Education STEMing from outside the classroom
As part of World Science Festival Brisbane’s 2023 smorgasbord of school programs, STEM Punks are getting students out of the classroom and logging into Minecraft to take them on a journey of STEM discovery.
Giving students the opportunity to learn outside the classroom has become a core part of schooling. Traditionally this could mean taking students to sit outdoors, going on a class excursion, or playing interstate sport.
But no matter what shape or form it takes, students respond well when their learning is re-contextualised. Teachers find that outdoor learning builds knowledge, extends critical-thinking skills, encourages friendships and collaborative work, and (most importantly) it’s fun!
World Science Festival Brisbane is proud to create engaging experiences for students of all ages. Our industry leading School Program, held from Wednesday 22 to Friday 24 March 2023, is grounded in national curriculum and supports a culture of lifelong learning.
The program delivers timely, informative and affordable learning opportunities for prep, primary and secondary students to engage with STEM outside the formal classroom environment. One of our most popular programming elements for students and teachers alike comes from multi-award winning digital education entrepreneurs, STEM Punks.
STEM Punks
From their humble beginnings in a Samford garage, STEM Punks recognised this and felt there is always a need to inspire tomorrow’s innovators and assist teachers in delivering methods that foster long-term change in how teaching and learning is approached.
That’s where Innovation Sports comes in, a Project Based Learning program STEM Punks have been running for over two years. Innovation Sports isone of the many programs for students running at World Science Festival Brisbane in 2023.
Across two sessions from 22-23 March 2023, students from Years 4-9 will combine Design Thinking, Art, and STEM problem solving in a unique eSports competitive environment to build teamwork, communication, and innovation skills, all the while providing students an arena to showcase their abilities.
Judged on four criteria – Viability, Creativity, Resilience, and Minecraft technical skills – Innovation Sports allows students to participate in a project they’re interested in, conceptualise 3D plans, form a new club within school, and bridges the gap between traditional learning to relatable real-world problems.
From successes and failures, and adapting quickly at a pace they’re comfortable with, students are learning new STEM tools – outside the classroom AND for the joy of it!
Don’t worry teachers, there’s something in it for you too
On 23 March 2023, STEM Punks are giving back to teachers and World Science Festival Brisbane, offering a professional development session tailored to STEM integration. The event covers how teachers can use STEM tools like those in Innovation Sports and their link to the Australian Curriculum.
The teacher PD is an exciting opportunity for teachers from all year levels and at difference stages of their careers – whether that’s beginning teachers looking for a head start, or experienced educators.
With the current generation of students growing up digitised since birth, it’s important teachers aren’t intimidated to use students’ technological skills and interests to empower their learning and encourage the inquisitive nature we’re all born with!
STEM Punks’ credentials include a long list of awards and achievements from Australia and beyond. They recently won Most Innovative Company of the Year at the Stevie Awards in Las Vegas and were also named one of the 100 most impactful and scalable education innovations in the world in Finland’s HundrEDorg Global Collection for 2023.
Visit our Innovation Sports and STEM Integration PD pages for more information on these programs. If you’re interested in creating a club for Innovation Sports at your school, please contact STEM Punks at [email protected].
The World Science Festival Brisbane 2023 School Program is presented with QPAC.