Students from Annandale Christian College with Natalie Wright (SLQ) and Chris Campbell (UQ)

Teachers from Annandale Christian College in Townsville joined pre-service teachers from James Cook University for a hands-on design-thinking workshop facilitated by QUT, UQ and the State Library, QLD.

The pre-service teachers worked alongside in-service teachers to do some hands-on STEAM Room activities- competing in the Marshmallow Challenge, thinking of 50 ideas in 15 minutes and building 3-Dimensional prototypes.

STEAM incorporates the Arts and creative problem-solving into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) problems in the classroom.

“During the workshop, teachers were encouraged to reflect on the day’s activities and translate them into a creative approach to teaching in the classroom,” says Jacinta Bury, organising teacher from Annandale Christian College.

“If we can facilitate learning and sharing of resources and best practice between teachers and pre-service teachers, then we will see the direct benefits in our students.”

“Teaching students to use design-thinking to solve problems encourages them to organise and process information in new ways”, says Natalie Wright, workshop facilitator and Manager of the Asia Pacific Design Library, State Library Queensland.

“It is a skill that extends beyond the classroom and one which students and teachers alike will use for life.”

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