Friday 15 November 2019
The intent of the “It Takes a Spark” conference is to bring together students and teachers with industry and universities using an authentic sharing and experiential model. Participants will connect with inspiring industry role models, share their current school based activities and projects with one another, 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 STEM 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 STEM 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) STEM 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
DR KARI PITTS
Senior Chemist and Mineralogist
ChemCentre, Superstar of STEM
DR LAURA KUHAR
Research Team Leader CSIRO
Superstar of STEM
Dr Kari Pitts is the Senior Chemist and Mineralogist in the Physical Evidence Team of ChemCentre’s Forensic Science Laboratory. She holds a PhD and a Masters in Forensic Science from UWA, and a Bachelor of Science with Honours from Curtin University. Her expertise is analysing remnants of everyday life left at crime scenes; paint, glass, gunshot residue, soils, fibres, and anything else that isn’t biological, a drug or radioactive. Dr Pitts has reported over 300 cases and given expert evidence in criminal trials in Australia and New Zealand.
Dr Laura Kuhar is a research team leader in the CSIRO Minerals group. She is working towards the vision of a world with invisible mining operations – no expansive open-cut holes in the ground, no tailings dumps and slimes dams, no dust and no dangers posed to underground miners. Laura has a chemical engineering degree and holds a PhD in chemistry. Laura is passionate about enthusing children about science and believes that their interest has to be peaked at a young age to keep them involved.
PROGRAM
We will have the brightest educators, organisations and students who are passionate about STEM 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: senior students and / or teachers / university / industry / sponsors
Audience: Teachers
Embedding STEM 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 and / or teachers / university / sponsors / organisations
Audience: Students Years 4 to 10 and Teachers
Students inspiring students
Interactive, hands on STEM or entrepreneurial activities
Students 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 An Age Old Problem, Bee-pocalypse, TurtleGate, and supporting mobility impaired students to shine.
Each session will have a different real life design or STEM challenge to solve aimed at 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.
Student and / or Teacher Digi-Design Mini Workshops
Problem Solvers Design Challenge
Each session has a different real life design or STEM challenge to solve aimed at Year 4 to 10 students and teachers. 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
Main Room
9.00 AM
Keynote Speaker – Dr Kari Pitts
Theme: Being someone who makes a difference using the skills inherent in STEM and Entrepreneurship (Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Courage)
Main Room
9.40 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 STEM in their curriculum (e.g. App design, Creativity, Circular Design, Integrated STEM, etc.)
- Various sessions will address beginning teachers, next step and extending
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
9.40 AM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS (Rotation 1)
- 40 min sessions
- For teachers and students
- Parallel workshops
- Workshops demonstrate hands-on STEM and / or entrepreneurial activities for Year 4 – Year 10 students
- Presented by attending students / teachers / universities / sponsors / organisations
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
10.25 AM
MORNING TEA
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
10.55 AM
PROBLEM SOLVERS DESIGN CHALLENGE
- 80 min session – parallel sessions aimed at Year 4 to 10 students and teachers
- 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
12.20 PM
LUNCH
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
1.10 PM
Keynote Speaker – Dr Laura Kuhar
Theme: Being someone who makes a difference using the skills inherent in STEM and Entrepreneurship (Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Courage)
Main Room
1.50 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 STEM in their curriculum (e.g. App design, Creativity, Circular Design, Integrated STEM, etc.)
- Various sessions will address beginning teachers, next step and extending
Breakout Rooms
Pre-registration required
1.50 PM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS (Rotation 2)
- 40 min sessions
- For teachers and students
- Parallel workshops
- Workshops demonstrate hands-on STEM 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
- Opportunity for teachers and students to meet with university and industry experts, other teachers and students.
- The intent of this session is for students and teachers to build connections and networks to continue growing and learning after the conference.
Main Room
3.05 PM
FEEDBACK AND CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
Invitation to be on the Steering Committee for next year
Main Room
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
VENUE
JOHN CURTIN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
90 Ellen Street
Fremantle WA 6160
DATE Friday 15 November 2019
TIME 8.15am open
8.40am start – 3.05pm finish
CONFERENCE RATES
Early bird Teacher $165.00*
Teacher full fee $220.00
Pre-service Teacher $77.00
Student $33.00
Presenting Teacher – no charge (two max.)
*book early bird by 18/10/19
Subsidised Government School*
Teacher $125.00
Student $20.00
*non-refundable
All fees incl. of GST, Morning tea and Lunch
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.
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 Melbourne
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
Find us on social media
Facebook: @SparkEDUConferences
Instagram: Spark.in.STEAM
© 2019 Intuyu Consulting Pty Ltd