Minnis Journals

The STEAM Report 2019 (6)

Technology for inclusion with diverse learners
Are the learning opportunities you are providing in your learning spaces enabling the students with additional needs to succeed, have a voice and demonstrate their learning?
The aim of this post it to share important considerations when introducing a digital technology solution to meet a student’s learning goals based on universal design learning principles that meet the needs and goals of the learner and can be used in the classroom tomorrow. Read more

The STEAM Futures Conference at Viewbank College
Want to run a STEAM program at school and need some ideas? Would you love to build networks with top scientists and industry leaders? Want to see best classroom practices to run integrated projects in STEAM? Want to be a part of a community developing exciting initiatives in STEAM? The STEAM Futures Conference by Viewbank College on August 23rd 2019 is your chance to do all of that.
It’s unique opportunity for principals and teachers of all faculties (special emphasis on humanities, languages and arts integrating with STEAM). Read more

A STEAMy degree, finally
La Trobe University has launched the brand-new Bachelor of Humanities, Innovation and Technology – a fusion of humanities with business and emerging technologies.
It’s an Australian first and Head of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at La Trobe, Professor Nick Bisley, said that, as disruptive technologies such as AI and big data gather pace across the world, it is essential a humanities perspective is incorporated into discussions because it ensures a deeper understanding. Read more

Digging in to save amazing dinosaur gems
Our remote outback opal fields are full of gems of all sorts including the paleontological variety.
A collection of ancient rock with opalised bones from Lightning Ridge in NSW has been brought to life through a novel project involving scientists from around Australia.
Palaeontologist and video documentary maker, Flinders University Associate Professor Paul Willis, has announced plans to ‘rescue’ the rare fossil, thought to be a substantial part of the skeleton of a small plant-eating dinosaur. Read more

Devika’s Virtual worlds in classrooms
Start-up Devika has been focusing on introducing Virtual Reality (VR) to Australian classrooms to make experiential learning software a feature in learning.
Its learning program ‘Kolb’ uses VR headsets to transport students to Antarctica where they can experience the sights and sounds of the landscape and ecosystem of the world’s harshest environment. Students get to navigate different scenarios of the inhospitable continent, in line with curriculum content. It has already been trialled at six schools in the Illawarra in NSW with success. Read more

An AI assistant reins in dropout risk
UNSW Sydney has around 17,000 students enrolled in the engineering faculty and there can be 500 students enrolled in a class at any one time. To help their learning and reduce the risk of drop out, Dr David Kellermann, a senior lecturer in the school of mechanical and manufacturing engineering has employed artificial intelligence and rich data analytics together with Microsoft Teams to promote collaboration and communication.
Read more

Competition rewards littleBIGideas
littleBIGidea invites Aussie kids in grades three to eight to enter their innovative ideas for the chance to win a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the USA.
To help discover Australia’s budding inventors, biomedical engineer, Dr Jordan Nguyen returns as judge for the competition.
“Past ideas have focused on assisting the community, transforming the health industry and creating a more sustainable future,” Dr Nguyen said. Read more

Awesome Destination Moon Resource Book for National science week
With more than 2000 planned events around Australia, National Science Week, 10–18 August, is going to be huge.
One great free accompanying resource is the Destination Moon Resource Book, it’s aimed at prep to year 10 with content created to suit each age group and it's free, we did say free.
Australia had a critical role in the moon landing but was very much secondary when it came to the credit. Read more