NEWS
AUGUST 2014
Dr Noleine Fitzallen and Dr Bernardo A. Leon de la Barra were invited to present at the recently held STEM Education Conference. The aim was to look not only at some of the key advantages and critical gaps in STEM education but also explore the policy and strategy settings that can enable participation and quality learning of STEM. Discussions looked at successful regional and national projects, university/school partnerships, new and innovative teaching and learning methods to see how we can reduce the vulnerability of our scientific enterprise.
Below are their presentations.
Below are their presentations.
The STEMCrAfT Project was featured on ABC Radio National The Science Show with Robyn Williams!
To listen to our segment follow the link below.
STEMCrAfT – assistance for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
To listen to our segment follow the link below.
STEMCrAfT – assistance for teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
We are pleased to announce that The STEMCrAfT Project has been featured in the recently launched Teacher magazine!
Teacher is an online only publication from the Australian Council or Educational Research, focused on sharing research-based and evidence-based approaches to help school staff at all levels improve their own skills and practices.
View our feature article here: Encouraging STEM success!
Teacher is an online only publication from the Australian Council or Educational Research, focused on sharing research-based and evidence-based approaches to help school staff at all levels improve their own skills and practices.
View our feature article here: Encouraging STEM success!
JULY 2014
Below are some snaps from the launch!
The STEMCrAfT Project STEM Framework Launch is set to take place in Launceston on 29 July 2014.
Special guests
Dr Robyn Williams AM
presenter of ABC Radio National The Science Show
&
Provost and representative for the Vice-Chancellor
Professor Mike Calford
Special guests
Dr Robyn Williams AM
presenter of ABC Radio National The Science Show
&
Provost and representative for the Vice-Chancellor
Professor Mike Calford
- Find out how the STEM framework can help you select resources
- Watch the STEM teacher videos
- Pick up a STEM framework kit for your school
- Get involved in the research
Congratulations Professor Kim Beswick!
A Commonwealth-funded project will see the University of Tasmania's Faculty of Education play a crucial role in improving the quality of maths and science education throughout the country.
The project, Towards Educating Mathematics Professionals Encompassing Science and Technology (TEMPEST), will be led by Kim Beswick, Professor of Mathematics Education at the University's Newnham campus.
Professor Beswick said the project, worth more than $2.5 million in Commonwealth and in-kind support, would deliver consistent, effective professional learning programs for mathematics teachers throughout Australia.
"Mathematics is a crucial educational building block that underpins so much of what students will go on to do in both study and their careers," Professor Beswick said.
"We need to get mathematics education right to prepare young Australians for their futures and to help build the highly skilled, science-literate population so necessary for the country.
"Professional learning is the key because it is the teachers who are engaging our students and inspiring them to grab hold of mathematics and pursue it. How are we keeping our teachers up to speed and supporting them in the teaching of mathematics and how can we do it better?"
TEMPEST, which received $1.74 million through the Australian Maths and Science Partnership Program, will survey the existing mathematics professional learning programs and resources, their effectiveness and where the gaps are.
New programs will be developed by the University of Tasmania and trialed in Tasmanian schools before being rolled out nationally with implementation officers assisting on the ground. An online portal will be built to be hosted by the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers.
The programs and resources will be evaluated throughout the three years of the project, resulting in a professional learning framework, program guidelines, resources and evaluation tools – all available beyond the life of the project and supported through the online portal.
The Dean of Education, Professor John Williamson, said the funding of this project confirmed the University's reputation as a national leader in education research and thinking.
"This is a major success for Professor Beswick and her colleagues and provides an opportunity for our faculty to really drive improvement in an area of national importance - mathematics education," he said.
"We can identify the professional learning programs that work well and roll them out nationally, we can identify gaps and find the programs to fill them and we can put in place the structure to ensure schools around the country can benefit from this work for years to come."
Professor Williamson also congratulated Professor Beswick, who was awarded the 2014 MERGA Research Award for a significant recent contribution to mathematics education research, for winning the prestigious and well deserved research award.
“Coupled with her position as one of eight experts on the national Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group, this highlights the quality of the academic staff we have in the Faculty of Education right here in Launceston.”
The TEMPEST project will be run by the University of Tasmania with cooperation from Swinburne University of Technology, the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, the Tasmanian Department of Education, TasTAFE and the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office.
The project, Towards Educating Mathematics Professionals Encompassing Science and Technology (TEMPEST), will be led by Kim Beswick, Professor of Mathematics Education at the University's Newnham campus.
Professor Beswick said the project, worth more than $2.5 million in Commonwealth and in-kind support, would deliver consistent, effective professional learning programs for mathematics teachers throughout Australia.
"Mathematics is a crucial educational building block that underpins so much of what students will go on to do in both study and their careers," Professor Beswick said.
"We need to get mathematics education right to prepare young Australians for their futures and to help build the highly skilled, science-literate population so necessary for the country.
"Professional learning is the key because it is the teachers who are engaging our students and inspiring them to grab hold of mathematics and pursue it. How are we keeping our teachers up to speed and supporting them in the teaching of mathematics and how can we do it better?"
TEMPEST, which received $1.74 million through the Australian Maths and Science Partnership Program, will survey the existing mathematics professional learning programs and resources, their effectiveness and where the gaps are.
New programs will be developed by the University of Tasmania and trialed in Tasmanian schools before being rolled out nationally with implementation officers assisting on the ground. An online portal will be built to be hosted by the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers.
The programs and resources will be evaluated throughout the three years of the project, resulting in a professional learning framework, program guidelines, resources and evaluation tools – all available beyond the life of the project and supported through the online portal.
The Dean of Education, Professor John Williamson, said the funding of this project confirmed the University's reputation as a national leader in education research and thinking.
"This is a major success for Professor Beswick and her colleagues and provides an opportunity for our faculty to really drive improvement in an area of national importance - mathematics education," he said.
"We can identify the professional learning programs that work well and roll them out nationally, we can identify gaps and find the programs to fill them and we can put in place the structure to ensure schools around the country can benefit from this work for years to come."
Professor Williamson also congratulated Professor Beswick, who was awarded the 2014 MERGA Research Award for a significant recent contribution to mathematics education research, for winning the prestigious and well deserved research award.
“Coupled with her position as one of eight experts on the national Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group, this highlights the quality of the academic staff we have in the Faculty of Education right here in Launceston.”
The TEMPEST project will be run by the University of Tasmania with cooperation from Swinburne University of Technology, the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, the Tasmanian Department of Education, TasTAFE and the Tasmanian Catholic Education Office.
APRIL 2014
West Australian Workshop Friday 4 April 2014 - some of the participants and facilitators STEMming it up!
MARCH 2014
Our very own Prof Kim Beswick is one of eight people chosen for the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group, which will report to Education Minister Christopher Pyne on teacher training. Please see the below article care of The Mercury.
The serious subject of training top teachers.
The serious subject of training top teachers.
FEBRUARY 2014
GREAT NEWS! The STEMCrAfT Community of Practice is now available through our website in forum format.
A number of contributions made by the project partners to our Google+ CoP have been carried over.
This forum will be the official CoP as of March 3rd 2014. Here you can sign in and post your queries, feedback, interesting articles and any great resource finds!
Our next webinar is scheduled for March to be presented by Dr Noleine Fitzallen (UTAS Faculty of Education), Dr Bernardo A. León de la Barra and Miss Sarah Lyden (UTAS School of Engineering).
Integrated K-12 STEM Education: Unpacking the S, T, E and M in a Hands-on Design Activity
In this webinar, participants will be taken through the process of unpacking the scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical concepts which are relevant to the design and construction of a simple terrestrial vehicle built using low-cost materials.
Ways on how to address the integration of trans-disciplinary knowledge in the areas of Science, Mathematics and Engineering in the context of this design task will be explored. Participants will be able to identify the benefits of implementing this sort of integration in their own classroom settings.
The presentation will be pitched at the middle school grade levels (5 to 8) but simplifications for earlier grades and extensions for later grades will also be outlined, respectively.
This webinar is set to take place this Thursday, March 20, at 4:00pm (TAS). Please contact the project team for details on how to participate. We will upload this to our website for those unable to attend.
Integrated K-12 STEM Education: Unpacking the S, T, E and M in a Hands-on Design Activity
In this webinar, participants will be taken through the process of unpacking the scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical concepts which are relevant to the design and construction of a simple terrestrial vehicle built using low-cost materials.
Ways on how to address the integration of trans-disciplinary knowledge in the areas of Science, Mathematics and Engineering in the context of this design task will be explored. Participants will be able to identify the benefits of implementing this sort of integration in their own classroom settings.
The presentation will be pitched at the middle school grade levels (5 to 8) but simplifications for earlier grades and extensions for later grades will also be outlined, respectively.
This webinar is set to take place this Thursday, March 20, at 4:00pm (TAS). Please contact the project team for details on how to participate. We will upload this to our website for those unable to attend.
JANUARY 2014
Below is the updated promotional flyer for the STEMCrAfT Project WA Workshop to be held on the 4th April 2014.
If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in participating, the application form can be found here.
If you are interested or know someone who would be interested in participating, the application form can be found here.