Yass High School has welcomed a NSW Government’s STEM kits initiative that was announced by premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday, February 28.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The kits displayed at the school provide virtual reality, 3D printing, filmmaking and robotics experiences to help students develop skills for future jobs, which school principal Linda Langton agreed with.
“Seeing them working so collaboratively, it’s actually a natural way they communicate and they learn.
“So giving them the structures and the technology for them to do that has been great, really inspiring and really engaging for them.
“They’re learning when they’re in that phase, so there definitely is that focus on the future development,” Ms Langton said.
Ms Berejiklian and MP Pru Goward visited the school on Wednesday to watch students using the equipment.
The STEM kits are part of a $23 million project over three years to provide public schools – including those in regional and remote areas – access to technology that will encourage students to take up STEM studies.
Premier Berejiklian said the roll out of the STEM kits was an initiative to prepare students for future employment opportunities in the digital age.
“We know that 75 per cent of all new jobs will rely heavily on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM),” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is why an initiative like this at Yass High providing experiences in fields like virtual reality and robotics can support students with an interest in the STEM areas.”
So giving them the structures and the technology for them to do that has been great, really inspiring and really engaging for them.
- Linda Langton, Yass High School principal
STEM-related activities showcased at the school included shooting and editing film using “green screen” technology, programming a robot to solve complex problems, building programmable robots using Legos and virtual reality exploration of a school of the future.
In addition to the STEM kits, new future-focused science classrooms will also be built at the school.
Education Minister Rob Stokes announced initial planning is underway for a new building based on a STEM teaching framework learning due to start in late 2018 with completion in mid-2020.
“The new learning spaces at Yass High School will provide the staff and students with a modern teaching and learning environment tailored to their needs,” Mr Stokes said.