STEM
Through STEM students engage creatively in real world problems, applying their understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in integrated and innovative ways.
STEM is for everyone here at St Saviour’s Primary School.
Since 2018, we have embarked on a three-year STEM project to ignite in students a passion for STEM. We have been fortunate enough to work in partnership with STEMPUNKS (a company who facilitate programs to inspire children and adults to learn about STEM in a fun and interactive environment).
Providing opportunities for students to build STEM capabilities throughout their schooling is a priority here at St Saviour’s Primary School.
Students in our school will become active participants in a digital world that is ever changing and evolving. At St Saviour’s Primary School, we strive to provide an education that equips students with the digital skills and knowledge to not only strive in their learning, but strive in their lives beyond the school walls also. We provide many opportunities to develop skills with digital tools, educate students on the importance of being safe online and how to become critical users of technology. Our learners have access to two digital platforms: Apple products and the suite of Microsoft products. Prep – Year 3 students have access to school banks of digital devices. Students in Year 4-6 utilise a 1- 1 digital device in their learning at school and home.
What is STEM?
STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Through STEM, children learn to:
- ask questions
- work together
- think creatively and critically
- solve problems
- explore
- take calculated risks
- test solutions
- discover new ways of doing things
- Use of technological tools
STEM in QLD schools
https://www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/downloads/aciq/stem-resources/teaching/ac_stem_qld_schools.pdf
Science
Science provides an empirical way of answering interesting and important questions about the biological, physical and technological world. The knowledge it produces has proved to be a reliable basis for action in our personal, social and economic lives.
The Australian Curriculum
Science aims to ensure that students develop:
- an interest in science as a means of expanding their curiosity and willingness to explore, ask questions about and speculate on the changing world in which they live
- an understanding of the vision that science provides of the nature of living things, of Earth and its place in the cosmos, and of the physical and chemical processes that explain the behaviour of all material things
- an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry and the ability to use a range of scientific inquiry methods, including questioning; planning and conducting experiments and investigations based on ethical principles; collecting and analysing data; evaluating results; and drawing critical, evidence-based conclusions
- an ability to communicate scientific understanding and findings to a range of audiences, to justify ideas on the basis of evidence, and to evaluate and debate scientific arguments and claims
- an ability to solve problems and make informed, evidence-based decisions about current and future applications of science while taking into account ethical and social implications of decisions
- an understanding of historical and cultural contributions to science as well as contemporary science issues and activities and an understanding of the diversity of careers related to science
- a solid foundation of knowledge of the biological, chemical, physical, earth and space sciences, including being able to select and integrate the scientific knowledge and methods needed to explain and predict phenomena, to apply that understanding to new situations and events, and to appreciate the dynamic nature of science knowledge.
Source: https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/
Technology
The St Saviour’s Primary School community is committed to providing its students with the skills and understandings to live and participate in a multimedia world. We believe that the use of ICTs not only enhances the undertaking, but also provides an excellent forum for developing the skills of lifelong learning.
At St Saviour’s Primary School, it is recognised that the computer is a tool for learning and not an end in itself. Computing is not taught as a separate subject at SSPS, but computer technology provides tools that are used across the curriculum to improve student learning outcomes. Computer technology provides rich, interactive learning environments for students, not only through use of ‘exploratory’ programs, which allow them to interact with information, but also with ‘constructive’ software which allows students to create and express their own creativity and develop their own information packages. Facilities extend from text only environments to an emerging growth in the use of multimedia. Multimedia provides opportunities for differing approaches to learning, so that students’ wide range of individual learning styles is easily accommodated. Through multimedia formats, each student can receive instruction appropriate to his or her learning style.
Success in computer-based learning at SSPS results from a model which guides students to a familiarity with relevant technology through ‘scaffolding’ and ‘fading’. In the scaffolding process the teacher provides hints and comments and carries out parts of the task the learners cannot yet handle on their own. The teacher then gradually removes support. This is the process of ‘fading’. ‘Scaffolding’ structures are set in place at SSPS in the form of instruction in house, to provide a step-by-step guide to a particular process, set in context of a unit of study.
Prep
Students become familiar with computer and ipad techniques.
Years 1 and 2
Students become familiar with computer, ipad techniques and produce text and pictorial based presentations.
Year 3
Students become skilled in text attributes and the draw component and combine these skills to develop presentations related to their class work.
Year 4
Students develop skills of desktop publishing, using text, draw and paint programs to create original presentations which communicate information in a variety of ways.
Year 5
Students are introduced to the development of multimedia through linear slideshows. They experiment with the interrelationship of text, pictures, sound, video and animation.
Year 6
Students extend their multimedia experiences to the development of non-liner, interactive multi media authoring. Development of non-linear projects challenges learners to high levels of complex thinking and problem-solving.
Students continuing with the computer technology program to Year 6 at SSPS have been shown to be highly accomplished in their secondary schools. They can confidently undertake computer projects put before them and are able to utilise the technology independently in other curriculum areas. They have the skills, understanding and experience to select from a range of presentation options and are thus not confined to the medium of text.
Technology Requirements
St Saviour’s Primary School has always been at the forefront of the use of technologies to support student learning.
Prep to Year 3
Utilise school iPad bank (no purchase necessary).
Years 4 to 6
Utilise Microsoft Surface Go devices as per the Digital Program (see school fees for further information).
Acceptable Use of ICT
Mathematics
Learning mathematics creates opportunities for and enriches the lives of all Australians.
The Australian Curriculum
Mathematics provides students with essential mathematical skills and knowledge in number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. Mathematics aims to ensure that students:
- are confident, creative users and communicators of mathematics, able to investigate, represent and interpret situations in their personal and work lives and as active citizens
- develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of mathematical concepts and fluency with processes, and are able to pose and solve problems and reason in number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability
- recognise connections between the areas of mathematics and other disciplines and appreciate mathematics as an accessible and enjoyable discipline to study.