AS the world changes at an unprecedented rate students from Christian Brothers College and Iona Presentation College are working together to find holistic responses to social issues.
The Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programme has students from both schools working in teams to solve a range of global problems using STEM principles.
CBC academic excellence programme coordinator Marilyn Schmidtsaid they wanted the boys to think creatively and innovatively.
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READ NOW“To develop skills of communication and collaboration and to raise the level of the challenge, I asked Neil Alweyn, our vice principal, if we could work with Iona,” she said.
“The groups are formed around areas of interest rather than year groups.
“The students communicate and work on a virtual platform using Microsoft Teams for conversations and collaborative space.
“This simulates global teams solving real-world problems.”
The program currently runs for year groups eight to ten but they are hoping to expand.
Ms Schmidt said it is difficult to objectively judge whether the programs is a success as the usual ways of testing learning are not relevant.
“The program is not assessment or curriculum driven, there are no right or wrong answers, problems are real, challenges are open ended and the skills being learnt and applied are divergent,” she said.
Year nine student Lachlan Klingberg said they enjoyed the program as it makes them think outside the box.
“The program encourages creative thinking and integrates a lot of subjects into one, not just science and maths,” she said.
“It helps you to meet with people and work with other people even though you don’t know them.”
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