The 2017 Horizon report acknowledges that significant challenges in implementing technology adoption in k-12 education is a lack of authentic learning experiences.
“STEM education refers to a cross-disciplinary approach to teaching that increases student interest in STEM related fields and improves students’ problem solving and critical analysis skills.” (National STEM School Education Council Strategy, 2015)
This presentation will discuss the benefits of authentic learning tasks and how Knox Grammar School is using Integrated Learning Tasks (ILAs) and STEAM, to provide students with an opportunity to see the synergy that exists between subjects and to realise their interconnectedness to real life experiences.
We will dive deep into the development and implementation of our Mission to Mars project, where teams developed a Mars sustainable colony. Areas of interest that will be covered include:
Why ILAs and STEM are a perfect fit NASA video conference interactive session from the Johnson Space Centre Integration of Mathematics, Science, English Technology (Scratch coding) and Language tasks into the project Submission of a Mars Mission Entrance Exam (M.E.E.) Building of the environment using Minecraft Submission of a 3-minute video walk through of their completed environment. Click link for example of completed task https://youtu.be/Ya9Qlrct71g
Teachers will leave this session with all the resources required to complete or adapt the project for their school. Please note, Minecraft was not mandated for this task, it can ba adapted to other means of presenting your final product
The presentation will also focus briefly on a Year 9 Biomechanics STEM ILA and a Year 7 United Nations Sustainability ILA.
