STEM

In the first article in a three-part series on virtual reality in education, Dr Susan O’Donnell and Adrian Rayner explain how virtual reality has been used in many industries and commercial products over decades, why using it comes so naturally to 21st Century learners, and why virtual reality represents exciting learning possibilities for students and teachers alike.

‘An important factor in improving enrolments in STEM is ensuring the development of positive attitudes towards mathematics and science.’ In her new column for Teacher, Dr Sue Thomson discusses the results of the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), students’ general attitudes to mathematics and science, and their aspirations post-school.

Registrations are now open for this year’s Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. Students are encouraged to design creative, engaging and imaginative video games incorporating the 2021 theme, ‘scale’.

A report from Education Services Australia has outlined a range of strategies for creating a gender inclusive STEM learning environment. In this video, we outline some of the recommendations on creating a gender-neutral learning environment.

Staff at Bowen Road Primary School have been working with a local electrical engineer for a few years now to teach students about coding. In this podcast, we speak with educator Lynne Hanlon and electrical engineer Robbie Bell about how the partnership is broadening students’ understanding of careers in STEM.

Staff at Cedar College in South Australia are determined to improve the proportion of female students choosing to study Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering (STEM) subjects in senior high school. Here, we speak with Digital Technologies and Maths teacher Trudi Wynn about the strategies they’ve employed to entice more girls to consider studying STEM.

The winners of the annual Prime Minister’s Prizes for Excellence in Science Teaching in primary and secondary schools have been announced. Darren Hamley from Willetton Senior High School in Western Australia and Sarah Fletcher from Bonython Primary School in the ACT were awarded with the prizes, and they both join us in today’s episode.

We’ve collected the details of significant themes and events which might help inspire some of your upcoming lessons for 2021. Here, find out about STEM and literacy events that are scheduled, as well as themes of global significance which you might find relevant.

What should Australian schools and teachers focus on in order to improve students’ general understanding of mathematics and science? In her final Teacher column of the year, Dr Sue Thomson explores newly released TIMSS 2019 data to highlight some of the strengths and weaknesses of Australian students at the national level.

Australian students have performed significantly better in the latest cycle of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in Year 8 mathematics and Year 4 and Year 8 science – but not in Year 4 mathematics – than they did in 2015. Here, we take a closer look at the results.