This session will explore how the NSW Government will grow world-leading industries and develop a workforce to establish Australia as a global centre of excellence in innovation. Learn about what industries will drive growth in the future and how programs such as the NSW Department of Education’s STEM Industry School Partnerships (SISP) initiatives are partnering with Industry and Government to drive interest in STEM professions.

• What are the world-leading industries that will drive economic activity in Australia and NSW
• How are government, industry and education collaborating to engage young people in STEM
• How SISP program initiatives assist teachers to engage students with industry through STEM
• How to build sustainable partnerships

When successful partnerships are built between schools and industry, three things happen:

• Student learning becomes linked to real world problems, resulting in increased student engagement
• Teachers become more confident and capable in teaching integrated STEM programs
• Industry partners learn alongside schools about how to support Gen Alpha, the 2030 workforce

Paul will discuss how surveyors and surf lifesavers are helping the teachers they support at She Maps achieve these three points, and what you need to consider to build a successful school-industry partnership.

In this presentation, Joanne will provide an overview of the STEM educational opportunities that have arisen through a long-term respectful collaboration between Macquarie University and Yaegl and Bundjalung Elders. She will also provide advice and access to resources for teachers both new to incorporating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into curriculum, and those with some experience in doing so, to give them the confidence to provide a wonderfully culturally rich STEM learning experience for their students and a rewarding experience for themselves.

• Explore the impact of materials, in particular fabrics and the fabric industry on the environment
• Engage community members in relevant STEM job roles in the fabric industry to discuss sustainable options currently being explored in the industry
• Use the design process to creatively repurpose an item of fabric into something reusable

ACARA’s STEM Connections project investigated a transdisciplinary approach to the teaching of STEM. ACARA has continued to apply and develop the principles of this project through the Digital Technologies in Focus project. This presentation will:

• Identify opportunities for addressing the dimensions of STEM
• Outline new STEM Connections Illustrations of practice from Foundation to Year 8
• Explore opportunities to enhance Digital Technologies implementation.

Digital Technologies facilitates authentic learning opportunities fostering confidence, curiosity, persistence, innovation, creativity, respect and cooperation. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality provide opportunities to take students anywhere, thus widening their experiences and building background knowledge.  Integrating this technology into the curriculum allows for the development of deeper understanding and enriching capabilities such as Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Digital Literacy and Intercultural Understanding. Research tells us creativity in learning produces positive critical outcomes for students. In this workshop, participants will:

• Build their capacity in embedding digital technology across the curriculum
• Use VR/AR to realise its full potential in engaging students in real and imaginative worlds and see how it is a tool to enable science discovery and through the process of scientific inquiry
• Create solutions to move students and teachers from consumers of technology to creators through all Key Learning Areas