Overview of CEWA STEM Trial
The CEWA STEM trial was initiated to increase the capacity of CEWA teachers’ STEM knowledge and pedagogy. It was facilitated through a school and community based project which fostered student centred learning. The trial offered professional learning and support to educators and, upon completion, the opportunity to showcase improved learning outcomes for students as well as teachers own professional growth.
The CEWA STEM Trial was established to deliver a range of innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) resources the enact the Bishop’s Mandate and the Western Australian Curriculum, including the General Capabilities.
Members of Catholic School communities promote a Gospel vision of society in order to critique social attitudes and values, practices and trends in social, commercial, political and legal structures (Mandate, 14).
Webinars were offered as a stimulus for considering what STEM initiatives might look like and feel like in practice. The aim of these webinars was to up-skill CEWA teachers in STEM knowledge and pedagogy, and promote the interdependence of these disciplines, whilst upholding the objectivity of each.
The STEM approach to teaching and learning engages students in a collaborative manner, where they can work together to solve an open ended, pre-defined problem in a real world context. In this case, the problem was based around the theme of Our Community and teachers were given guidance when creating their big question.
At the conclusion of the trial, CEWA schools who participated were invited to present their learning at the showcase event. This event will celebrate both student and teacher achievements and will be held on Tuesday, 16th October.
The CEWA STEM Trial was established to deliver a range of innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) resources the enact the Bishop’s Mandate and the Western Australian Curriculum, including the General Capabilities.
Members of Catholic School communities promote a Gospel vision of society in order to critique social attitudes and values, practices and trends in social, commercial, political and legal structures (Mandate, 14).
Webinars were offered as a stimulus for considering what STEM initiatives might look like and feel like in practice. The aim of these webinars was to up-skill CEWA teachers in STEM knowledge and pedagogy, and promote the interdependence of these disciplines, whilst upholding the objectivity of each.
The STEM approach to teaching and learning engages students in a collaborative manner, where they can work together to solve an open ended, pre-defined problem in a real world context. In this case, the problem was based around the theme of Our Community and teachers were given guidance when creating their big question.
At the conclusion of the trial, CEWA schools who participated were invited to present their learning at the showcase event. This event will celebrate both student and teacher achievements and will be held on Tuesday, 16th October.
Structure of CEWA STEM Trial
Webinars SessionsWebinar One
STEM Fundamentals Knowledge and Understanding of STEM Protocols and Processes. Webinar Two STEM in PBL (Problem Based Learning) Inquiry and PBL learning skills appropriate to STEM practice. Webinar Three STEM Pedagogy Principles of learning and integrating STEM education pedagogies. Webinar Four STEM Unpacked Knowledge and understanding of Scientific and Mechanical Concepts through investigations of technology and engineering. Webinar Five Assessment and Digital Tools of STEM Skills in assessing, communicating and critically evaluating student work and digital resources. |
Café SessionsCafé sessions were held on the weeks between webinars. These were hosted at schools involved in the trial and were open to all teachers, whether involved in the trial or not.
The STEM Consultants worked with leaders at each of these schools to structure an informal professional learning session with networking opportunities embedded into the tasks. Both webinars and café sessions were opt-in. Webinars were recorded and uploaded onto Stream so that teachers could watch them at a later date or refer back to them when planning their tasks. The Innovation ProcessThe Innovation Process was shared with participants as a possible model to work with. This is the model used by Scitech in their Tinkering Space.
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