Jordan Cooper, Larissa Da Bono, and Alicia Rodney, are learning to code through Sphero at John Tonkin College.
Camera IconJordan Cooper, Larissa Da Bono, and Alicia Rodney, are learning to code through Sphero at John Tonkin College. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

John Tonkin students set to dream big at showcase

Staff WriterMandurah Coastal Times

HIGH achieving indigenous students from John Tonkin College are set to see how some of the world’s biggest companies are using technology to transform workforces of tomorrow.

The Mandurah Year 9 and 10 students are among more than 70 WA school groups lining up to experience the two-day Resources Technology Showcase next month.

The showcase event has been identified as particularly relevant to students in the college’s Follow the Dream program which encourages STEM based learning among high-achieving Aboriginal students across the State.

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John Tonkin teacher and Follow the Dream co-ordinator Andrea Tacko said it was important students in the program were exposed to the opportunities in the STEM field.

“This year I have students who are very science focused and this showcase will help clarify future career prospects for them,” MrsTacko said.

“Once students have a clear goal their learning and motivation becomes more focused and they are self-motivated.”

Follow the Dream, which is supported by the Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation, introduces students to a wealth of experiences, opens their eyes to a range of post-school pathways and encourages them to “dream big”.

The showcase fosters John Tonkin College’s mantra that students in the program will be “tomorrow’s leaders”.

But the chance to interact with the showcase doesn’t end there. All WA schools are being offered to opportunity to take part through BHP’s Future Ready STEM Challenge, which is set to kick off on November 4 and offers winners the chance to scoop part of the massive $100,000 prize pot.

Schools can select from a number of different challenges which are linked to the mining and energy industries and the competition is designed to ensure it is accessible to students of different levels of ability and schools with different levels of resourcing as well as work in concert with curriculums.

Teachers can visit thewest.com.au/bhpfutureready to download a teacher’s resource pack from November 4 and groups have until December 2 to enter the competition.

The Resources Technology Showcase will be held on November 27-28 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Visit https://rtsperth.com/ for more details.