Moreton Bay STEM Fest – Step Up – Transforming secondary mathematics and science pre-service teacher education in Queensland

Step Up pre-service teachers were involved in the recent Moreton Bay STEM Fest which saw 240 students from Brisbane’s northside undertake an eight-week robot-building journey.

Eight schools took part – Aspley State High, Bray Park State High, Burpengary State Secondary College, Dakabin State High, Deception Bay State High, Murrumba State Secondary College, North Lakes State College and Pine Rivers State High.

Step Up pre-service teachers from Queensland University of Technology visited school classrooms and helped Year 7, 8 and 9 students design and code LEGO Mindstorms EV3 robots to compete in a series of technical challenges, including navigating courses, moving items and timed races.

“Robotics encourages students to have fun with STEM concepts and gain confidence, knowledge, and skills at the same time,” said QUT education student Suzette Argent (pictured above right, with North Lakes students), who is studying a Graduate Diploma in Education – Biology and is also a Step Up Ambassador.

“STEM skills are increasingly critical for students’ job prospects with 75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations in Australia requiring these skills,” said Sharon Cordiner, the Deputy Principal of Murrumba State Secondary College. Moreton Bay STEM Fest is leading the way, bringing together local schools and working closely with QUT to provide world-class STEM learning and prepare our students for the jobs of the future.”