$6.7 million investment extends women in STEM initiatives

February 11 marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In Australia, women make up only 28% of workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Australian Government is committed to improving gender equity in STEM education and careers. We are investing more in effective programs that support this goal.

<https://www.industry.gov.au/news/67-million-investment-extends-women-in-stem-initiatives>

New funding to advance women in STEM

The Morrison Government is continuing to break down barriers to the advancement of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) with an additional $6.7 million in funding.

<https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/price/media-releases/new-funding-advance-women-stem>

Superstars of STEM funded for stratospheric success

The Australian Government has today announced a further $2 million investment to advance women in STEM through Science & Technology Australia’s game-changing Superstars of STEM program.

<https://scienceandtechnologyaustralia.org.au/superstars-of-stem-funded-for-stratospheric-success/>

School interventions to increase female representation in STEM

If you’re in a co-education school, look at student enrolments for STEM subjects and participation in STEM-related clubs and extracurricular activities – is there a gender imbalance? A new report shares global examples of effective interventions from primary and secondary education settings.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/school-interventions-to-increase-female-representation-in-stem>

Women in science still jumping higher hurdles

The digital revolution has changed the game for women and girls in science, but despite strong progress, female students are still asking dispiriting questions

<https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/women-in-science-still-jumping-higher-hurdles/>

Women in STEM: The Australian icon who’s bridging the gap between science and commerce

A career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is often considered the road less taken for women, and it’s not for lack of trying. Women in STEM face many barriers entering and staying in the field, and continue to be excluded from fully participating in the industry compared to men. Globally, only 30% of the world’s researchers are women, with less than one-third of female students choosing to study subjects like math and engineering in higher education.

<https://www.studyinternational.com/news/australian-women-in-stem/>

Offering online learning permanently – reflecting on the advantages

A majority of teachers have now had experience with online teaching thanks to the pandemic. But, what can we learn from schools who were teaching online long before COVID-19 restrictions? Jeremy Kwok and Su Temlett from Australian Christian College join Teacher to share the advantages.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/offering-online-learning-permanently-reflecting-on-the-advantages>

The Research Files Episode 72: Online mentoring for disengaged students

Our guest on episode 72 of The Research Files is Professor Joseph Ciarrochi from Australian Catholic University’s Institute for Positive Psychology and Education. He’s the lead researcher for projectHOPE – a program that’s notched up success in re-engaging at-risk secondary students with their schooling.

<https://www.teachermagazine.com/au_en/articles/the-research-files-episode-72-online-mentoring-for-disengaged-students>

2022 cybersecurity predictions and 3 ways educational institutions can protect digital identities

Remote and hybrid learning models, as well as digital operations, are now the new norm across all levels of the education system.

<https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/2022-cybersecurity-predictions-and-3-ways-educational-institutions-can-protect-digital-identities/279578>

Deadly Science Educator of the Year

Remote school teacher, Chris Errington, has recently been recognised as a 2021 DeadlyScience Educator of the Year, an accolade attributed by DeadlyScience, a not-for-profit organisation that supports remote schools across Australia.

<https://education.nt.gov.au/news/2022/deadly-science-educator-of-the-year>

The state of education during the COVID pandemic

<https://www.oecd.org/education/state-of-school-education-one-year-into-covid.htm>

VR Really Has a Kid Problem

The Virtual reality (VR) industry is growing at a fast pace. But as pointed out by the AR/VR developer Skarredghost, the industry has ‘a kid issue‘. And, for a number of reasons, “VR shouldn’t be used by children“.

<https://dataethics.eu/vr-really-has-a-kids-problem/>

Why a clear school vision empowers staff and students

Tes research reveals that many teachers do not feel their school has a vision for the future – but as these leaders and business experts explain, putting a vision into words can work wonders in more ways than one

<https://www.tes.com/magazine/leadership/staff-management/why-clear-school-vision-statement-teacher-wellbeing-empowers-staff-and-students>

Blended learning scenarios to mix distance and in-school lessons

A selection of blended learning scenarios using the Learning Designer tool, produced by participants of the online course Bridging Distance and In-School Learning – Blended Learning in Practice on Teacher Academy.

<https://www.schooleducationgateway.eu/en/pub/teacher_academy/teaching_materials/blended-learning-scenarios.htm>

School under (re)construction: a tutorial on learning environments

Traditional classrooms with their blackboard, the teacher standing in front of it and the desks laid out in rows date back to medieval monasteries. But as society grows ever more technology-rich and the focus shifts to key competences and student-centric pedagogy, so the learning space needs to catch up. In this tutorial, you will learn that greener is better, classrooms don’t always need walls, and more.

<https://www.schooleducationgateway.eu/en/pub/resources/tutorials/school-under-reconstruction.htm>

As Demand Grows for COVID-19 Testing in Schools, So Must Our Attention to Student Privacy

The rampant omicron variant and the CDC’s new test-to-stay guidance has significantly increased the demand for COVID-19 testing as well as reporting this information to schools. The increase in testing may occur at a point in time (e.g., to return to school in-person after an extended break) or on an ongoing basis (e.g., as students have COVID exposures). While all schools have experience collecting health information related to COVID-19 (95% reported having a system in place for parents to report a child’s COVID diagnosis), the scale at which it is now being demanded is unprecedented. To keep students safe and schools open, it is important to scale testing efforts along with student privacy considerations.

<https://cdt.org/insights/as-demand-grows-for-covid-19-testing-in-schools-so-must-our-attention-to-student-privacy/>

Teach coding from a young age at school

CHILDREN are growing up surrounded by technology amidst IR4.0 (the Fourth Industrial Revolution), so computational thinking and coding should be considered essential abilities. As such, the Education Ministry should review if such critical skills and knowledge are being taught to primary school children.

<https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2022/02/15/teach-coding-from-a-young-age-at-school>

Des Moines high school students share coding projects with Principal engineers

Students in the Pi515 program learn technical skills like coding, but also practice life skills like resume writing and building confidence.

<https://www.weareiowa.com/video/tech/des-moines-high-school-students-share-coding-projects-with-principal-engineers/524-fd4f4d0a-89e2-4dce-b9a5-006ce4aa9a3a>

We need more girls and women in science. What are three ways in which we can support them?

Choosing one’s path in life should not be limited by prejudice or hindered by a less than supportive environment to thrive. Girls and boys should be supported to develop their talents to the fullest and without the constraints often imposed by gender stereotypes.

<https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/we-need-more-girls-and-women-science-what-are-three-ways-which-we-can-support-them>

The 7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly

The Assistant Director-General for UNESCO Natural Sciences, Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, will address the UN members states and other participants in the 7th International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly, taking place on 11 February 2022, in virtual format from UN Headquarters in New York.

<https://en.unesco.org/news/7th-international-day-women-and-girls-science-assembly>

UNESCO and Japan Sign a New Partnership Agreement for the Development of Teachers and Students’ Skills in STEAM and Coding

On 16 February 2022, the Government of Japan and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) signed an Arrangement Letter at the Representative Office of Japan to Palestine, based in Ramallah, the State of Palestine, to support a UNESCO-led project on “Improving Student Skills for Innovation and Sustainable Development through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and Coding in Palestinian Schools”. The project is aligned with the priorities of the Government’s National Policy Agenda for the State of Palestine and the priorities of the Ministry of Education to provide quality education for all.

<https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-and-japan-sign-new-partnership-agreement-development-teachers-and-students-skills-steam>

STEM Hub launch across Ireland to inspire future STEM leaders

I’m delighted to share the launch of our most recent Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) campaign which aims to continue to build on our work aimed at increasing awareness and understanding in STEM. This journey has been constantly evolving with the development and activation of our previous Accenture STEM research and our Women On Walls campaign adding to the progress.

<https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/stem-hub-launch-across-ireland-inspirefuture-leaders-paula-neary/>