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Advocating for STEM

Advocating for STEM

  • Cool+
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Design and Technologies
  • Information and Communication Technologies
  • Environmental
  • Economic
  • Design Thinking
  • Systems Thinking
  • Technology
  • ...

Course summary

In this course, you will find out how to advocate for STEM learning at your school.

You will learn:

This course will help you understand the value of STEM and how to begin authentic STEM programs within your school. You’ll learn:

  • What is STEM and why is it so important.
  • Why we should advocate for STEM in schools.
  • What advocating for STEM means.
  • How you can advocate for STEM in schools.
  • Solutions to the challenges faced in advocating STEM learning.

Course time:

This course will take you 2 hours to complete. Enjoy it in one session or spread it out over a few weeks. You will have ongoing access via your personal dashboard.

Accreditation:

This course is mapped to the Professional Standards for Teachers. It is accredited for teacher professional development hours in the following states and territories:

Proficient Teacher – all states and territories except NSW:

  • 3.3 Select and use relevant teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem-solving and critical and creative thinking.
  • 4.1 Establish and implement inclusive and positive interactions to engage and support all students in classroom activities.

This course is accredited by TQI for 2 hours professional development for teachers in the ACT for 2024.

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Course Content

Getting started

Getting started

01.
Introduction
02.
Set some learning goals
03.
Meet your STEM expert
Understanding the value of STEM

Understanding the value of STEM

04.
Why is STEM important
05.
Why should we advocate for STEM in schools?
06.
What does advocacy for STEM mean
07.
Imagine if...
What does successful STEM education look like?

What does successful STEM education look like?

08.
What might a successful STEM program look like?
09.
What are other schools doing?
10.
Focus STEM programs on the local community
11.
Networks to maintain STEM advocacy momentum
How to advocate for STEM

How to advocate for STEM

12.
Think beyond the silos
13.
Celebrate failure
14.
Start early
15.
Advocating for STEM budget
16.
Engaging experts
17.
Make it authentic
18.
Overcoming challenges
Your STEM teaching

Your STEM teaching

19.
Cool lesson plans
Reflection

Reflection

20.
Reflection
21.
Taxonomy of learning
22.
Suggestions for collaboration
23.
Congratulations

Course instructors

Krista Nisi is the Head Writer at Cool Australia and brings over 15 years of experience working in education, tertiary education and local government. She holds a Masters in Environment (Environmental Education) from the University of Melbourne. Krista looks for innovative ways to involve young people in early learning and school education by helping them explore, think about and engage with the world around them.

Mark Drummond from Cool Australia is your course teacher. He has worked in the education sector for over 11 years as a classroom teacher, Leader of Pedagogy within an Ed-Tech start-up and as an educational consultant. Mark is an absolute science nerd and loves talking about dinosaurs as much as he loves talking about education (which is a lot)!

In this course, you hear from Nick Pattison. Nick is a STEM specialist teacher who has been an advocate for STEM in schools in NZ schools, where he worked for 8 years and set up STEM programs in both primary and secondary schools where community, industry and schools work together. Nick has recently moved to Australia having recently started a new role as a STEM coordinator in Tulliallan Primary, Victoria.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this take to complete?

This course will take you 2 hours to complete. Enjoy it in one session or spread it out over a few weeks. You will have ongoing access via your personal dashboard.

How does it work?

You will get a Cool.org certificate when you finish, which you can access any time via your personal dashboard, it will also be sent to you by email.

Is this course accredited?

This course is mapped to the Professional Standards for Teachers. It is accredited for teacher professional development hours in the following states and territories:

Proficient Teacher – all states and territories except ACT and NSW:

  • 3.3 Select and use relevant teaching strategies to develop knowledge, skills, problem solving and critical and creative thinking.
  • 4.1 Establish and implement inclusive and positive interactions to engage and support all students in classroom activities.

This course is accredited by TQI for 2 hours of professional development for teachers in the ACT for 2024.

This course is not currently accredited in NSW (NESA). However, it can be counted toward NESA PD elective hours.

What are the curriculum links?

  • Science, Mathematics, Design and Technology
  • General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking
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