St Bede’s may be a small school in a small town, but it’s jumping on board with 21st century learning and 21st century technology.
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On Friday the school opened its newest learning space, a Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Centre.
The space has been designed to help students learning spatial and scientific skills. Fun gadgets such as BluBots, Spheros and Lego Mindstorm have been designed specifically for children to learn coding skills. Part of the funds for the space have been provided by the Braidwood Community Bank.
From next year, each class at the school will have designated times to use the space.
The dedicated space and technology provided is critical to helping students build the thinkings skills used by great scientists and mathematicians, says St Bede’s Principal Trish Ferlitsch.
“The more we give students opportunities to do their own ownership of what they are learning, and for a purpose and a reason, the more engaged they are, the better learners they are,” Mrs Ferlitsch said.
“It [also] really builds that collegiality and working and sharing together, because just about everything is done in pairs or groups.”
The space is also a helpful check on who is engaging with STEM areas of learning, as Australia-wide girls and young women choose to study STEM areas in lower rates.
While the space is just a start, the school is excited to start bringing new technologies into the classroom.
“[It’s] part of hopefully helping to make us in Braidwood, even though we are a small rural school, a part of 21st century learning and 21st century technology,” said Mrs Ferlitsch.