ARTICLES
Teaching and learning STEM in context at Belrose Public School (continued)
About the authors
Dr Christine Preston is a Science educator and researcher in The
Sydney School of Education and Social Work, at The University
of Sydney, and kindergarten science specialist at Abbotsleigh.
Tom Davidson is Assistant Principal at Belrose Public School,
where Sharon Killick, Lianne Stephens and Samantha Meikle
are teachers. Annelise Fatkin was a preservice teacher, now
graduate of the University of Sydney as a primary teacher with a
NESA specialisation in Science and Technology.
References
Albion, P., & Campbell, C. (2018). Technologies education for the
primary years. Cengage AU.
Balchin, L (2016). Mechanica: A Beginner’s Field Guide. Simon
and Schuster.
Fig.11 - Prototypes 1 and 2, and Final motorised prototype 3
Hodkinson, K. 2017, ‚SPaRK – Mechanica: A Beginner’s Field
Guide by Lance Balchin‘, Scan 36(3). https://education.nsw.
gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/scan/past-
issues/vol-36,-2017/spark-mechanica-a-beginners-field-guide
Innovation
Whilst enhancing creativity is a worthwhile goal in primary
schools, effective STEM projects should also allow students
to exhibit innovation. This occurs when students implement a
creative idea and can manifest in different levels of innovation.
Through successful iterations of the design process some groups
exhibited level three innovation described as an “evolutionary
product – significant change to an existing product” (Albion,
Campbell and Jobling, 2018, p. 130). Figure 11 provides evidence
of improvement of the original product incorporating a lever,
re-inventing by adding new features (Little Bits elements), the
successive changes evolved into a more advanced, purposeful
product. Additional photos can be viewed on the school
website:https://belrose-p.schools.nsw.gov.au/gallery/museum-
of-unnatural-history.html
Mechanica: developing critical and creative thinking skills through
English and Visual Arts. https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.
au/resources-and-publications/publications/primary-matters-
issue-16-december-2018/accessed, 18/10/2019
PETAA Primary English Teachers Association of Australia. (2017)
http://www.petaa.edu.au/imis_prod/w/Teaching_Resources/
CBCA_Guides/2017_CBCA_Guide/w/Teaching_Resources/
CBCA2017/2017_CBCA_guide.aspx
STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy Primary Program Sydney
2018 Information Booklet.
Vasquez, J. A. (2015). STEM--Beyond the Acronym. Educational
Leadership, 72(4), 10-15.
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 68 NO 4