17 Apr 2016
STEM Interdisciplinary Program - Update
The integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program "Catapulting into Success" has been launched in Year 8 (Stage 4). They have welcomed a project based approach to learning. Students learnt about establishing hypotheses with experiments, studied balanced motion through a marble launcher, studied the path of projectile motion including its motion, range and angles which are higher order concepts studied in the mathematics stage 6 course.
Our students participated in many group work and collaborative activities which enhanced their creative, critical and problem solving skills that would be required in real world situations by applying these skills in their jobs.
Students have built a small catapult out of household items by encapsulating concepts learnt in class. They were taught to think like engineers to apply a "build, test, redesign" approach to understanding design principles. All of Year 8 participated in the great Marsh Mellow Challenge where we saw students project marsh mellows in excess of 12 metres. The winning group was Jay, Precious and Andrew. A big congratulation for their win.
Also, students participated in the construction of a large catapult and conducted their own risk assessment on the hazards of construction and using a catapult. Year 8 showcased the catapult project and challenge day activities to Department of Education (DoE) , where an educational film was created documenting the progress of their learning experiences. The boys had found STEM learning rewarding, fulfilling, challenging and most of all fun.
