STEM Illustrations of practice

Cherrybrook Technology High School (Years 9 and 10)

Introduction

Cherrybrook Technology High School is a 7-12 co-educational government school located in Cherrybrook, New South Wales on the Traditional Lands of the Dharug Peoples. In its STEM Connections project, the school chose to address the degradation of it's top playground. Students were given a design brief that asked them to identify issues affecting the top playground and design a potential solution for the targeted area.

Students were members of a Technology elective class. These were the only timetabled lessons for the STEM project. Comprehensive staff planning meant that all teachers involved participated fully. Science and Mathematics teachers took the Technology class whenever learning-area-specific teaching was needed.

The project ran for a semester (about 34 hours). It culminated in an evening event at which students presented to members of the school community, including parents and local businesses.

Students worked in groups of two to three for all aspects of the project.

School sector: Government

School type: Co-educational

Year range: Years 7–12

Total enrolments: 2012

Location: Metropolitan

Teachers at Cherrybrook Technology High School, Eddie Woo, Yetsum Yang and George An were interviewed five years after the STEM Connections project. They discuss the sustainability of the project since it started and the impact the project has had on students and staff. You can listen to the podcast in one episode or eight individual episodes.

           Transcript

Episodes      

Implementation of STEM project

Changes in STEM focus

Girls in STEM

Approaches to STEM

Industry connections

Learning area connections

STEM and design

Current implementation of STEM

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