The STEM X Academy is a five-day residential teacher professional learning program open to Australian teachers across all sectors and levels of experience. Held in Canberra during the first week of January, the STEM X Academy is a partnership between the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), Questacon and CSIRO.
It doesn’t matter if you have been in the classroom one year or twenty, if you come from a rural/remote area or an urban area – STEM X does something else no other program does. Rather than providing you with a package of resources to use in the classroom, STEM X helps you to acquire the skills and confidence to design, develop and implement your own STEM-based teaching resources.
The main focus of the program is the development of hands-on, enquiry-based lessons and activities using available materials, and adapting activities using methods to suit your classroom. Science in the 21st century does not work in isolation and STEM X believes neither should teachers. As scientific inquiry becomes more collaborative, multidisciplinary, and engaged with pressing real-world challenges, STEM X helps teachers to connect their classrooms both to this broader framework of research activities and to each other. The outcome is a dynamic network that is sharing ideas, resources, experience, encouragement and engagement with innovative teaching tools that are relevant to the world of science today.
Teachers walk away with confidence, enthusiasm and ability to create high-quality classroom activities that tap new ideas in STEM, along with membership to an innovative community that can now more properly extend from research laboratories to the science classrooms of primary and secondary schools across Australia.
Successful applicants will be asked to make a one-off contribution of $600 ex GST towards covering flights, accommodation, meals and transport. A number of STEM X Academy scholarships are also available, thanks to the generous support from a range of sponsors and partners.
The highly appreciative feedback from participating teachers in 2016 reinforces the strength of the program: “STEM X has filled lots of gaps with up-to-date information on a range of science topics that as a primary teacher I don’t have in my background,” said Sandra Davey, of Graceville State School Queensland. “STEM X changes you as a teacher and puts you in touch with people who can help you throughout your teaching career,” stated Rosemary Anderson of New Norfolk High, Tasmania.
Applications for the 2020 STEM X Academy Residential Program closed on 12 September.
For further information about the STEM X Academy please click HERE
Keen to hear how some of the STEM X participants described their STEM X experience? Check out the video below…
STEM X Master Class
Background
In January 2020 ASTA will be piloting a new STEM X program, developed in partnership with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS).
This new program, called the STEM X Master Class is a five-day residential teacher professional learning program open to Australian secondary science teachers. The program provides teachers with direct access to EQUS researchers who are engineering the quantum future.
The main focus of the program is to develop a stronger understanding of quantum science and how it relates to the physical and chemical sciences curriculum. The fundamentals of quantum science will be of great benefit to high school teachers; however, the program will be targeting senior level concepts.
The STEM X Master Class is the first professional learning program of its kind that will provide secondary teachers with an immersive learning experience in quantum science.
Learning Outcomes
This unique program is designed to help teachers to take the necessary steps of becoming quantum-literate. The experts will strengthen your conceptual understanding of senior level physics and chemistry, particularly how it relates to quantum science. Teachers will be provided with the tools and practical experiences to demonstrate how these technologies have potential uses and practical applications in a range of fields.
The STEM X Master Class will develop your content knowledge in science within an emerging field that is extremely relevant and engaging for students.
Teachers will develop hands-on, practical lessons and activities for the classroom that will leverage students to be prepared for the future of quantum science and its many applications. Science in the 21st century does not work in isolation and STEM X believes neither should teachers.
Details
Date: 5-10 January 2020 (runs concurrently with the STEM X Academy but is a distinct, separate program)
Where: Australian National University, Canberra
Suitable for: Secondary science teachers
Cost: $500 ex GST
Accommodation: $410. This is available, if required, at Bruce Hall, ANU, a brand new student residence and includes daily full breakfast.
Transport: Flights to be arranged and paid for by each delegate.
Applications now open and will close at 11.59 pm 25 October.
Download flyer below for more information:
Our Partners
The Australian Science Teachers Association acknowledges the First Nations peoples of Australia as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and future and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.