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Mar 27 2017

Mentors Having Fun With Maths

By Events
In2science mentors l-r Abhi Gupta and Andy Quan from the University of Melbourne and Margaret Ngugi from Swinburne University of Technology at the Australian Council for Educational Research.

In2science mentors L-R Abhi Gupta and Andy Quan from the University of Melbourne and Margaret Ngugi from Swinburne University of Technology at the Australian Council for Educational Research.

Students learn better when they are having fun, so learning how to make maths fun is a serious business. Mentors from The University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology and RMIT University attended a professional development workshop provided by the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER) that provided practical methods for increasing the fun of maths in the classroom.

The day provided mentors with some great examples of language use and activities from everyday life to make maths more engaging and accessible for everyone in the classroom.

“This was a fresh perspective instead of the usual focus on content,” said Abhi Gupta, a mentor from The University of Melbourne who is working with students at Mercy College.

“Dave Tout engaged us on how maths can be better taught, especially for students who have a challenged background: by using mathematical concepts from day to day experiences, getting them to solve logic problems cooperatively, playing competitive games which rely on maths and digging deep into their understanding bottlenecks. Thanks to the In2science program for the opportunity!”

Swinburne mentor Margaret Ngugi, who mentors at Bayswater Secondary College said it changed her perspective on how maths can be taught. “It was really great and an eye opener into how the teaching system can be much more engaging and enjoyable.”

Activities included written and numerical logic problems to be completed cooperatively as well as ideas for games and resources. For example, did you know a smartie weighs exactly 1 gram with huge variation in the number and type found in a packet?

Not only did the workshop arm mentors with skills, ideas and tools for the classroom but it also provided further maths-specific conversation points and tips to be covered in the training provided to all mentors before placements.

Thanks to Dave Tout from ACER for providing the training, and the Selby Scientific Foundation for financially supporting the professional development of our mentors.

Mar 02 2017

Meet a Mentor: Grace Curtis

By Profiles
Grace Curtis

In2science mentor Grace Curtis

What are you studying, and what do you like about it? I’m studying a Bachelor of Science (Applied Chemistry) at RMIT University. I love science, I’ve always loved science. I love how it is infinitely complex and tells us things from the composition of all matter, to the expansion of the known universe. I believe that through studying science I have developed a mindset that allows me to think critically and methodically in all areas of life, not just in the classroom, a skill many scientists would say is their greatest asset. Science is always developing, new theories and discoveries are always being made and I suppose the ever-changing nature of science is what has attracted me to study it at a higher education level. The possibilities in STEM are as infinite as our universe.

Why did you become an In2science mentor? In high school I never really had that someone who was able to tell me about science at a university level and even as a career, science was purely learnt in the classroom. When it came time to choose what to do at a higher education level, I knew I loved science, I knew I was good at it, but I didn’t really know where it could lead in the future. That made me unsure about what career options I could have or if science was all research and I’d have to remain at university forever. My overall aim through being an In2science mentor was to share my passion for science with young people who, like me, may not have had that person to show them the potential career opportunities the world of science can offer, and to show that anyone has the potential to succeed in science.

Tell us about your In2science placement. My In2science placement was at Bayside College in Williamstown with a year 8 science class in semester 2 2016. I was placed in a class which had a number students who needed extra help. Their teacher believed my passion for science may ignite their interest. While a significant element of my placement was assisting students with classwork, I was able to build a greater rapport with a small number of students, developing discussions around my evolving career in the world of science and my journey through high school.

What’s the best thing about In2science? The best thing was getting to know all the students in the class. Being able to help them with any problems and seeing them understanding a problem or a principle after I discussed and explained it with them was extremely rewarding.

What’s one of the biggest challenges about In2science? The biggest challenge I found was making myself relatable to the students. Even though I’m still a student myself, they view me as an adult and at first a teacher-like figure in the classroom. Breaking down that initial barrier to be able to build rapport with them was the greatest challenge.

What inspired you to study what you are studying? As long as I can remember I’ve wanted to know, how do things work? Why do they happen? What effect do they have on the world or how do they interact with the world? I’ve always had a lot of questions. To me, science provides the opportunity to seek out those answers.

What do you want to do after you finish university and why? As my career at university continues to develop I am seriously considering the opportunities that may be available to me in the area of medical research, specifically, cancer research. I believe that there is so much more to discover about this disease, its diagnosis and treatment.

If you could have an hour to chat with any scientist, mathematician or engineer, who would it be and why? Marie Curie would be my first choice because she was the first woman to have won a Nobel Prize in two fields of science while overcoming extreme prejudice and discrimination of the time.

What advice would you give other students looking to get involved in the In2science program? Just do it. The rewards are incredibly inspiring and motivating. It is an extremely rewarding program that has allowed me to connect with and hopefully inspire future scientists, while also providing me the opportunity to test my own knowledge of science.

 

Want to become an In2science mentor? Click here!

Mar 02 2017

In2science Engages Future Educators

By News

TFA expo Jan 2017Innovative approaches to teaching STEM was the topic of conversation at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, in January. In2science was invited to share the benefits of peer mentoring with future secondary science and mathematics teachers at The Innovations in Education Marketplace, organised by Teach For Australia for its 2016 and 2017 Cohorts. The exhibition featured a range of innovative STEM education providers.

At the In2science stall, Program Manager Joanna Oreo and La Trobe University Coordinator Oliver Barrand, spoke with many Associates from Victoria and Interstate. The Associates were interested to hear about the impact of volunteer student mentors in keeping secondary students engaged with their STEM studies. 

“We focus specifically on low socioeconomic schools, so for many of the high school students it might be the first time they’ve had a meaningful encounter with a university student,” Jo told Associates.

A number of Associates were keen to sign up for updates on the program, with several Victorian Associates expressing interest in registering for the program.

The event brought together Teach For Australia Associates from across the country, and was an opportunity for them to get up to date on the latest innovations in STEM education that they could employ in the classroom.

 

Read more about the event on Teach For Australia’s news page.

Dec 09 2016

2016 Reflections

By News
The number of mentor placements in 2016 by region.

The number of mentor placements in 2016 by region.

Welcome to the final post for 2016. The In2science Awards night was a fantastic way to celebrate the end of what has been a very busy, productive and successful year.

  • Specalised mentor training and support: the team has focused on specific mentor training based around growth mindset, mentoring, and enhancing science communication skills.
  • Staff professional development: the In2science team has attended numerous workshops and presented at conferences, all focused around increasing students’ engagement and aspirations in STEM.
  • Mentor manager and placement application: In 2017, coordinators will be able to visually see a mentor’s location in relation to a school and match mentors availability with teachers requests based on times and common interests.
  • Additional funding to launch and accelerate online mentoring for regional schools: Feedback from the 2016 pilot has been overwhelmingly positive.  We look forward to expanding this in 2017.

2016 numbersFeedback and support about the In2science program has been extremely positive.  Preliminary analysis of survey results reveal that, after having an In2science mentor, students:

  • are more confident in science and maths
  • are more likely to know how to find information to help them solve a science problem
  • enjoy finding out answers to science questions
  • identify that the problem solving skills they use in science can be helpful in everyday life; and
  • recognise that studying VCE science/maths subjects at year 12 will give them lots of options

What the students say

“The mentor didn’t give me the answers but helped me work through all the problems”
– Year 8 maths student

“I have learnt a lot from my mentor. Insights of uni life and her future career have been great to think about for my future”
– Year 8 science student

What the teachers say

“The mentor must have instilled something in the students that is very rare and hard to achieve in a secondary college – Intrinsic motivation”
– Kylie Lambert, Maffra Secondary College

What the mentors say

“Students became more engaged with the work when we worked together”
– Selda Ekri, In2science mentor

 

We would like to thank the Chair, The Honourable Professor John Brumby, for his support and leadership and all Advisory Board members for their ongoing commitment to ensuring the program is well governed.

In2science is fortunate to have a team of highly motivated and dedicated staff.  The team is looking forward to working with current and new partner schools and further expanding the program to support digital learning and girls in STEM in 2017.

Dec 09 2016

2016 In2science Awards Recognises Outstanding Achievements

By Awards, Events, News

The Hon. Prof. John Brumby, In2science Chairman, introduces the 2016 In2science Awards

The 2016 In2science Awards recently recognised and celebrated the outstanding achievements and outcomes in STEM engagement through the In2science peer mentoring program.

In2science chairman, The Honourable Professor John Brumby, presented awards to mentors from all four partner universities, and three partner schools at the Melbourne Museum Theatre on Thursday 1st of December.

Professor Brumby opened the proceedings by praising the continuing efforts of the mentors, teachers, and supporters of In2science. He highlighted the need addressed by the program, “We all know that we’ve got a huge continuing challenge in this area. More results have come out on maths achievement in Australia, and the reality is that this is an area where Australia is really challenged. We look at the countries around us in the world, Singapore and South Korea and Malaysia and now China, they are making big investments into STEM.”

Despite this, Professor Brumby was upbeat about the achievements of In2science, “Tonight is about celebrating the success of the last year. Success in a re-invigorated form. 45 schools, 4 universities. Outstanding engagement from all of the participants. I think it’s true to say that the program is now stronger than ever.”

To recognise the efforts of mentors, there were five award categories. To read more detail about the award winners and finalists, click here.

 

In2science Awards winners, staff and university representatives with The Hon. Prof. John Brumby, In2science Chairman.

 

The Mentor Impact Award for the mentor that made the greatest positive impact in engaging students in science or maths went to Selda Ekri from Swinburne University of Technology.

The Role Model Award for the mentor recognised as an outstanding role model for their student mentees was accepted by Andres Alzate of The University of Melbourne.

The Dedication Award for the mentor that showed greatest dedication and commitment to the In2science program was awarded to Tarik Zepcan of La Trobe University.

The Above and Beyond Award for the mentor that showed greatest initiative in engaging students in science or maths went to Shelley Haslett of RMIT University.

The eMentoring Award for the most dedicated university mentor in the online eMentoring program was given to Mitchell Griggs of La Trobe University.

Three awards were given to teachers and schools for their support of In2science mentors.

Teacher Kylie Lambert from Maffra Secondary College traveled nearly three hours to attend the awards and accept the Mentor Support Award for the classroom teacher who provided the most supportive mentoring environment.

The Teacher Program Commitment Award for the classroom teacher that showed the greatest commitment to the In2science program went to Jessica Sartori from Brunswick Secondary College.

The School Program Commitment Award for the school that demonstrated the greatest engagement with the In2science program was awarded to Bundoora Secondary College, and was accepted on the night by link teacher Ross Goddard.

eMentoring Award winner Mitchell Griggs delivered a mentor reflection in which he highlighted the importance of the In2science program in helping to increase levels of achievement in science and maths in Australian schools, which he said have plateaued over the last 20 years according to the 2015 TIMSS report. Mitchell also reflected on the benefits he had gained from multiple placement rounds both in-class and online, “My education, both formal and otherwise was greatly enriched by the experience of being an In2science mentor, and my perspective broadened and informed about the importance of science communication and education.”

Following the official proceedings, the mentors and teachers mixed over drinks and canapes in the foyer with other guests including representatives of the four partner universities, as well as members of government and industry.

 

For full details about the 2016 In2science Award winners and finalists, click here.

To access the 2016 In2science Awards photo gallery, click here.

Dec 05 2016

eMentoring Recognised at Parliament House

By News

The Hon. James Merlino MP, Minister for Education, Tarik Zepcan, La Trobe University eMentor, Genevieve Lazzari, In2science Director, and The Hon. Judith Graley MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Education.

The achievements of the In2science eMentoring program were recognised by Victorian Minister for Education, The Hon. James Merlino MP, and Parliamentary Secretary for Education The Hon. Judith Graley MP at a morning tea held at Parliament House on the 5th of December 2016.

Along with nine other mentoring programs across a range of areas, the eMentoring program was given special mention for connecting secondary science and maths students in regional Victoria with university mentors. In 2016, In2science eMentoring connected 64 students from five regional schools with 19 mentors, and will continue to grow in 2017.

Mr Merlino acknowledged the contribution of mentors in the lives of young people, “We’re so proud to see the success these mentoring programs have had empowering students from across Victoria. Sometimes it takes a mentor to help show us what we are capable of and these  programs have connected great mentors with hundreds of students.”

Mr Merlino presented a certificate of recognition to eMentor Tarik Zepcan and Acting Program Director Genevieve Lazzari on the day.

Team at PH

In2science eMentors Tarik Zepcan and Mitchell Griggs with In2science staff on the steps of Parliament House.

Mitchell Griggs, who mentored students at Cobram Secondary College, reflected on his experience as a eMentor, “The In2science eMentoring program has given me a great opportunity to share my enthusiasm and encourage more regional students to take on a rewarding career in science.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct 28 2016

Placement Profile: Bundoora Secondary College

By Profiles
Alex Newsome -edited-2

Mentor Alex Newsome helping Ross Goddard’s students explore the possibilities of new technology.

Every week students of Ross Goddard’s robotics project at Bundoora Secondary College arrive to what looks more like a high-tech workshop strewn with 3D printers, circuit boards, and wires, than a classroom. They have been greeted not only by Mr Goddard, but also In2science mentor, Alex Newsome.

Ross’ first experience with the In2science program was back in 2007. Based on past experiences, he knew what a great resource a mentor could be in the classroom, and having one for his year 8 robotics class was the perfect fit. “Knowing how good they are, the engagement with the kids, the level of knowledge, [and having] the kids see them every week, it’s very important.”

What Ross and the students set out to achieve with the project was ambitious. The students took the lead in designing and building a small army of battle-bots. Ross says, “This is at the cutting edge of what schools are doing with STEM… we’re using Sketchup, 3D printers, Arduino boards, and Autodesk to prototype the electronics without putting a soldering iron to a circuit board. You’ve got to be specific about what you want to achieve, and the In2science mentor has the skills to help lead that group.”

Breakout quoteFor Ross, one of the most valuable aspects of having Alex mentor his students has been his specialised knowledge, “We have no [advanced] knowledge in the school whatsoever about robotics and electrical engineering. Alex is at the opposite end, he knows everything.”

Alex Newsome is studying a Bachelor of Electronic Engineering (Honours) at La Trobe University, and this was his second placement as an In2science mentor. He knew how important it was to give the students the confidence to take risks. “I try to encourage the kids to have the confidence that you don’t need to know everything, you just need to know how to find everything. I think that’s helped a lot of them to have the confidence in themselves. They’d be much quicker to say, well here’s what I thought, and you go, well that’s half right [let’s build on that].”

Alex Newsome -edited

Ross Goddard says his students see Alex’s confidence and believe what can be achieved.

According to Ross, Alex has been a valuable role model to the class, “having someone that’s so confident in what he’s doing, the kids see that and believe what can be achieved. That’s what In2science and what Alex give me. He gives us confidence that we can go into new areas and new technology.”

Alex has been helping the students to feel more capable in their project, “I’m seeing them get involved, starting to ask questions. I really want to highlight to the kids to have the confidence to pick something up and try it, [to give] it a shot and you will have learned something from it.”

Ross says that what a mentor has brought to the class can’t be replicated with any educational resource, “Alex makes things possible that would otherwise be difficult.  Having a person like Alex sharing a goal with me and then sharing that goal with students – you can’t buy that. He’s a unique young man, a great resource, and I’m really impressed.”

For more about requesting an In2science mentor for your class, click here.

Oct 28 2016

October Reflections

By News

Mildura Outreach 13Oct2016-editedNetworking with regional schools in Mildura

During October, In2science staff travelled to Mildura and supported La Trobe University’s science outreach programs, which were offered to secondary students from five different schools in the Mildura region.  On the day, La Trobe hosted over 300 regional students who had opportunities to see real-world applications of science and participate in Biotechnology, Physics, Psychology and Robotics workshops.    This was a fantastic opportunity for regional and rural students who usually have limited access to educational experiences compared to their metropolitan counterparts.

Regional teachers had the opportunity to talk with In2science staff about the online mentoring program.  After a successful online mentoring pilot this year, In2science will work with more regional schools in 2017, with the aim of connecting interested secondary school students with like-minded volunteer university students who act as mentors, where students are opened up to the possibilities of pursuing their interests in STEM to year 12 and beyond.  Students and mentors are matched on shared science interests to maximise learning opportunities for students.

 

National Mentoring Week 23-29 October

The last week of October not only saw semester two placements come to a close, but also coincided with National Youth Mentoring Week. To celebrate mentoring week, In2science staff have been hosting afternoon teas, handing out certificates and saying thanks to our semester two mentors. 2016 has seen over 200 In2science mentors make an impact in 45 Victorian schools where they have remarkably volunteered over 2200 hours!

 

Sep 29 2016

Upcoming STEM Outreach Events

By Events

Here are some exciting STEM outreach events coming up at our partner universities, as well as other organisations.

Friday 30th of September – Swinburne eMentor in Three Minute Thesis Final

Swinburne University of Technology eMentor, Umamageswari Suparamaniam, will represent her university at the Three Minute Thesis Asia-Pacific final, taking place at the University of Queensland on the 30th of September. Uma, who eMentors students from Maffra Secondary College, and studies at the ARC Training Centre in Biodevices, gained a place in the final with her presentation on Electrical Stimulation for Culturing Muscle Stem Cells. In2science wishes Uma the best of luck!

 

solar challengeSaturday 15th and Sunday 16th of October – Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge State Finals

The Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge State Finals will be held at Scienceworks on Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of October, in which school students from around Victoria will put their solar-powered models to the test. The event is open to the public and is sponsored by Swinburne University of Technology, Scienceworks and Engineers Australia.

Information about the event here. 

 

sqsc-public-exhibitionMonday 17th of October to Saturday 12th of November – Shell Questacon Science Circus Victoria tour

The Shell Questacon Science Circus is bringing its travelling hands-on exhibition, along with a team of fresh young science communicators to Victoria for a month-long tour from Monday 17 October 2016 to Saturday 12 November. The Science Circus, comprised of students studying the Master of Science Communication Outreach at The Australian National University, will be visiting schools and holding public exhibitions in and around the towns of Orbost, Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Warragul, Colac, Warrnambool, Portland, and crossing the SA border to visit Mt Gambier.

Tour dates here.

 

LTU wildlifeSunday 23th of October – La Trobe University wildlife sanctuary family fun day

Enjoy all that La Trobe University’s Outdoor Laboratory has to offer. There will be activities for the whole family, including nesting box workshops, children’s activities and guided tours. Wander through the Sanctuary and learn more about this unique oasis in Melbourne’s north.

When: Sunday 23 October

Where: La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary, La Trobe Avenue, across from car park 8 of La Trobe University, Bundoora

Full details here.

cellsFriday 18th of November – La Trobe University Outreach Microscopy teacher professional development

This full day program is specifically designed for teachers with limited or no formal training in Biology. Participants will explore the topic of cells from basics through to the more complex elements of cell biology. Sessions will include hands on activities that can be taken back into the classroom, a tour of the world-class microscopy facility at the La Trobe Institute of Molecular Sciences (LIMS) and insights into cellular biology research.
When: Friday 18 November
Where: La Trobe University, Bundoora

Places are limited. For details and registration click this link to view the flier.

November and December – The University of Melbourne Science Delivery

The University of Melbourne, Science Delivery program will visit regional high schools in a week-long roadshow during November, followed by a series of one-day sessions in metropolitan high schools in December. It is aimed at increasing the participation of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds in STEM. It features interactive science activities presented by current university students who themselves are from economically disadvantaged or rural backgrounds.

For more information and to make a booking, contact Lauren de Blank [email protected].

Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th of January 2017 – The University of Melbourne ConocoPhillips Science Experience

The program is designed to provide secondary students with an experience of university life with lectures, laboratory experiments and hands on interactive experiences all whilst being able to explore University of Melbourne’s world class facilities. The program is guided by top ranking academics across various schools including BioSciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics, Engineering and Life Sciences.

Information and registration can be found here.

RMIT science experience GROUP SHOT-018Tuesday 17th to Thursday 19th of January 2017 – RMIT ConocoPhillips Science Experience

RMIT is inviting the next generation of scientists to taste university life, with three fun filled days of science activities. Budding scientists entering year 10 in 2016 will go behind the scenes to undertake hands-on experiments in areas such as forensic chemistry, physics, laboratory medicine, engineering and geospatial science, as well as hear from talks from guest speakers.

Information and registration can be found here.

 

Sep 29 2016

Meet a mentor: Harry Bennett

By Profiles

Harry Bennett

Harry Bennett

In2science mentor Harry Bennett

What are you studying, and what do you like about it? I am in my third year of the Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics)(Honours)/ Bachelor of Computer Science at Swinburne University of Technology. I love the interdisciplinary nature of my degree and the numerous opportunities it can lead to. The combination of mechanical, electrical, and computer sciences is an exciting crossroads that allows me ask the question ‘How does this work?’.

Why did you become an In2science mentor? STEM education has been a big part of my life, it only seemed natural that I should help communicate my experiences and ideas to younger generations who might be interested in pursuing a future in engineering or science. In addition, the prospect that I can make a positive impact on younger students, who were not as fortunate as I was at their age, fills me with a great deal of satisfaction.

Tell us about your In2science placement: Currently I’m placed in a year 8 science class at St Joseph’s College Ferntree Gully. This is my second placement with this class. My favourite experience has been the Martian science topic they covered last semester.    I was able to arrange a visit from one of my classmates where we demonstrated the cool capabilities of a NAO Humanoid Robot to Karen’s class.

What’s the best thing about In2science? Being able to communicate to students on their level without the barriers of formality is where I believe I have the greatest impact. It’s exciting to have a casual chat with a student and see the spark in their eyes when they cross the conceptual hurdle of understanding.

What’s one of the biggest challenges about In2science? Convincing them I am not a teacher! Quite a few students don’t realize I am not a teacher but a volunteer that enjoys being there on the road of their education.

What inspired you to study what you are studying? Engineering is an exciting field. Reading about Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin and their Apollo 11 mission inspired me to study engineering as it is an opportunity to have an impact on the physical world.

What do you want to do after you finish university and why? Space sciences have always fascinated me so if I could combine space and robotics that would be really interesting.

If you could have an hour to chat with any scientist, mathematician or engineer, who would it be and why? I’d love to meet Pierre Simon-Laplace, a famous mathematician who created the mathematical tools I use in robotic control.

What advice would you give other students looking to get involved in the In2science program?

 Do it. It takes time to travel to the school and back but I never leave my placement sessions with any regrets. It will take time to learn how to act and behave in a classroom environment but the reward that you have made an impact on a young person’s perceptions about STEM is fulfilling beyond words.

 

Want to become an In2science mentor? Click here!

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