Following Dr Finkel’s address to Quantum Victoria’s STEM in Context: School Leaders’ Conference in June, the Victorian Department of Education has released a news article.

The event saw more than 100 Victorian school principals, assistant principals and lead teachers engage with leaders who influence and inform science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education policy.

Read the article below or at the Victorian Department of Education’s website.

STEM in Context: Victoria’s School Leaders Speak Science

More than 100 Victorian school principals, assistant principals and lead teachers engaged with leaders who influence and inform science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education policy at the STEM in Context: School Leaders’ Conference.

Hosted by Quantum Victoria, one of Victoria’s six Science and Mathematics Specialist Centres, located at Charles La Trobe P-12 College in Macleod, the conference was a chance for school leaders to hear from Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO and Victoria’s Lead Scientist Dr Leonie Walsh.

'I’ve always been interested in science,’ Dr Finkel said.

'I was interested in biology and physics for as long as I can remember. It was topped up by teachers at school. I had some wonderful teachers. There was my physics teacher in years 11 and 12, Mr Noonan. He was a wonderful communicator. As he was explaining experiments, he could not keep the smile off his face.’

'If you are thinking about being a teacher in science, I would encourage you to do an undergraduate degree in science, getting that deep discipline knowledge. Then go and do a Masters in education. Then you would be an ideal teacher and a happy one.’

The conference was part of the Government’s commitment to boost professional learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders in STEM. One of the main Education State targets aims to see 25 per cent more Year 9 students reach the highest level of achievement in maths and 33 per cent more 15-year-olds reach the highest levels of achievement in science.

Among an investment of $30 million to improve science and maths teaching for students who need it most is the Secondary STEM Catalysts initiative. Within this new initiative, 60 teachers in 30 disadvantaged schools will receive specialist training to lead, encourage and mentor other teachers to make STEM education come alive for Years 7 and 8 students.

This commitment to boosting the professional learning opportunities for teachers in STEM education also includes:

• funding for 200 teachers at 100 disadvantaged schools to become maths and science specialists in the Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists initiative
• a five-day professional learning program for the 100 existing Primary Mathematics and Science Specialists to study their alternate discipline.

As well as discussing the need for STEM education in the 21st century and Australia’s position in the global STEM landscape, the conference was a chance for those in schools to give feedback on what’s going on at a school level across Victoria.

For more information about the Primary Mathematics and Science Specialist initiative, see: Primary Mathematics and Science Specialist Initiative

For more information about the Secondary STEM Catalysts initiative, see: Secondary Professional Learning

Quantum is one of six specialist maths and science centres in Victoria, for more information see: Science and Mathematics Specialist Centres