Deakin STEM Education Online Conference 2021

Due to COVID restrictions, this conference will now be held online (powerd by Zoom). Convened in association with the Geelong Tech School at The Gordon

The Deakin STEM Education Conference 2021 will provide a forum for schools and educators to share their innovations and join the discussion about how to use STEM education and entrepreneurship to develop the next generation of creative and innovative thinkers.

The conference will include keynotes, invited presentations, workshops, paper presentations and a bus tour (optional).

The conference aims are to:

• unpack the nature of, and possibilities for, STEM and entrepreneurship education for Australia and internationally
• share best practices for STEM and entrepreneurship education
• promote quality STEM education and cross-curriculum links
• explore how schools can stimulate the development of entrepreneurial attitudes, skills and knowledge within a STEM-related context
• explore how schools can mobilise and benefit from links with industry and the community
• explore how STEM and entrepreneurship education can interact to contribute to all young Australians becoming successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens.

Audiences

• Early childhood, primary and secondary teachers
• Teachers of science, mathematics, engineering design and digital technology
• Pre-service teachers
• Entrepreneurship educators
• Careers teachers
• Curriculum designers and resource developers
• University educators from education, science, engineering, mathematics and digital technology
• STEM industry representatives
• STEM education bodies
• Local, national and international STEM Centres

What place does STEM and entrepreneurship have in the future of education in Australia?

With the recent endorsement of STEM education as part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda by the Australian Government, the challenge facing educators is how to meaningfully embed STEM-related knowledge, skills and dispositions in all levels of schooling. According to Boosting High-impact Entrepreneurship in Australia, schools play an important role in providing a foundation for entrepreneurial thinking. There is a need to clarify what contribution STEM and entrepreneurship can make to education, and how they can be meaningfully and practically translated into curriculum and pedagogy, particularly in primary and secondary schools.

Educators and researchers are becoming increasingly interested in investigating contexts that support students’ learning in STEM, and identifying the teaching approaches that are most conducive for developing investigative, design and reasoning skills. Linking with local industry representatives and community groups can enhance curriculum design and facilitate delivery of cutting-edge STEM programs. Engaging in entrepreneurial thinking provides young people opportunities to extend their STEM skills and turn their creative ideas into entrepreneurial action.

Considering the value of STEM and entrepreneurship in education acknowledges the diversity of pedagogical approaches, and encourages curricular innovations to address authentic problems arising in this area.

Keynote

The Criticality of Mathematics Training In Creating Innovative Futures

Professor Kate Smith-Miles, University of Melbourne

This talk tackles some of the many myths about mathematics that affect student perceptions, and equips teachers to respond with debunking examples. The foundational aspect of the school mathematics curriculum can make it difficult for students to see the relevance to the real world and their future. The role of mathematics in tackling many of society's greatest challenges will be discussed, and the reason that mathematics consistently ranks as the top job in an annual world survey of occupations will be explained. Finally, some classroom suggestions will be offered that can help students appreciate that - far from being a dusty old and irrelevant subject - new mathematics is being developed all the time in response to society’s needs and STEM. A personal reflection concludes the talk, including an overview of the career opportunities and the societal impact that becomes possible with mathematics training.

Keynote Speaker

Kate Smith-Miles

Kate Smith-Miles is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Melbourne. Passionate about interdisciplinary applications of mathematics, her award-winning research has found application in many fields as diverse as manufacturing design, epidemiology, computer vision, finance, and stem cell modelling. She is the former President of the Australian Mathematical Society.

Important dates

February 2020 Call for papers

20 August 2021 Submission for papers and workshops closes

27 August 2021 Presenters notified

17 September 2021 Full conference program available

18-19 October 2021 Main conference

15 April 2022 Full papers for proceedings due

1 July 2022 Conference proceedings published

Program and conference proceedings*

Monday 18 October - Day 1

8.00 am   Registration opens

9.00 am   Conference opening Keynote presentation:

The Criticality of Mathematics Training In Creating Innovative Futures. Professor Kate Smith-Miles, University of Melbourne.

10.30 am Morning tea

11.00 am Concurrent sessions

1.00 pm   Lunch

2.00 pm   Concurrent sessions

3.30 pm   Afternoon tea

4.00 pm   Plenary session

5.00 pm   Conference close for end of day one

Tuesday 19 October - Day 2

8.00 am   Registration opens

9.00 am   Plenary session Keynote presentation

10.30 am Morning tea

11.00 am Concurrent session

1.00 pm   Lunch

2.00 pm  Concurrent session

4.30 pm  Closing session

5.00 pm  Conference ends

If you have any questions please email the conference organisers at stemedcon21@deakin.edu.au

Registration

PhD Students $60

Teachers $60

Standard Registration $60

The above prices are per person for full conference attendance (as detailed in the conference program) for the days of your choice and include delivery of the online program and conference handbook. Prices are inclusive of GST.