2018 Annual Report 0 | P a G E
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GTAC in focus 2018 Annual Report 0 | P a g e GTAC in focus Our Mission CONTENTS To excite Victorian students and teachers in GTAC in focus STEM by providing equitable access to leading About GTAC 2 life science expertise, practices and Year at a glance 3 technologies Directors message 4 Our specialty 5 Our Vision GTAC scientist mentors 6 Victorian students inspired by STEM through Expanding our specialist capability innovation in Life Science education Launching a new focus area: 8 Digital technologies A new School-Industry Our Values 9 partnership with CSL Limited Innovative thinking Victorian students performing 10 High expectations of selves and real research others Collaborations with STEM Critical reflection and continuous research and education 11 improvement institutions GTAC Advisory Board 12 Inclusive and encouraging learning environments Equitable access to GTAC programs Positive communication, collaboration Student and teacher 14 and consideration of ideas participation Residential Indigenous Science Sharing our joy and wonder of the life 15 sciences Experience A remarkable virtual learning 16 environment Strategic priorities Innovations in Professional 17 Learning Inspire students and teachers in STEM through exposure to contemporary Providing quality programs life sciences What students tell us about 20 Sustain an environment that supports their GTAC experience Teacher evaluation of student innovation in life science education in 21 programs STEM Enable increased reach and impact on Centre operations student outcomes in STEM, with a Centre organisation 24 particular focus on equity for Operating statement 25 disadvantaged students We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which our Centre is located, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and pay our respects to their elders past and present. 1 | P a g e GTAC in focus Victoria’s Science and Mathematics Specialist Centres GTAC is one of the six Science and Mathematics equity focus on rural and disadvantaged Specialist Centres established by the Victorian metropolitan schools. Department of Education and Training (DET). This network of six Centres aims to improve student Each Centre is hosted by a government experience and achievement in STEM by secondary school. The Centres each have an area providing learning programs that encompass of specialisation, while operating collectively as a new and emerging scientific thinking, state of the statewide network. The Centres have a focus on art facilities and cutting edge technologies. The the development of partnerships with local Centres provide specialised programs for all organisations, industry and universities. The Victorian students and teachers. They have an Specialist Science and Mathematics Centres Network proudly operates under the following Governance Principles: Excellence Integrity Transparency Equity Accountability About GTAC Science, Technology, Engineering and The Centre is hosted by the University High Mathematics (STEM) are key to future School located in Parkville. This places GTAC in productivity in Australia. To inspire the next the major medical and bioscientific research generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, it is precinct in Australia that underpins the important that Victoria’s youth are exposed to biotechnology industry. Our science and STEM-related careers and the opportunity to education partners are The Walter and Eliza Hall practice STEM-related skills. GTAC provides Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) and The opportunities for students and teachers to University of Melbourne (UoM). Our location and collaborate with practicing scientists as they partnerships facilitate access to practicing apply cutting edge technologies to investigate scientists and education experts and strengthen contemporary life sciences. GTAC is proud of its our standing in the Science and Education reputation as a leader in life science education. communities. We offer engaging and immersive programs to inspire Victorian teachers and students in the life sciences. Our partners 2 | P a g e GTAC in focus Year at a glance Our Reach Victorian Schools 87% of secondary schools 29% of all schools Victorian Students 12,515 participated in a face-to - face program 93,044 participated in an online 239 STEM and education program experts connected with students and teachers in Victorian Teachers GTAC programs. 1,264 teachers participated in Professional Learning 91 GTAC Scientist mentors employed to lead small groups of students in Onsite Student Participation investigations 7,500 31 Collaborations with science research Actual 8,111 institutions, societies and industries on student and Demand 15,887 teacher programs 3 | P a g e GTAC in focus Director’s message: Skilling Victoria’s future workforce Victoria’s network of Science and Mathematics Specialist Centres are an invaluable resource in engaging students and teachers in STEM. Collectively we enabled 90,522 school students to access authentic STEM hands-on experiences in 2018, and we influenced STEM teaching practices in 672 Victorian schools. support resourcing and design of these new programs. And we welcomed Techo to our team, A 2017 report released by the Australian Industry a humanoid robot named by Grace from Boisdale and Skills Committee highlights trends that will Consolidated School. Grace, a year 6 student, impact Australia’s future workplaces and the collaborated with her peers to program Techo to skills workers will require to participate in the interact with humans in response to an workforce. In response we are building our emergency outbreak of disease. capacity to design and deliver education solutions that champion future skills needs. This We received generous funding from CSL to year’s annual report focuses on GTACs strategic expand delivery of our five-day Science approach to preparing students for careers of the Immersion Research Experience (SIRE) program. future through: SIRE programs provide students the opportunity to participate in authentic research teams Inspiring students to pursue studies in STEM alongside Victorian STEM experts. This year, four and practice skills for future careers year 10 students who contributed to the Innovating in STEM education by fostering discovery of a new tick species during a SIRE our capacity to be change leaders and pilot program became published authors of a peer- novel approaches to teaching and learning reviewed journal article! Enabling increased reach and impact through industry funding and collaborations CSL funding also enriched our partnership with with STEM institutions our host school. Collaborating with the Elizabeth Blackburn Sciences (EBS) team we helped to raise To strengthen our staff collective efficacy we the percentage of students conducting a practical established a Professional Learning Community. investigation for the Extended Investigation VCE This provides a platform for harnessing the subject from 35% in 2017 to 70% in 2018. power of disruptive thinking, for trialing new ideas and examining data collectively to improve It is invigorating to be mobilizing advances in our practice and our impact in the STEM learning STEM education. 2019 is a year for getting on the space. balcony to reflect on the STEM landscape and consider strategies to future-proof GTACs New student and teacher programs were capability to invigorate STEM education in developed to immerse students in applying Victoria. Consultation with our partners, critical thinking, design thinking, digital collaborators and participants will inform a new technologies and robotics to explore life sciences strategic plan for 2020 - 2024. challenges. We established a new collaboration with the school of computing and information Jacinta Duncan systems at the University of Melbourne to 4 | P a g e GTAC in focus Our specialty: an immersive journey in Life Sciences including: Education gaming; animation; reasoning GTAC provides onsite, outreach and virtual learning through scientific modelling; thinking ethically; multi- experiences to support students to reach their modal representation construction; and application potential to achieve success in STEM. In 2018 GTAC of research grade technologies. offered a suite of face-to-face programs including: Our programs: For students - 21 full-day onsite programs; 20 Provide students the opportunity to work school incursion programs; 5 video-conferencing collaboratively in small groups guided by a programs and 6 multi-day programs of 5 or scientist mentor more days in length. Link to the Victorian F10 or VCE curriculum For teachers - 9 full-day teacher Professional Showcase contemporary STEM content, Learning (PL) programs practices and careers For pre-service teachers - 3 half-day PL Explore case studies of positive change involving programs the application of STEM Our teaching and learning model embraces Promote inquiry through active participation intellectual engagement where students collaborate and dialogue with STEM experts to think critically and creatively as they apply STEM knowledge and techniques. We The design, development and delivery of programs employ a variety of pedagogies to promote student involves extensive consideration and resourcing as participation and facilitate knowledge generation shown in the infographic below: 5 | P a g e GTAC in focus GTAC Scientist Mentors: Engaging students in STEM GTAC invests in hiring and training young PhD research scientists to guide small groups of 6 students as they carry out