A strategy for STEM in state schools

Schools of the future

Engaging STEM Girl Power Camp students in the World Science Festival Brisbane

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Increasing demand touch every aspect of today’s world, and the innovations for STEM graduates in the workforce that emerge from these fields underpin the global economy. Employment Our challenge is to ensure we prepare every young in STEM growing Growing use and impact Queenslander to take advantage of the many opportunities of information and a knowledge-based economy offers and become the communication technologies entrepreneurs of tomorrow. 2x faster than other occupations We must harness the passion for change and innovation Rapid application of by engaging students in STEM and providing them with the scientific advances in new opportunities they need to develop as problem solvers, critical products and processes and creative thinkers.

Our teachers are critical to the success of our plan for STEM. High rates of innovation $ Supporting teachers to innovate and engage with cutting edge required of businesses to science and teaching practice will transform the teaching of stay competitive STEM in every state school.

Shifts to more Fewer Australian students knowledge-intensive enrolled in STEM fields than industries and services in other comparable countries

Our plan for STEM in Queensland state schools will:

• lift participation of students including girls and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students • give every state school access to a specialist STEM teacher • ensure every state school offers the Digital Technologies curriculum, including coding and robotics. Building teacher capability More students engaged Achieving excellence to transform STEM learning in STEM learning in STEM learning

• creating opportunities for professional • engaging schools in the Entrepreneurs of • promoting targeted initiatives to lift learning for teachers in STEM through Tomorrow program providing opportunities student performance in STEM, including the STEM Hub, Queensland Coding for students to work with industry experts scientific and mathematical literacy and Academy and practical resources to and develop their business plans opportunities for Indigenous students support classroom practice • challenging students to solve real world • implementing the Australian Curriculum: • mentoring and coaching for teachers by coding problems through the Premier’s Digital Technologies in state schools regionally-based STEM champions Creating Queensland’s Future coding • providing STEM-specific curriculum competition • giving every state school access to a resources, through the Curriculum in the specialist STEM teacher • encouraging girls to engage in STEM Classroom project, to develop students’ initiatives such as the STEM Girl Power skills in literacy, critical and creative • offering targeted Step into STEM Teaching Camp and mentoring by STEM champions thinking, and problem solving Scholarships for high-achieving preservice STEM educators • partnering with the Commonwealth • engaging and challenging the best and Scientific and Industrial Research brightest students from Years 5 to 9 • partnering with the Queensland University Organisation (CSIRO) to deliver STEM through the STEM virtual academies of Technology (QUT) to develop a programs to Aboriginal and Torres Strait framework for regional school clusters Islander students in state schools to build teacher capability and relationships with industry and universities • connecting students across Queensland to cutting edge STEM resources and • extending high quality STEM teaching innovation through the STEM Hub and the through STEM in Action grants and the Queensland Coding Academy Peter Doherty Awards for Excellence in Working Together STEM Education Through partnerships with industry, universities and the community: • schools will provide world-class STEM learning Student engagement is also enhanced by programs that provide specialised training and support for both primary and secondary teachers. • students will be ready for the jobs of the future. Professional development for teachers and educators is essential.

Dr Geoff Garrett AO Office of the QLD Chief Scientist

75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations require STEM skills. Our focus on STEM will help to ensure that every Queensland student can succeed in our changing world.

Kate Jones MP Minister for Education For more information on coding and robotics, visit www.advancingeducation.qld.gov.au

1 Craig, E. et al., 2011. No Shortage of Talent: how the global market is producing the STEM skills needed for growth, Accenture Institute for High Performance. 2 OECD, 2011. Over-Qualified or Over-Skilled: A review of existing literature, OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, No 121. 3 Marginson, S. et al., 2013. STEM Country Comparisons: International comparisons of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, Australian Council of Learned Academies, Melbourne. 4 Office of the Chief Scientist 2014, Science, technology, engineering and mathematics: Australia’s future, Australian Government, Canberra.

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