Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths at The Grange P-12 College
“Significant changes in Victoria’s economy mean there is a greater need for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths capabilities than ever before. Our employers are increasingly looking for workers who are creative problem solvers, innovative and critical thinkers, and able to use new technologies” (STEM in the Education State, Victoria, 2016).
The Grange P-12 College has a strong Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths-based approach at all levels, underpinned by a focus on developing skills in inquiry and problem solving, and supported by specialist staff.
We have a dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths room at both the Callistemon and Deloraine Campus which allows our students access to an exciting Makerspace and design area. By 2020 the Deloraine Campus will have a specialised Digital Research Centre where students will have the opportunity to experience Virtual Reality based Learning, Coding, Robotics and investigate the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in learning and future pathways.
In the early primary years at the Callistemon Campus, students are exposed to a range of topics within an inquiry approach, which fosters a love of learning about the natural world. This is integrated through such topics as earth science, life cycles of living things (eg. mini- beasts) as well as forces of nature and motion of objects. Later primary years focus further on electricity and science across the world, whilst delving into the exciting multi-media world of animation, coding, robotics, digital photography and graphic design.
As students enter early secondary schooling at our Deloraine Campus, they will extend their inquiry and problem-solving skills by studying at least one dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths unit as part of our Core Science subject. In Year 7, our physics unit is Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths based and focused around forces and how we can safely design an “egg parachute”. In Year 8 our students need to design and build a solar car which links in with mathematical concepts such as calculating speed and the effect of wind resistance on the car design. In Year 9 physics, our Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths unit is around Wiring a model house, using both parallel and series circuits. Our Year 10 students Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths unit is based around the concept that, the motion of an object involves the interaction of forces and the exchange of energy.
In the middle and later years of schooling, students begin to specialise their Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths focus in such areas as robotics, coding, application design and game development
The College maintains excellent relationships with local Universities and provides opportunities for students to participate in extra-curricular programs such as the Grade 6 REAL robotics program and the Year 10 Science and Engineering Challenge with Victoria University. Our annual Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Night offers all students and their families an exciting evening full of fun, engaging hands-on experiments, competitions and demonstrations by staff and students alike.
