The STEM Studio is seeking pre-service teachers with a strong interest in teaching science, technology, education and maths to take part in a pilot project starting at QUT in March 2015.

Led by QUT, the STEM Studio is an innovative new program aiming to enhance science and mathematics pre-service secondary teacher education.

Together, QUT’s Science and Engineering Faculty and Faculty of Education are piloting the STEM Studio, a collaborative space for testing best-practice STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) teaching for Queensland secondary school students. QUT science and maths education students are invited to participate in the pilot program in 1st Semester 2015.

The STEM Studio will bring together the knowledge and expertise of in-service teachers, academics and learning designers, who will work with pre-service teachers to design and deliver STEM education in a more realistic and problem-focused way.

Project Leader, Professor Les Dawes, says that the STEM Studio model aims to provide a safe environment for pre-service teachers, to collaboratively design and deliver STEM modules for secondary school students.

The STEM Studio is a collaborative project between QUT, Griffith University, and James Cook University. The pilot stage undertaken at QUT will be used to develop a framework to then be trialled with partner universities and schools.

These STEM Studio collaborations will allow evaluation of the challenges and opportunities that this approach offers, in relation to current learning and teaching strategies used in secondary science and mathematics pre-service teacher education programs.

Professor Les Dawes, Step Up Project Leader.

Pre-service teachers who take part in the program have the opportunity to gain a teaching edge through practising innovative teaching techniques and reflecting on their teaching practice through video analysis, survey responses and informal feedback.

Taking part in this program alongside practicum requirements, STEM Studio participants will benefit from building their professional networks and hours will contribute to professional engagement under the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

The STEM Studio is part of Step Up, a 3 year collaborative project between QUT, the Australian Catholic University, Griffith University, James Cook University and the University of Queensland, which is supported by the Australian Government Office for Teaching and Learning. Step Up aims to transform the nature and delivery of mathematics and science pre-service secondary teacher education in Queensland.

The STEM Studio is currently seeking pre-service teachers (2nd to 4th year and Graduate Diploma level) with a strong interest in teaching science, technology, education and maths to take part in the pilot project starting March 2015.

For further information and to register your interest in this opportunity, visit www.edstem.wordpress.com/stem-studio or contact Kathy Nickels, STEM Studio Project Officer, (07) 3138 2924 or katherine.nickels@qut.edu.au

Media contact: Kathryn Gray, Step Up Project Officer – Communication, (07) 3138 4834 or kathryn.gray@qut.edu.au

Image courtesy QUT STEM High School Engagement.