Friday 9 August 2019
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 co-designed and co-led by students and teachers for students and teachers.
The intent of the “It Takes a Spark” conference is to bring together Girls and their Teachers to connect with inspiring female 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 students and teachers 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 Year 4 to 10 – who are already (or aspire to be) STEAM Leaders in your school
- Teachers – those who have little experience and also those who are looking to extend themselves
- 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
AMY HEFFERNAN
Field Application Specialist at SCIEX
Research Fellow at University of Queensland
Superstar of STEM
DR TALITHA BEST
Research Scientist and Psychologist
Associate Professor at Central Queensland University
Amy Heffernan is an analytical chemist specialising in mass spectrometry, a technique used to map the chemical fingerprint of food, drugs and living cells. She combines chemistry, critical thinking and technology to solve complex problems in the environment and human health. Amy was recognised as an inaugural Superstar of STEM by Science & Technology Australia, and is passionate about diversity and inclusion in science and business.
Talitha Best is both a research scientist and a registered psychologist. In her research she investigates how nutrition and certain nutrients influence the thinking and memory in adults. As a psychologist she promotes strategies to support optimal well-being through community education. She is passionate about empowering health and well-being in all people!
PROGRAM
We will have the brightest educators, organisations and girls 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 – 45 minutes
Who will present: senior students and / or 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 – 45 minutes
Who will present: students and / or teachers / university / sponsors / organisations
Audience: Students Years 4-10 and Teachers
Girls inspiring girls
Interactive, hands on STEAM or entrepreneurial activities
Girls grow in confidence by sharing ideas / innovation
Unique public speaking opportunity
Participate in Social Justice Design Challenges.
In the past we had challenges varying from An Age Old Problem, Bee-pocalypse, TurtleGate, and supporting mobility impaired students to shine.
Each session will have a different real life design or STEAM challenge to solve aimed at Year 4 – 10 students
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.
Student and Teacher Digi-Design Mini Workshops
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.
FLOW OF THE DAY
TIME
EVENT / ACTIVITY
LOCATION
8.15 AM
REGISTRATION, COFFEE/TEA & NETWORKING
8.40 AM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Welcome to Participants, Set up for the Day, Housekeeping
San Damiano Centre
8.50 AM
Keynote Speaker – Amy Heffernan
Theme: Being someone who makes a difference using the skills inherent in STEAM and Entrepreneurship (Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Courage)
San Damiano Centre
9.25 AM
TEACHER ORIENTED MINI-MASTER CLASSES (Rotation 1)
- 45 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 (e.g. App design, Creativity, Circular Design, Integrated STEAM, etc.)
- Various sessions will address beginning teachers, next step and extending
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
9.25 AM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS (Rotation 1)
- 45 min sessions
- For teachers and students
- Parallel workshops
- Workshops demonstrate hands-on STEAM and / or entrepreneurial activities for Year 4 – Year 10 students
- Presented by attending students / teachers / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
10.15 AM
MORNING TEA
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
10.40 AM
The Future of Robotics – UBTECH
In this short showcase UBTECH a global leading Artificial Intelligence and humanoid robotic high-tech company will share about some of the latest humanoid robots that are being used around the world and arriving in homes!
San Damiano Centre
11.05 AM
PROBLEM SOLVERS
- 80 min session – parallel sessions aimed at Year 4 – 10 students
- During this session real life design challenges are posed and attendees are led through the design process to ideate and present possible solutions.
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
12.30 PM
LUNCH
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
1.10 PM
Keynote Speaker – Dr Talitha Best
Theme: Being someone who makes a difference using the skills inherent in STEAM and Entrepreneurship (Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Courage)
San Damiano Centre
1.45 PM
TEACHER ORIENTED MINI-MASTER CLASSES (Rotation 2)
- 45 min sessions
- Parallel sessions
- Presented by attending teachers / universities / industry
- Various sessions will address beginning teachers, next step and extending
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
1.45 PM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS (Rotation 2)
- 45 min sessions
- For teachers and students
- Parallel workshops
- Workshops demonstrate hands-on STEAM and / or entrepreneurial activities for Year 4 – Year 10 students
- Presented by attending students / teachers / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
2.35 PM
WHERE TO FROM HERE
- The intent of this session is to build connections and networks to continue growing and learning after the conference.
San Damiano Centre
2.50 PM
UBTECH Simon Says – Be an Ironman!
Work in teams to test your problem solving and programming skills. Simon Says is a game we have all played as children. Using a Simon Says theme, student teams will be taking turns to command Iron man into action. The last team remaining will take home the Iron man as a prize!
San Damiano Centre
3.50 PM
FEEDBACK AND CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
Invitation to be on the Steering Committee for next year
San Damiano Centre
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
VENUE
MOUNT ALVERNIA COLLEGE
82 Cremorne Rd
Kedron QLD 4031
DATE
Friday 9 August 2019
TIME / AGENDA 8.15am open
8.40am start – 3.50pm finish
CONFERENCE RATES
Early bird Teacher $135*
Teacher $195
Student Teacher $66
Student $30
inclusive of GST, morning tea and lunch
*book by 21 June
VIEW FAQ’s
When registering payment methods are via invoice and direct deposit within 14 days, for full details click on the register button. Alternatively call Rachel on +61 (0) 411 270 277 to coordinate your registration.
The Steering Committee
Daniel Crump – Mount Alvernia College
Brett Crawford – STEM Champion Education QLD
Kirsty Schultz – Parklands Christian College
Jodi-Ann Gulley – Brisbane Catholic Education
Linda Clark – Mount Alvernia College
Rebecca Harris – Independent Schools QLD
Adrian Bertolini – Intuyu Consulting
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 MelbourneMajor Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
CONTACT 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
ONLINE
Email: office@spark-educonferences.com.au
Web: spark-educonferences.com.au
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