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The site focuses on science as a human endeavour. It is mapped to the ACARA National Curriculum on the Science curriculum, highlighting the links to Technology, Maths, Health & Physical Sciences and Work Studies curricula where possible. It is updated five times a week, so there is an ever-growing library of classroom resources suitable for Years R through to 10.
These are supplemented with STEM Packs: whole-topic packs of teaching and learning materials focusing on subjects such as Vaccinations, Climate Change, Robotics or Rocks & Minerals that are mapped to the curriculum, including Years 11 and 12. A pack that is perfect for whole-school use is STEM Pack 1: Unconscious Bias. Subtitled You can be a Scientist, it can be used to challenge student preconceptions and prejudices. A complementary whole-school PD session also is available.
Our student workshops are increasingly popular, particularly the forensics workshop, which allows students to combine their STEM knowledge and sleuthing skills to solve an age-appropriate crime. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with several students subsequently reconsidering their career pathways. Workshops can be delivered at your school or hosted at our headquarters in the Science Exchange building in the city at no additional cost.
Schools also can access free teacher professional development programs. A very topical theme is gamification, which provides ideas on how to introduce games as a teaching aid in the classroom in a simple way and with few resources. This is particularly valuable for relief teachers. Other topics include “flipping your teaching” to make STEM more relevant to students, and breaking
down the barriers that often deter girls from choosing STEM subjects.
An exciting new offering is the chance for schools to get involved with STEM film creation as part of the annual Scinema film festival, which is supported by BBC Earth.
Next year there will be a specific category for primary and secondary schools in the competition, supported by workshops and resources during the festival. Schools and students can produce their own science- themed media offerings and enter them via the Scinema portal when entries open in December.
At a very practical level, we help students make their all-important career choices via our Ultimate Careers portal and magazine (available via the portal) and a range of free talks and workshop sessions that can be booked via email.
“It can be so hard for students to know where to head, and any help we can give them is key – especially when you can show them that STEM careers are more than just working in a lab with a white coat on and the pathways are numerous,” Hilary says.
Several schools have scheduled sessions
for parents and students, helping everyone get a better idea of what careers involve
and where skills and interests can take you.
A good example was a student who was interested in art or graphics, but her parents were worried this wouldn’t provide career security. After attending a talk, they began thinking about a career as a graphic illustrator in the burgeoning computer game industry – conveniently one in which Adelaide has a growing international reputation.
In the end, that is what the Royal Institution of Australia’s Educational Program is designed to do – help students find their own personal career pathway in the amazing world of STEM. We invite you to learn more about how we can work with you and your school.
For more information on any of the Royal Institution of Australia’s offerings please contact Hilary Jones on hjones@riaus.org.au
The education portal is at https://education.australiascience.tv/ and free copies of the Ultimate Careers magazine can be ordered via https://uc.australiascience.tv/
More information on Scinema can be found at https://scinema.australiascience.tv/
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