opening classrooms through the australian curriculum

Opening Classrooms Throughthe Australian Curriculum

Arjen LentzChief Explorer

arjen (at) openstem (dot) com (dot) au

What, How, and Why

Opening Classrooms Through the Australian Curriculum © 2016 OpenSTEM Pty Ltd (openstem.com.au) CC-BY-SA 2

Science, Tech, Engineering, Maths

● Enabling students with hands-on projects– Most kids are very visual

– Many kids learn through tactile, kinaesthetic means

– Direct feedback

● Projects, not just an experience● Entire classes, no pre-selection

– Inclusive

– We also do extension programs

– ICP (Individual Curriculum Plan)


Some of the Stuff We Do

● Brewing Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic)● Digital Technologies

– Robotics

– Soldering

– Digital & Analog Electronics

– 3D printers & 3D printing

● History, Geography, Archaeology● Orienteering


Mirobot Logo Turtle


Mirobot chassis


Mirobot Electronics & Circuit Board


Electronics Soldering


Computational ThinkingProgramming


OpenSTEM Vision/Approach

“Any sufficiently advanced technologyis indistinguishable from magic”

● Explore Why and How things work– When you learn how a magician's trick works,

it's still cool…

● Broad exposure to different things● Implicit inoculation

– Against silly comments

● Off-line options – why


Open Tools – Practical Reasons

● Schools inevitably have limited budget● Enabling beyond school environment● Hardware: diverse sources for kits/components● Single vendor platforms hinder adding new stuff● Availability and practicality of spare parts


Concepts/Skills vs Products

● We must use brand/product X.● Why?● It's the industry standard!● So… did you train and acquire a license to

a) operate a “Holden Commodore 2008 Automatic”

b) drive a passenger vehicle

… what are the actual issues?


Digital Indulgence

● Tablets– are explicitly consumer devices

● Gear for every student– essential?

● Virtual reality– not the same as physical touch

● Web-based teaching resources– require good Internet connection & bandwidth

– more logins to keep track of


Curriculum Integration

● Teachers are busy– Mostly non-specialised in primary schools

– Suitable resources

– Professional Development

● New topics need attention– (political and media forces on focus)

● Assessment– Cross-curricular projects can be done

● Programming → Maths, Robotics → Science, Orienteering → HPE, 3D printers/printing → Maths + Science + Design Tech


Integrated History/Geography Program for Primary Schools

● Complete P-6 Program– Teacher handbooks with lesson plans

– Assessment guide

– Student workbooks & home research sheets

– Background resources

– Activities

– Optional workshops

● Professional Development● Support● Updates


Australian Curriculum (v8.0)Digital Technologies

● ACARA draft approved by minister late 2015– States/territories now to implement

● P-8 mandatory, elective in year 9-10● Programming from year 3-4, more in 5-6● We're developing P-6 program (term 2, 2016)


Questions?

Arjen LentzChief Explorer

arjen (at) openstem (dot) com (dot) au

opening classrooms through the australian curriculum

Education