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EDUCATE ME
Building better futures with Minecraft in the classroom
National Science Week ran in August and saw schools highlighting the importance of the theme for this year , More Than Just Sustainability . The theme highlights how science and innovation are crucial for the survival of various species and ecosystems .
At Mountain View Adventist College , Year 3 started a new STEM project , Building Better Cities , set in the world of Minecraft . Miss Rore , the class ’ s teacher led the students into a virtual world where they could build their own homes , considering both structure and function . As the project progresses , students will be challenged to build sustainable cities , incorporating elements like solar panels , gardens , and recycled materials .
“ At Mountain View we are striving to include more hands on and relevant ways of learning for children . I have been lucky enough to be included in a program to incorporate more STEM into classes . Minecraft seemed the perfect tool for children to learn about sustainability and build their very own design of a modern sustainable city ,” says Miss Rore .
This project is a perfect example of how a game most students are already familiar with can be used as an educational tool , especially during Science Week . The game ’ s open-ended nature allows students to explore and create , making abstract scientific concepts more tangible . By building homes and cities , students learn about architecture , engineering , and environmental science in a hands-on , engaging way .
Projects like Building Better Cities highlight the importance of STEM education and the innovative ways it can be delivered . Minecraft is not just a game ; it ’ s a powerful tool that can inspire the next generation of scientists , engineers , and architects .
Pay rise for early educators while keeping fees down for families in North West Sydney
Every day in North West Sydney parents trust early educators with the most important thing in their world , and every day Australia asks early educators to do one of the most important jobs imaginable . Today , we are making sure those educators are better paid . The Government will fund a 15 per cent wage increase for Early
Childhood Education and Care ( ECEC ) workers . This wage increase will be tied to a commitment from Child Care
Centres to limit fee increases .
This significant wage increase is an important next step in the Government ’ s reforms to the sector , building on the successful Cheaper Child Care changes , which have already benefitted around 9,300 families in Greenway .
This will be phased in over two years , and include a 10 per cent increase from December 2024 , and a further 5 per cent increase from December 2025 .
This means a typical ECEC educator who is paid at the award rate will receive a pay rise of at least $ 103 per week , increasing to at least $ 155 per week from December 2025 .
ECEC workers are some of the most important workers in North West Sydney and they deserve to be paid properly .
This $ 3.6 billion investment from the Government recognises the vital role that ECEC workers play preparing children for school .
To be eligible to receive funding for the wage increase , ECEC services won ’ t be able to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent over the next 12 months from today .
This is an important condition that will keep downward pressure on fees for local families in Greenway . Funding must be passed on in full to employees through increased wages .
This is a win for workers , a win for families and will help ease cost of living pressures for North West Sydney .
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16 ISSUE 42 // SEPTEMBER 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT