5 Teachers.

1D Good Practice Workshop: The Blue DevilsGeorgina Green, Skipton Primary School

Learn about how Grade 3-6 girls at Skipton Primary School are developing their STEM skills and contributing to the preservation of rare indigenous plants. The students are conducting a three-year funded research project researching, identifying, locating and tagging Spiny Pimeleas in the Skipton Common. As well the girls are building an augmented reality website that allows visitors to The Common to scan 3-D printed QR codes to learn more about the plants.

Workshop 2:

2A STEM in ActionAngela Gigliotti, Primary Connections

Embed a Design Brief and link STEM learning to Science Inquiry Skills and the General Capabilities. Construct a simple electrical circuit and experience a design challenge, in the context of electricity, that can be used with students to foster STEM learning. Participants will explore a tool for planning and evaluating a product that is created in response to a design brief. Audience: Year 3-6.

2B Year 3-6 Coding Sally Ericksen, Coder Academy

This session will look at teaching computational thinking and systems thinking in Yrs 3-6 using Scratch and robotics that can be visually programmed using block coding e.g. Sphero & Cozmo.

2C Citizen Science & Simple Pracs Katrina Don Paul & Andrew Nicholls, STILE Education

How can students be part of the wider science community? Citizen science! Learn about some of the hands-on science that you and your students can do to contribute to wider science projects. Audience: Grade 3-5 Teachers.

2D Good Practice Workshop 2: Mini GolfEmma Castelow, Fyans Park Primary School

In this session, learn how mini golf has been successfully implemented as a STEM unit in a primary setting. Participants will understand how this unit links to the Victorian Curriculum, be given tips and tricks for implementing mini golf in your own setting, begin designing your own mini golf course as well as play a hole or two using our transportable mini golf courses. Grade 3-6 Teachers.

Workshop 3:

3A STEM in ActionAngela Gigiotti, Primary Connections

Embed a Design Brief and link STEM learning to Science Inquiry Skills and the General Capabilities. Construct a simple electrical circuit and experience a design challenge, in the context of electricity, that can be used with students to foster STEM learning. Participants will explore a tool for planning and evaluating a product that is created in response to a design brief. Audience: Year 3-6.

3B Design thinking & makingSally Ericksen, Coder Academy

This session will look at how Littlebits can be used to teach design thinking and systems thinking, encourage creativity and collaboration across K-6. This session focuses upon applied constructivist 'makerspace' as a pedagogical practice, contextualised within TPACK model, integrating technology, content & pedagogy.

Other pedagogical approaches are discussed and considered alongside an overview of design and system thinking. Participants prompted through three scaffolded challenges using 'littlebits' resources, craft and lego.

3C Good Practice Workshop 3: Robot Racing ChariotJason Calnin, Fyans Park Primary School

In this session, learn how Sphero racing chariots have been successfully implemented as a STEM unit in a primary setting. Participants will understand how this unit links to the Year 3 - 6 Victorian Curriculum, be given tips and tricks for implementing this in your own setting. Teams will then design and produce their own robot racing chariot to compete against fellow teacher participants.

3D Simple Student ExperimentsBob Hartmann & Colleen Filippa, Ecolinc

In this session, participants will learn and engage in some simple science experiments you can use with your class that use everyday, easy to access materials. Audience: Year 3-6.