Sydney's new airport inspiring young minds to pursue a career in STEM

Western Sydney students are being inspired to take up exciting careers in STEM and work at Sydney’s new airport in the future thanks to a new partnership between Western Sydney Airport and Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

<https://www.csiro.au/en/news/News-releases/2021/Sydneys-new-airport-inspiring-young-minds-to-pursue-a-career-in-STEM>

Lessons from home learning

Many parents worry about how the lockdown experience will impact their children's education in the long run.

<https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7480967/worry-less-focus-on-positives-lessons-from-home-learning/>

Diary of a home schooling parent: What I’ve learned about remote learning this lockdown by Tiffany Wright, Director Education, Australia at Microsoft

When the first school closures were announced in early 2020, my two primary school kids had one clunky laptop, complete with sticky keys and a foggy screen, between them. With its slow loading times and poor-quality sound, the outdated machine made remote learning harder than it needed to be.

<https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/diary-home-schooling-parent-what-ive-learned-remote-learning-wright>

Women in STEM underpaid, underrepresented and unsupported: Professionals Australia survey

A nationwide survey from trade union Professionals Australia has found that women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and professional roles across Australia are underpaid, underrepresented and unsupported.

<https://www.crn.com.au/news/women-in-stem-underpaid-underrepresented-and-unsupported-professionals-australia-survey-571817>

Women staying in the STEM Workforce Report

Professionals Australia has urgently called for future, post-COVID STEM strategies to focus on improving the participation, retention and career advancement after a nationwide survey found that women in STEM are underpaid, underrepresented and unsupported.

<https://scientists.professionalsaustralia.org.au/Scientists/News/2021_women_in_stem_report.aspx>

Back-to-school: a time for celebration or concern?

This week, students in NSW and Victoria are finally returning to the classroom after extended lockdowns. ... Principal, Henry Grossek, says almost half of his school’s parents are refusing to send their kids back because of potential exposure. “While remote learning might not have been the best approach for some people, we at least had certainty and predictability. We knew what we were doing every day. We also knew that the risk was lower because kids were at home,” Grossek told The Educator.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/backtoschool-a-time-for-celebration-or-concern/279042>

Powerhouse Museum $30m boost aims to inspire kids from diverse backgrounds to pursue STEM careers [AAP]

The Powerhouse Museum's Parramatta chapter will receive a combined $30 million in donations to help kids from western Sydney and regional NSW learn about science and technology.

<https://www.sbs.com.au/news/powerhouse-museum-30m-boost-aims-to-inspire-kids-from-diverse-backgrounds-to-pursue-stem-careers/105534f9-c589-4394-a997-6c9d3cb88d34>

Historic $30 Million Commitment To Powerhouse Parramatta

The Powerhouse has today announced an extraordinary $30 million investment in the future of Powerhouse Parramatta by The Walker Family Foundation and Western Sydney University (WSU). In one of the largest donations ever to an Australian cultural institution, The Walker Family Foundation has committed $20 million to the Lang Walker Family Academy and associated programs, a commitment that will fund access to world-class immersive STEM education experiences at the museum for over 10,000 high school students from Western Sydney and regional NSW every year – including overnight stays at the museum for many of these students.

<https://www.maas.museum/media-story/historic-30-million-commitment-to-powerhouse-parramatta/>

Sydney students excel in world battle of the bots

St Johns Park and Bankstown Girls high schools are celebrating success at the 2021 Universal Robotics Challenge, writes Glenn Cullen.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/sydney-students-excel-in-world-battle-of-the-bots>

Enterprising effort rewarded with ministerial pitch

Vanessa Lahey meets a Rivers Secondary College team that has ‘solved’ a COVID-19 conundrum as part of a national ‘all-girl’ STEM challenge.

<https://education.nsw.gov.au/news/latest-news/enterprising-effort-rewarded-with-ministerial-pitch>

Students’ academic skills survive remote learning, study finds

Lara White will return to class in Sydney this week and her mum is happy with her daughter’s progress during remote learning.

<https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/students-academic-skills-survive-remote-learning-study-finds-20211022-p592cz.html>

The truth about inquiry-based learning

As Victorian and NSW students return to the classroom, it is crucial that we make wise choices about how we teach.

<https://www.smh.com.au/education/the-truth-about-inquiry-based-learning-20211012-p58z8v.html>

Building Skills For Life: How to expand and improve computer science education around the world

This report makes the case for expanding computer science education in primary and secondary schools around the world, and outlines the key challenges standing in the way. Through analysis of regional and national education systems at various stages of progress in implementing computer science education programs, the report offers transferable lessons learned across a wide range of settings with the aim that all students—regardless of income level, race, or sex—can one day build foundational skills necessary for thriving in the 21st century.

<https://www.brookings.edu/essay/building-skills-for-life-how-to-expand-and-improve-computer-science-education-around-the-world/>

The 2 Platforms You Need to Transform Digital Learning and Assessments

The challenges for schools and universities have been exacerbated amidst the extended global pandemic to the point where even managing fundamental school operations like online classes and exams are difficult.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/the-2-platforms-you-need-to-transform-digital-learning-and-assessments/279040>