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Most conferences currently being offered on STEM, STEAM and Entrepreneurship tend to be targeted towards teachers and involve a series of speakers and the occasional mini-workshops. This conference is designed to be different. This conference is designed by students and teachers for students and teachers.
The intent of the It Takes a Spark EDU Conference is to bring together Students (Year 4 to 10) and Teachers to connect with inspiring industry role models, share their current school based activities and projects using an authentic sharing and experiential model, create networks of teachers and student teams, and solve social justice design challenges.
The participation of the students is as important as teachers as our intent is to ignite, empower and nurture both to be leaders of STEAM and Entrepreneurship within their schools. This is a conference designed and led by students and teachers for students and teachers.
Teachers will have both formal and informal opportunities to speak to other teachers who have enacted programs and activities in their schools and get their questions answered.
The workshops and social justice design challenges are all hands-on so students and teachers will experience first-hand what it is like to be part of great STEAM and entrepreneurial learning. This will spark new ideas about curriculum and pedagogy.
Who Should Attend
- Students – those who are already (or aspire to be) Technology Leaders in your school
- Teachers – those who have little experience and those who have a lot
- Heads of Learning Areas / Curriculum – who wish to discuss how to create trans-disciplinary units that are powerfully engaging
- Principals and Deputy Principals – to witness what is possible by embedding the Technologies Curriculum in your school
INTRODUCING THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS.....
DR MADELINE MITCHELL
RMIT University
Superstar of STEM
Madeline works at RMIT University and the Food Agility Cooperative Research Centre where she manages a research program to better understand the value of natural capital in farming systems. The program aims to support growers to manage their natural capital (e.g. plants and animals, soil and water) for sustainability, profitability and climate resilience.
Madeline is an advocate for gender equity, inclusion and diversity in STEM and was part of the second cohort of Homeward Bound, a global leadership initiative for women in science. She also recently received an ACT Young Tall Poppy Award.
DR KYLIE SOANES
The University of Melbourne
Superstar of STEM
Kylie is a conservation biologist based at the University of Melbourne with her sights set on saving species in cities and towns. She led the Shared Urban Habitat Project and is part of the National Environmental Science Program where she works with industry and government to develop a strong evidence base for urban conservation. Kylie is always looking for new ways to help nature thrive in urban environments. Whether it’s helping city councils plan corridors that move animals safely through cities, building rope bridges to help endangered possums cross busy highways, or working with architects to build designer houses for one of Australia’s largest owls. She is passionate about nature conservation and is a Superstar of STEM!
We will have the brightest educators, organisations and students who are passionate about STEAM lead either Teacher Oriented Mini-Master Classes and/or Student Oriented DigiDesign Mini Workshops. These sessions are short, sharp action packed with activities / communications. No waffle!
Teacher Mini-Master Classes – 40 minutes
Who will present: teachers / university / industry / sponsors
Audience: Teachers
Embedding STEAM into curriculum
Showcase projects, eg app design, creativity, circular design
Beginning to advanced teachers
Brilliant PD and conference presenter
Share knowledge and create networks
DigiDesign Mini Workshops – 40 minutes
Who will present: students / teachers / university / sponsors / organisations
Audience: Students Years 4 to 10 and Teachers
Students inspiring students
Interactive, hands on STEAM or entrepreneurial activities
Grow in confidence by sharing ideas / innovation
Unique public speaking opportunity
Participate in Problem Solvers Design Challenges…
In the past we had challenges varying from Shaky Solutions – Earthquake simulator, Bee-pocalypse, TurtleGate, Self-Drive Cars, and Coding for Disaster Relief.
Each session will have a different real life design or STEAM challenge to solve aimed at students (Year 4 to 10) and teachers.
80 minute – parallel sessions for Year 4 to 10 students and teachers
This session is an opportunity for schools, universities, industry, or community organisations to pose real life design challenges and lead student through the design process to ideate and present possible solutions.
Could this be you? Are you a Student, Teacher, Organisation or University?
TEACHER MINI-MASTER CLASSES
Assessing and Leading STEAM Learning
Dr Adrian Bertolini, Intuyu Consulting and Dr Lucy Cassar, Thomas Carr College
Micro:bit – from Beginner to Global Challenge
Pathik Shah
Pakronics
CREATE, CODE, INNOVATE with SPIKE Prime
Libby Moore
Moore Educational
Running Engaging Arduino Projects
Pathik Shah
Pakronics
Setting up a Coding and Robotics Program in your Primary School
Jason Selby
St John’s Primary School Frankston East
DIGIDESIGN MINI WORKSHOPS - STUDENT and TEACHER
Setting up your STEAM Club
Wendy Keen, Nandini Vyas, Vivien Dang and Mithuna Karthick
Melbourne Girls College
Rube Goldberg Design Challenge
Jenny Thompson and students
Thomas Carr College
Aviation Challenge – Will it Fly?
Sophie Martin and students
Thomas Carr College
Problem Solving Breakout Challenge – Primary
Shelley Waldon
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools
Hands-on with Dark Matter
Jackie Bondell, OzGrav
(ARC Centre of Excellence for Dark Matter Particle Physics)
Design Thinking SuperSprint
Sid Verma
BrainSTEM
Create. Remake. Innovate.
Libby Moore
Moore Educational
Robogals EV3 Engineering / Programming Session
Robogals Melbourne
An introduction to AI
Martin Richard
Education Services Australia
Earthquake Safety
Georgene Bridgeman and Adam Oldmeadow
Akorn Educational Services
Railway Signalling with Puffing Billy
Peta Howard
Puffing Billy Railway
Problem Solving Breakout Challenge – Secondary
Shelley Waldon
Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools
Learning to Code, Coding to Learn
Doug Bail
Cider House ICT
The Three Billy Goats Gruff vs The Troll
Stephanie Pollard and students
Malvern Valley Primary School
STEAM Expo hands-on activities area
STEM- A World of Machines
Marian College Sunshine West
Engineering Showcase
Masters of Engineering Students
University of Melbourne
Blast Off to the Virtual Universe!
Jackie Bondell, OzGrav
(ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery)
Augmented Reality Live
Albert Lam, Baolin Xu, Biju Bhaskaran, Sanjaya Sulisto
Worley
Robot race with programming twists!
Pathik Shah
Pakronics
Coding and Robotics
St John’s Primary School Frankston East
Design Mini-Challenge
Akorn Educational Services
iFly – a world of flight and STEM
Kristina Hicks
iFly Melbourne
Modelling and Making on Mars
Mandi Dimitriadis
Makers Empire
Spin your wheel
Howard Lacey and students
Thomas Carr College
Noodle around with NüdelKart and NüdelRover!
Marcus Veerman
Playground Ideas
The Art of Rapid Prototyping
Kristen Hebden
Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School
Little Bits Challenges
Dr Sarika Kewalramani, A/P GillIian Kidman and Phd students
Monash University
PROBLEM SOLVERS DESIGN CHALLENGE
Each session has a different real life design or STEAM challenge to solve aimed at Year 4 to 10 students. You will be posed with a real life design challenge and lead through the design process to ideate and present possible solutions.
Robogals Arduino/Programming Session
Robogals Melbourne
How to Stop a Fatberg
Scienceworks/Museums Victoria
Egg Drop Protection
Dr Bagus Nugroho
The University of Melbourne
Become a disease detective- solve an outbreak!
Rladies-Melbourne
Design Thinking Sprint
Sid Verma
BrainSTEM
The Energy Transition – Path to Sustainability
Worley
Half and Half Bridge Design
Stephen Manitta and students
Thomas Carr College
Air Pressure – Real or Imaginary?
Howard Lacey
Thomas Carr College
Climate Action Youth Design Challenge
Aruna Venkatachalam and Hanna Guy
Young Change Agents
Paper Structural Engineering
The University of Melbourne
Designing 3D solutions to reduce infection spread
Mandi Dimitriadis
Makers Empire
Scenario learning: 2D to 3D problem solving using holographic images
A/Prof Gillian Kidman and Dr Sarika Kewalramani
Monash University
FLOW OF THE DAY
TIME
EVENT / ACTIVITY
LOCATION
8.15 AM
REGISTRATION, COFFEE/TEA & NETWORKING
9.00 AM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Welcome to Participants, Set up for the Day, Housekeeping
9.15 AM
Keynote Speaker – Dr Madeline Mitchell
9.55 AM
TEACHER ORIENTED MINI-MASTER CLASSES (Rotation 1)
- 40 min sessions
- Parallel sessions
- Presented by attending teachers / universities / industry
- Mini-master classes for teachers to explore specific aspect of embedding STEAM in their curriculum
- Various sessions will address beginning teachers, next step and extending
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
9.55 AM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS + STEAM Expo (Rotation 1)
- 40 min sessions
- For teachers and students
- Parallel workshop stations
- Workshops demonstrate hands-on STEAM and / or entrepreneurial activities for Year 4 to 10 students
- Presented by attending students / teachers / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
10.40 AM
MORNING TEA
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
11.15 AM
PROBLEM SOLVERS DESIGN CHALLENGE
- 80 min session – parallel sessions aimed at Year 4 to 10 students
- This session is an opportunity for universities, industry, schools, or community organisations to pose real life design challenges and lead students through the design process to ideate and present possible solutions.
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
12.35 PM
LUNCH
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
1.15 PM
Keynote Speaker – Dr Kylie Soanes
1.55 PM
TEACHER ORIENTED MINI-MASTER CLASSES (Rotation 2)
- 40 min sessions
- Parallel sessions
- Presented by attending teachers / universities / industry
- Mini-master classes for teachers to explore specific aspect of embedding STEAM in their curriculum
- Various sessions will address beginning teachers, next step and extending
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
1.55 PM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS + STEAM Expo (Rotation 2)
- 40 min sessions
- For teachers and students
- Parallel work stations
- Workshops demonstrate hands-on STEAM and / or entrepreneurial activities for Year 4 to 10 students
- Presented by attending students / teachers / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
2.40 PM
Feedback and Conference Completion
- Awarding of prizes to attendees
- Filling of one page feedback sheets
2.50 PM
CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
VENUE
Thomas Carr College
35 Thomas Carr Dr
Tarneit VIC 3029
DATE Wednesday, 4 May 2022
TIME / AGENDA 8.15am open
9.00am start – 2.50pm finish
Read FAQ’s – suggestions on who should attend, answers about what stage you are at and if the conference will suit, registration T&C’s, and more…
CONFERENCE RATES
Early bird Teacher $155
Teacher $205
Early bird Student $30
Student $35
Early bird Pre-service/Aides $66
Pre-service/Aides $88
inclusive of GST, morning tea and lunch
*book by 25/03/2022
Teachers are able to attend without students
We recommend max 30 students per school with minimum teacher ratio of 1T:10S
Upon registration you will receive a confirmation email and invoice, payment is via direct deposit or credit card. For full details click on the register button alternatively call Rachel on +61 (0) 411 270 277 to coordinate your registration or ask any questions.
It was fantastic. Our girls could not stop talking about it. It appealed to all of our girls in different ways and at different levels. Some of our girls thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative activities and hands-on activities and some of our girls thoroughly enjoyed talking with the guest speakers and presenters. It had something for everyone. The teachers we took also thoroughly enjoyed the conference and were inspired with the activities presented.
Toowoomba Teacher,
Toowoomba Region State School"I used to think STEAM was going to be boring because it was hard but now I think it is fun even if it is a bit challenging"
Student Testimonial,
Student participant"I understand that Science is so much more than just about scientists and I can enter a path or career that involves Science and I can solve world problems"
Student Testimonial,
Student participant“I attended the It takes a Spark Conference on Friday - it was wonderful! I really enjoyed the sessions and can see ways to incorporate them into incursions and excursions for blind and vision impaired students. It was also a great chance to network and see students participating in the activities. Thank you again.”
Katie Niedda,
Sensory Vision Education, School of Special Educational Needs: Sensory"Many thanks for such a well organised and well run conference. From our perspective and the feedback from others, it was a resounding success."
Jacqui Butler,
Strategic Technology, John Curtin College of the Arts“Thank you, I greatly benefited from attending the conference and hope to attend future conferences and recommend it to my peers.”
Samina Hasan,
Student Teacher 2nd Yr Masters, University of MelbourneGold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Spark Scholarship
In-Kind Sponsor
GET IN TOUCH WITH US
Rachel Manneke-Jones
Registration & Bookings
Ph: 0411 270 277
E: rachel@spark-educonferences.com.au
Dr Adrian Bertolini
Conference Co-Ordinator
Ph: 0413 036 382
E: adrian@spark-educonferences.com.au
STAY CONNECTED
Facebook: @SparkEDUConferences
Instagram: Spark.in.STEAM
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