The creative energy and brain power was palpable at Pallamallawa Public School on Wednesday, as Croppa Creek and Gravesend students worked with their Pallamallawa counterparts to take on the STEM Project challenge.
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“There is a large focus on team building activities. Schools don’t get together often, and so this is an opportunity for students to socialise and interact with one another while they’re receiving quality learning,” Pallamallawa Public School principal Tanya Withers said.
The day at Pallamallawa marked the first in a term-long program, which will see students problem solve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) problems.
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“There will be three more days like this, each time visiting a different school,” Ms Wither said.
Gravesend Public School principal Jackie Todd first broached the idea, which Croppa Creek Public School principal Michael Sky was only too willing to take up.
““I remember as a kid growing up, I would sit in a classroom and listen to a teacher at the front of the class. It wasn’t an authentic experience,” he said.
“Children these days are savvy: they want to know why they’re learning the things they are today. STEM projects work on creative thinking and help to build broad, 21st century skills as it places students in real, life problem solving situations.”
The project-based learning is a departure from traditional teaching, when students sat in a class and listened to one teacher in the classroom. It provides an opportunity for real world connections to be made and contexts to be explored within the four disciplines of STEM.
Mr Sky noted that 40 per cent of the jobs that will be available in the future, aren’t around at the present time. He said it further reiterated the importance of hands-on learning.
Students from the three schools were tasked with creating a blue-print of a product. Some ideas floated around on the day were bookmarks, lolly bags and slime bombs.
After the students garner critical feedback over the course of the program, they will then have to draw up a business plan, budget and promotions.
They will then be able to sell their final product at a market on September 20 at Pallamallawa Public School.
“This is open to anyone to attend and we encourage families and friends to come along and see what the children have created,” Mr Sky said.