Minnis Journals

2017 (2) 12 September 2017

War of the Worlds: epic on-stage opportunity for STEAM learning

That’s what it feels like sometimes. Everybody wants a piece of your time. At one point in my career, I was teaching in English, History, RE, Technology and Arts. Every night was a different meeting. Every course needed documentation.

And then there’s the extra-curricular. Debating, Production, Radio, Creative Writing, Sports, not to mention magazine articles and social media updates. It’s a battle for my time, and I am the first casualty.

But it has taught me to work smart. I have started finding the shortcuts. And I am uniquely positioned to be a spokesperson for STEAM. This year was my first large-scale realisation of that position. Read More

Here it is for you: Round 2

We're on our second issue of the STEAM Report and I'm in more mailboxes than a Nigerian Prince. I hope that someof the articles and news are useful to you. Please let me know if you find something that you can use at your school.

Two months in and I'm getting more evidence that STEAM is the correct acronym. More and more, businesses are looking to Fine Arts graduates at university to find their new IT consultants and Engineers. After all, they can teach someone how to program, but they can't teach them to be creative thinkers. Read More

Hot STEAM

With only a few weeks left in Term 3, it’s getting hectic around town again. But if you have a spare moment, you should take a look at some of these activities and events. It's a next year event but well worth putting into your 2018 planner 2018 TeachTechPlay Conference Thursday 12th & Friday 13th April, Melbourne.

DATTA Vic Design and Technology Week
The Design and Technology Teachers Association have announced their first Design and Technology week. Running from 16th – 22nd October this year, it is designed to showcase work from teachers and students around Australia. Check out the website for more information and to sign up. Read More

Spheros in the Classroom

As teachers we need to provide our students with opportunities to learn how to learn, supporting them to find and solve problems.

Our role involves developing learners for many jobs that are yet to exist. The critical question we must ask as educators is; How might we best prepare our students for their future?
Read More

STEM to the beat: wavelengths, sound and how radio waves work

As a kid, I always dreamed about being cool and playing the electric guitar. The problem was I couldn't play guitar and I couldn't afford to buy one. When I finally had an opportunity to try and have a go, I sucked and I was embarrassed because there were plenty of other boys in the class that could play it properly. Read More

STEAM in action – Richard III

The bones of Richard the Third were uncovered in a Leicester carpark excavation back in 2012. It was an exciting find, even if the ex-king was missing his feet. But more important than the historical significance was the practical application of an interdisciplinary team to collect information on the monarch’s remains.

In an article for BBC History Magazine, Dan Jones, author of The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses and the Rise of the Tudors (Faber and Faber, 2014), says that the excavation was “a great interdisciplinary study” (historyextra.com). Read More

Ni Hao? Appealing little robots talk, dance and march to students’ code

The Brainary, distributors of those appealing little red and blue NAO robots that engage teachers at education events, now conduct professional development training on how to use robots to deliver engaging lessons that meet key requirements of the digital technologies curriculum. Read More

Survey reveals Maths and English are most highly valued subjects

Results of the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards Survey show that Australian adults think that Maths (80%) and English (82%) are the most important subjects that children should be learning with two-thirds (69%) believing that technology is the most important subject, ahead of science (56%).

The research was released for the launch of the 2018 round of the Awards by the Bank and Schools Plus. Nominations are now open at the Awards Website. Read More

Engineering is Elementary program for schools launched

Questacon, Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre, and Raytheon Australia and have marked 10 years of partnership by announcing the development of a pilot of the Engineering is Elementary program for schools. The new program draws from a highly successful science, technology, engineering and math initiative at the US Museum of Science. Read More

Brain boost? a headset to stimulate the brain is being developed at the University of WA

Student innovators and graduates from The University of Western Australia are developing a headset that can monitor human brain waves and stimulate the brain to improve concentration and boost the brain’s performance. Electroencephalography technology is used in the headset. Read More