Catholic Education South Australia are supporting schools to increase the engagement, uptake and achievement of students in and across the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) through projects and school initiatives.
As part of the CESA STEM project, thirty two students (from Years 6 -8) and their teachers - representing eight CESA schools - participated in a day of STEM activities, facilitated by our UniSA School of Education partners at the Mawson Lakes campus.
Guest speaker, James Armstrong, Senior Manager Boeing Brisbane Technology Centre, kicked off the day reflecting on his education, university pathway and experience working with NASA - especially highlighting the important role of STEM studies within the collaborative cross-disciplinary nature of space exploration and research.
The full day program included a visit to the Planetarium for a Full Night Sky experience as well as workshops for students to participate in engaging STEM activities which focused on Propulsion and Pressure and Rockets and Flight.
The afternoon session was spent designing, engineering and testing water rockets! The students worked across school teams and year levels to collaborate, critically problem solve and communicate the science and design principals associated with creating a water rocket to launch in windy conditions. Each team tested their prototypes twice with huge success - all rockets launched!
The day highlighted the importance of collaborative teamwork and critical thinking in STEM problem solving. New friendships and networks were formed that further support and promote the importance of a science, maths, technology and engineering education for students now, and into their future.
This is no ordinary art exhibition. Traces of Us showcases the work of students from Our Lady of La Vang, a specialist educational facility for students with intellectual disability.
