How might you design a gadget that keeps wildlife from eating the rubbish on school playgrounds? How might you stop erosion?
They were just some of the questions students from five schools tackled as part of a STEM (an integrated approach to learning including Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) project.
Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School, Bossley Park hosted the student-led showcase day on Thursday which involved projects from St Anthony of Padua, Austral, St Francis Xavier, Lurnea, Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Mount Pritchard and Marion Catholic Primary School, Horsley Park.
Students used the engineering design process, which included using a 3D printer to create and evaluate a prototype, to solve a series of problems. The project also gave them an opportunity to develop higher order thinking skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and collaboration.
Mary Immaculate Primary School science and technology coordinator Ashley Azzopardi said the students were excited to share their STEM projects with each other.
“They excitedly walked around and visited each stall. They listened to students talk about their projects and asked questions and even offered feedback about how their idea could be improved,” she said.
“The students often spoke about their failures and what they learnt from their failures on their journey to their final solution.”
Read original article: STEM project unites schools