Parent Engagement in Curriculum - STEM MAD 2020
“Catholic educators see learning as a journey of endless possibilities, where students are energised to seek meaning and explore questions about the world around them.” Horizons of Hope, 2016
STEM MAD does digital in 2020
Each year students in Catholic schools across Melbourne participate in the STEM MAD competition and exhibition. This year, due to schools now being in lockdown for the second time, the showcase of STEM MAD will be online. This is a great opportunity for students to share their work with other students and for parents to gain a unique insight into the amazing, talented students in our Catholic schools.
The Showcase will take place online on Tuesday 27 October 2020 with schools being invited to join in virtually and take part in exciting challenge activities during the day, be in the running for prizes, hear from the award sponsors and be inspired by keynote speakers.
Many students will currently be working on their projects that make a difference in the lives of others. They are encouraged to use their creative design and critical thinking skills, technology, maths and science to create ideas that are well planned and executed to make a difference for people in need.
These projects are extremely important for students in developing these skills that will see them move into this type of work in their future employment.
The skills they learn through their participation include:
* Design process
* Links to the curriculum across the STEM disciplines and capabilities
* Innovative application of scientific and mathematical concepts
* Engineering and communication principles
* Catholic distinction of Making a Difference to others and the environment.
What is STEM Education?
STEM education is a multidisciplinary approach to teaching the subject areas and skills of science, technology, engineering and mathematics that places learning in real-world contexts. It can increase student engagement and develop 21st century skills of problem-solving, creative thinking, critical analysis, collaboration and evidence-informed decision-making.
What does the MAD mean in STEM MAD?
Making A Difference is the aim of these projects as they align with the Catholic mission of loving and caring for people and our environment and the challenges we face in our world today. In the words of St Mary Mackillop, "seeing a need and doing something about it."
When 21st century designers and creators are developing ideas, there is an end goal or outcome to be achieved. Students learn how to plan their projects with an outcome in mind - primarily the brief is to make a difference in the lives of others by creating a product, service or solution to a human or environmental problem.
We can't wait to see the great ideas showcased at the STEM MAD Showcase Day online.
Why is science so important?
Last week during National Science Week, CSPV shared a number of resources through our social media to encourage parents to engage children in science. Science is responsible for so many aspects of our lives, not least in the research currently being undertaken into developing a vaccine for Coronavirus.
Through learning STEM methodologies at school, children are learning the various aspects involved in developing science projects from concept ideas to completion. While participating in these projects they are also learning a multidisciplinary approach of literacy, numeracy, creative and critical thinkings skills along with maths, scicence and technology.
There are so many exciting things happening in the world of science right now that you can engage in conversations with your children at home. Through conversations and helping children see learning in context between home and school, you are inadvertently encouraging them to engage and get excited about learning science.
Here are just a few to get you started:
Did you know we have our very own Australian Space Agency in South Australia? What about the excitement of the recent launch of SpaceX Rocket in Florida in the US (The Falcon Heavy) into space?
Every day there is a constant focus on the weather and weather patterns, climate change, new discoveries and inventions, continuing to understand the human brain and how we behave and the list goes on.
There are so many resources online to explore but here are just a few you can engage with at home: