STEMworks is a partnership between Museums Victoria and the Victorian Catholic Education Authority. As part of this partnership, we have delivered student and teacher co-learning Design Sprints, STEM Professional Learning workshops and offered in-depth STEM learning support through our Partner School program.
Scienceworks invites Catholic school students and teachers to join us for a funded STEM workshop to tackle real world problems. Design Sprints are a day-long, fast-paced STEM design challenges for primary and secondary school students. Students and teachers will meet STEM and design experts, explore Scienceworks, delve into contemporary issues related to the curriculum and utilise their creativity to solve authentic problems.
Teachers are offered professional learning workshops before and after the onsite Design Sprint to dig deeper into STEM Design Thinking and how to make the most of the STEM Design Sprints for students.
Design Sprints offer a rich, cross-curricular experience.
Some of the many areas of the Victorian Curriculum addressed in a Design Sprint experience include:
Science
Design and Technologies
Critical and Creative Thinking
Social Awareness and Management
To book in to attend a Design Sprint, send the following details to: [email protected]
If you have any questions about the programs, please email: [email protected]. This inbox is monitored Monday to Wednesday.
Event Part 1: Teacher Professional Learning Session (Online):
Date & Time: 4pm to 5pm, Monday 18th November 2024
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Teachers will attend this online session to prepare for the main event, covering the Design Sprint process, physics concepts, educational objectives for students and logistics of the onsite excursion.
Event Part 2: Renewable Energies Design Sprint (onsite)
Date & Time: 10am to 3pm, Tuesday 26th November 2024
Location: Scienceworks (Spotswood Pumping Station)
Year Levels: 3 to 8
Teachers will work with students during the main event, applying what they learned in the pre-event session.
Note: Teachers are required to attend both components: the online pre-event session and the onsite event with students. This ensures they are fully prepared to support their students and integrate the learning into their teaching practice. Professional learning certificates of attendance will be given to teachers who meet the attendance requirements.
Increasing the use of renewable sources of electricity has become a priority for many communities around the world. We now have a variety of forms of energy that we can draw on such as solar power, wind power, hydro and tidal. Are there forms of energy that are being underutilised? How can we help communities to utilise more renewable energy?
In this Design Sprint, students learn about various sources of electrical energy and the pros and cons associated with each source. They will watch a Lightning Theatre show all about electricity with electrical motors, an electromagnet and a lightning demonstration. They'll also hear from experts working in relevant STEM and design fields (including Museums Victoria’s Matilda Vaughan, Curator of Engineering) before combining everything they've learnt by engaging with a user-centred design process and prototyping their ideas for working towards a more sustainably energised future.
Key Science Curriculum links:
Year 3/4
scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by people to explain how they will meet a need or solve a problem
VC2S4H02
weather events and climate have impacts on the land, air, water and living things; human activity can affect climate
VC2S4U08
Yer 5/6
scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions
VC2S6H02
sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions can affect Earth’s surface and atmosphere; the impacts of natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and floods, can be reduced by human actions and technological innovations
VC2S6U06
Year 7/8
proposed scientific responses to socio-scientific issues impact on society and may involve ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations
VC2S8U09
household energy consumption can be analysed using an energy audit and is affected by appliance choice, building design, season and climate
VC2S8U16
Event Part 1: Teacher Professional Learning Session (Online):
Date & Time: 4pm to 5pm, Monday 2nd December 2024
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Teachers will attend this online session to prepare for the main event, covering the Design Sprint process, physics concepts, educational objectives for students and logistics of the online Design Sprint event.
Event Part 2: Renewable Energies Design Sprint (Online)
Date & Time: 10am to 11:30am and 2:00pm-2:30pm, Wednesday 11th December 2024
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
Year Levels: 3 to 8
Teachers will work with students during the main event, applying what they learned in the pre-event session. Students can join from a shared device in their classrooms or on individual devices.
Note: Teachers are required to attend both components: the online pre-event session and the online event with students. This ensures they are fully prepared to support their students and integrate the learning into their teaching practice. Professional learning certificates of attendance will be given to teachers who meet the attendance requirements.
Increasing the use of renewable sources of electricity has become a priority for many communities around the world. We now have a variety of forms of energy that we can draw on such as solar power, wind power, hydro and tidal. Are there forms of energy that are being underutilised? How can we help communities to utilise more renewable energy?
In this online Design Sprint, students learn about various sources of electrical energy and the pros and cons associated with each source. They'll hear from experts working in relevant STEM and design fields (including a Climate Change educator from CERES) before combining everything they've learnt by engaging with a user-centred design process and prototyping their ideas for working towards a more sustainably energised future.
This event involves a live, online session in the morning,
Key Science Curriculum links:
Year 3/4
scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by people to explain how they will meet a need or solve a problem
VC2S4H02
weather events and climate have impacts on the land, air, water and living things; human activity can affect climate
VC2S4U08
Yer 5/6
scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions
VC2S6H02
sudden geological changes or extreme weather conditions can affect Earth’s surface and atmosphere; the impacts of natural hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and floods, can be reduced by human actions and technological innovations
VC2S6U06
Year 7/8
proposed scientific responses to socio-scientific issues impact on society and may involve ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations
VC2S8U09
household energy consumption can be analysed using an energy audit and is affected by appliance choice, building design, season and climate
VC2S8U16
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