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 Youth Entrepreneur and STEAM conference is to bring together Boys and their 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 DEREK LONG
Centre for Agricultural Engineering
University of Southern Queensland
PROFESSOR JONTI HORNER
Centre for Astrophysics
University of Southern Queensland
Derek and the team at the CAE are at the forefront of how drones, robotics, smartphones and machine vision can be used to monitor and improve agriculture such as the cotton, grains and livestock industries. He also enjoys introducing machine vision to school students, and has been running hands-on machine vision workshops for schools in the Toowoomba area since 2016.
Jonti is an astronomer and astrobiologist whose research interests include the search for planets orbiting other stars (exoplanets), the formation and evolution of our Solar system, and the factors that come together to make a given planet (like the Earth) more or less suitable for the development and survival of life. He is a keen amateur astronomer and astrophotographer so expect some great images!
PROGRAM
We will have the brightest educators, organisations and boys 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: 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 / 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 Year 4 to 10 students and their 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.
*note: workshops listed are from the postponed 2020 conference – we are in the process of confirming all for 2021
TEACHER MINI-MASTER CLASSES
Curiouser and Curiouser
Rebecca Brownhall
Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office
3D Printing Basics
Steph Piper
University of Southern QLD
My Cockpit to Your Classroom
Cran Middlecoat
It’s Rocket Science Adventures
Assessing and Leading STEM Learning
Dr Adrian Bertolini
Intuyu Consulting
Setting up a STEM program in Primary Schools
Amanda Kilgour
QLD Dept of Education
Making Technology Matter in the Mathematics Classroom
Vanessa Crouch
Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office
Running Engaging Arduino Projects for Students
Ian Kotze
Junior Engineers
Simple Spatial Technologies in the Classroom
Mick Law
Contour Education
DIGI-DESIGN MINI WORKSHOPS + STEAM EXPO
Combining art and science to explore solar UV radiation
Dr Joanna Turner
University of Southern QLD
The AfterMATH
Ted Carter and Amanda Taylor
Edwoodcation
Imagine. Prototype. Automate.
Shane Krog
Gatton State School
The ‘Art of Intelligence’ – AI Robotics
Fraser Border
IntegratedSTEM
Immersive Science: Collaborative Virtual Reality in the Classroom
Jackie Bondell, OzGrav
(ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery)
iMovie Masterclass
Liam Roberts
Lake Clarendon Independent Public School
An introduction to AI
Martin Richard, Education Services Australia
Save the Great Barrier Reef from Home / School
Diana Kleine, Monique Grol : CoralWatch
The University of Queensland
Create a Chatbot
Joy Taylor
CoderDojo Toowoomba
Digital Design with Makers Empire and 3d Printing
Jay Wright
Vale View State School
Biological Activity and Gaming
David Rentell
Concordia Lutheran College
Founderfest – An Entrepreneur Experience
Joy Taylor
Startup Toowoomba
Build a Catapult
Jennifer McPhie
Toowoomba Grammar School
Building robots for purpose
Nathan Stone
St Johns School Roma
The artful eye of Escher
Rebecca Brownhall
Toowoomba Catholic Schools – Lighthouse Numeracy Project
Energy Transformation – More than Meets the Eye
Peter Cavallaro and Mitch Cobcroft
Nanango SHS
Programming with Arduino
James Bishop
Concordia Lutheran College
MORE WORKSHOPS COMING SOON……
STEAM EXPO
Machine Vision in Agriculture
Derek Long
USQ
Putting the M Back into STEAM!
Ted Carter and Amanda Taylor
Edwooducation
TechCentral: 3D Printing, Artificial Intelligence & Electronics
Matt Armanasco
IntegratedSTEM
Blast Off to the Virtual Universe!
Jackie Bondell
OzGrav
Monkeying around with Python
Andrew Brodie and Adam Jacobs
Junior Engineers
Optimising Rocket Design
Its Rocket Science Adventures
3D Printing a Business!
Jay Wright and students
Vale View State School
Use of chromatography in forensics
Jennifer McPhie
Toowoomba Grammar School
Maze Runner
Bianca Willis and Goombungee SS students
Digital Technologies Hub – PLAY + INVENT
Martin Richards & Louise Bowe
Education Services Australia
Programming a 5-Axis Robotic Arm
Lindsay Watt and Samual Ashcroft
RAWrobotics
Learning with Micro:bits and Makey Makey
Emma Pukallus and students
Haden State School
First Lego League Challenges
Bianca Willis and Goombungee SS / Oakey State HS students
Problem Solving Programming with Spheros
Piers Dudin
Assumption College Warwick
Using STEM to manage agricultural pests
Kristen Knight
Bayer
Melting Metal Mementos
Mark Baker
Assumption College Warwick
MORE WORKSHOPS COMING SOON……
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.
BattleBots: A Tale of Mayhem & Destruction
Basem Aly & Lizzy Cleland
IntegratedSTEM
Growing Food as Medicine – a STEM project for schools
Professor Lindsay Brown
University of Southern QLD
War on Waste: The WarCry
Peter Harris
University of Southern QLD
It’s Rocket Science!
Cran Middlecoat
Its Rocket Science Adventures
Design thinking: the art of designing challenges creatively
University of Queensland
Global Citizens of Mathematics- My Life as a Refugee
Rebecca Brownhall
TCS – Lighthouse Numeracy Project
Noise! Noise! Everywhere!
Mick Law
Contour Education
Save Water – Save The Farms
Rashan Senanayake
Inspired Education
An Indigenous approach to combating climate change
Joshua Waters
Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office
MORE SESSIONS TO COME……
FLOW OF THE DAY
TIME
EVENT / ACTIVITY
LOCATION
8.15 AM
REGISTRATION, COFFEE/TEA & NETWORKING
8.45 AM
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Welcome to Participants, Set up for the Day, Housekeeping
Stadium
9.00 AM
Keynote Speaker – Dr Derek Long
Stadium
9.40 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
9.40 AM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS + STEAM Expo (Rotation 1)
- 45 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
10.35 AM
MORNING TEA
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
11.10 AM
PROBLEM SOLVERS
- 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
12.40 PM
LUNCH
An opportunity to network with other teachers and students, and explore trade displays.
1.15 PM
Keynote Speaker – Professor Jonti Horner
Stadium
2.05 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
2.05 PM
DIGIDESIGN MINI-WORKSHOPS + STEAM Expo (Rotation 2)
- 45 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
3.00PM
WHERE TO FROM HERE
Student Session
- Awarding of prizes to attendess, conference feedback
- Opportunity for teachers and students to meet with university and industry experts, expert teachers and inspiring students.
Teacher Session
- The intent of this session is to build connections and networks to continue growing and learning after the conference.
Stadium
3.30 PM
CLOSE OF CONFERENCE
Invitation to be on the Steering Committee for the following year.
Stadium
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
VENUE
ST MARY’S COLLEGE
129 West St
Toowoomba QLD 4350
DATE Wednesday 2 June 2021
TIME / AGENDA 8.15am open
8.45am start – 3.30pm finish
CONFERENCE RATES
Early bird Teacher tba
Teacher tba
Early bird Student tba*
Student tba
inclusive of GST, morning tea and lunch
*book by tba
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.
Conference Steering Committee
David Lewis – St Mary’s College
Donna Kerr – Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office
Wayne Williams – St Mary’s College
Adrian Bertolini – Spark EDU Conferences
Amanda Kilgour – QLD Department of Education
Dennis Wolbers – Concordia Lutheran College
Jennifer McPhie – Darling Downs STEM Hub
“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“Well done on a terrific conference at Scotch College last Friday. It was possibly the best STEM event I have been to over the past 2 years - and I've been to a few and the feeling around the event was very positive.”
Tony Doyle,
Junior School STEM Teacher, Ruyton Girls' School
Silver Sponsor
Spark Scholarship
