STEM Education Online Conference 2021

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.

Victoria’s STEM Education Ambassador

Dr Tien Kiew, Member of the Legislative Council for the South Eastern Metropolitan Region

Dr Tien Kieu will outline his role as Victoria’s first STEM Education Ambassador, including working with schools and teachers, specialist STEM facilities and employers across Victoria to champion STEM education and pathways. He will also be working with Dr Amanda Caples, Victoria’s Lead Scientist, to identify ways schools and STEM industries can join forces to give students more opportunities for hands-on learning.

Dr Kieu will describe the importance of STEM in his own life, from a refugee experience through to becoming a physicist and now a politician, where skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, collaborating and communicating have been crucial. As in his own experience, Dr Kieu will discuss how STEM skills set us up for more than just getting a job, being critical to young people becoming active and informed citizens.

Learn more about our keynote speakers

• 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

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.