EDUtech 2026 took place over 2 days in Sydney this June, bringing together teachers, school leaders and EdTech providers from across K-12, higher education and the vocational sectors.
Across the event, delegates heard from a diverse line-up of national and international speakers, took place in hands-on workshops and spent time on the exhibition floor hearing about the latest in technology innovation. They were also invited to visit the busy Show and Tell area showcasing new ideas and practices.
The Teacher team were there on the ground and caught the popular Australian STEM Video Game Challenge presentation hosted by Lisa van Beeck, ACER Research Fellow and Project Director for the challenge.
In her presentation, which we recorded exclusively for Teacher readers in full, van Beeck walked delegates through the challenge itself and highlighted the suite of teacher resources designed to support it. She also shared the research driving the initiative, explaining that international data, such as findings from PISA 2022, point to the need for stronger support in helping students apply their reading, mathematics and science knowledge to real-world problems.
‘It’s data like this that makes ACER run our challenge, because we want to help provide solutions to these problems,’ van Beeck says.
Importantly, she emphasised the power of engaging students through creativity and fun.
‘The aim of the challenge is to engage students in STEM subjects, enable them to solve real-world problems and empower them to choose STEM careers – the careers of the future.’
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In your school context, do students have opportunities to participate in authentic STEM learning activities, such as challenges and competitions? What impact does this have on their engagement in your STEM lessons?
It’s not too late to sign up for the 2026 Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. Team registrations close on Friday 7 August, 2026. Visit the website for more information on how to register and access the teacher and student resources.
