STEM educator network meeting – Darwin

INTERSECT, Darwin’s STEM Educator Network, invites educators, community organisations, and STEM professionals to come together to explore science fairs and project-based learning in schools.

Hosted at Dripstone Secondary College, the event will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the school’s highly successful Science Fair and how teachers support students investigate real-world issues through project-based learning. Explore a selection of projects from this year’s Science Fair and hear directly from the students and teachers involved about their experiences delivering these projects in the classroom, including how to plan, curriculum algin, and budget projects.

The event will also provide an opportunity to hear from community organisations and STEM professionals who partner with the Dripstone Science Fair. This is a chance to learn how organisations can work with schools to provide context, themes, and real-world challenges that inspire student project-based learning.

Questacon will also deliver a taster professional development activity based on its Starting in STEM workshop, introducing the inquiry-based learning cycle and providing practical tools and resources you can use to spark contextualised project-based learning in the classroom.

Learn about opportunities take project-based learning beyond the classroom, including hearing from Darwin teacher Jessica Nielson, who will share insights on how to join the Australian Science and Engineering Fair, along with her recent experience attending the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona.

This event is FREE to attend, but registration is required to secure your place.

Who should attend

This event is suitable for:

• primary and secondary teachers
• community organisations and STEM professionals interested in working with schools
• anyone educators or community members in science fairs, inquiry-based learning, or project-based learning in education.

What you will gain

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• explore student Science Fair projects and hear directly from the students and teachers involved
• gain practical tools and resources to lead a project-based learning activity in the classroom
• explore the inquiry-based learning cycle through a Questacon Starting in STEM taster workshop
• learn how schools, community organisations, and STEM professionals can work together to develop locally relevant themes and real-world challenges for student projects.