STEMworks

Inside a large brick building are many table and chairs. Students in uniform sit at the tables. Large metal boilers are in the background and in front of them are screens and a speaker sharing slides

A partnership with Catholic Education

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.

Design Sprints at Scienceworks

Scienceworks invites Catholic school students and teachers to join us for a funded STEM workshop to tackle real world problems. Design Sprints are 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

Science understanding
Science as a human endeavour

Design and Technologies

Technologies and Society
Creating Designed Solutions

Critical and Creative Thinking

Questions and Possibilities
Personal and Social Capability

Social Awareness and Management

Collaboration

Book

To book in to attend a Design Sprint, send the following details to: [email protected]

Date:
Name of program:
Your full name:
Your mobile number:
School:
Year level:
Total number of students:
Total number of adults:

If you have any questions about the programs, please email: [email protected]. This inbox is monitored Monday to Wednesday.

A young adult leans over a table where school students are working. They have pale blue hair and are wearing a pink lanyard that indicates they are a staff member. They look enthusiastic as they talk to the students. — Scienceworks’ expert learning facilitators are on hand at Design Sprints to prompt student thinking and expand learning outcomes

Upcoming events

2025 Design Sprint 1

May 7 ONLINE - Renewable Energies

Increasing the use of renewable sources of electricity has become a priority for many communities around the world, and we now have a variety of forms of energy that we can draw on such as solar, wind, hydro and tidal. How might we make utilising renewable energy sources work better for the community and the environment?

In this event students will get to hear from guest experts presenting live online. Adrian Black from CERES Environmental Education Centre will share how we utilise different types of renewable energy across Australia and Taryn Lane, who manages the Hepburn Community Wind Farm, will speak about her experiences working with community to create a more sustainable future.

Students will then apply their new knowledge when tackling a design challenge to improve the ways we generate renewable energy. They will:

Design a wind farm that isn't an eyesore, or;
Design a hydro power farm that doesn't get in the way of fish, or;
Design a solar farm that doesn't take up land space.

Live Online Sessions: 10am to 11:30am and 2:00 to 2:30pm Wednesday 7th May 2025
Year levels: 3 to 8
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Pre-event Professional Learning Session: 4pm to 5pm Monday 28th April Online via Microsoft Teams

Some of the many areas of the Victorian Curriculum addressed in this Design Sprint experience include Science, Humanities and Design and Technology.

Key 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

Recognise the role of people in design and technologies occupations and explore factors, including sustainability, that impact on the design of solutions to meet community needs
VCDSTS023

Year 5/6

Scientific knowledge, skills and data can be used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions
VC2S6H02

Investigate how people in design and technologies occupations address competing considerations, including sustainability, in the design of solutions for current and future use
VCDSTS033

Year 7/8

Proposed scientific responses to socio-scientific issues impact on society and may involve ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations.
VC2S8U09

Examine and prioritise competing factors including social, ethical, economic and sustainability considerations in the development of technologies and designed solutions to meet community needs for preferred futures. 
VCDSTS043

2025 Design Sprint 2

June 4 ONSITE – Circuits – FULLY BOOKED

Students will be challenged to construct a prototype that involves applying their understanding of conductors and insulators and flow of electricity. Further details to be confirmed in May.

10am to 3pm Wednesday 4th June 2025
Year levels: 3 to 8
Where: On site at Scienceworks (based in the Spotswood Pumping station)
Pre-event Professional Learning Session: 4pm-5pm Monday June 2 Online via Microsoft Teams

2025 Design Sprint 3

August 6 ONSITE – Theme TBC (check the website from May)

10am to 3pm Wednesday 6th August 2025
Year levels: 3 to 8
Where: On site at Scienceworks (based in the Spotswood Pumping station)
Pre-event Professional Learning Session: TBC

2025 Design Sprint 4

September 3 ONSITE - Theme TBC (check the website from May)

10am to 3pm Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Year levels: 3 to 8
Where: On site at Scienceworks (based in the Spotswood Pumping station)
Pre-event Professional Learning Session: TBC