Students from Sheldon College in Queensland enjoyed a helicopter thrill-ride, participated in an Arcade Game Maker Competition and explored the world using virtual reality technology, as part of National Science Week.
Running from 11-19 August 2018, National Science Week provided the perfect opportunity for Sheldon College to immerse students in a jam-packed week of activities designed to ignite their passion for Science .
The activities on offer were all aligned with the 2018 theme of ‘Game Changers and Change Makers’ to support students’ journeys to become lifelong learners.
Sheldon College Principal and CEO, Dr Lyn Bishop, said she was delighted at the students’ academic progress and innovation as part of the STEAM curriculum – Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.
“Science Week puts a spotlight on Sheldon College students who have shown curiosity and innovation during their STEAM studies,” she said.
“Students such as Year 12 student Jacob Johnson who recently received a High Distinction Award in the ICAS test; and Year 9 student Magnus Prain who won the Science Project Competition for his design piece about Tummo meditation will experience this wonderful flight opportunity.
“The helicopter will take the two students and Sheldon College Faculty of Science Teacher Heather Dixon on a short flight over the school to soak up the bayside view and scenic surrounds of the College.”
Dr Bishop said that the week’s activities gave students the chance to reflect on today’s Game Changers who use science to solve problems or design solutions.
“A range of Science-based activities have been organised to promote innovative thinking such as a Paper Plane Making and a Flying Competition to learn about aerodynamics, a Crystallisation Experiment, adopting a mechanical dog and experiencing The Splitting of Water,” she said.
This year, educators at Sheldon College have been rolling out a myriad of educational initiatives based on STEAM innovation such as a potential new curriculum, a Mars Mission 5 exploration and Robotics competition.
“We are developing our students to prepare them up for jobs of the future which don’t exist yet, by giving them the opportunity to see, hear and feel things which are inconceivable without technology, which will then enable them to become the change makers of the future,” Dr Bishop said.
“The College’s Year 9 Design, Business and Media teachers are creating a new elective course with external industry partners to be implemented in 2019 – Innovation, Design, Engineering, Arts and Social Entrepreneurs which will endeavour to solve social impact issues aligned to Health, Environment and Aged Care,” she added.
“Mars Mission 5 gives Years 1-6 classes the opportunity to be space scientists and remotely control a sophisticated robot rover across a recreation of the planet surface as they search for evidence of life.
“Upcoming workshops with Sheldon College students and parents will explore Artificial Intelligence and teach them how robots can now read humans; how to explore the anatomy of the human body via Augmented Reality and become an Astronaut and take an exploratory journey on another planet.
Sheldon College educates around 1500 students from 15 months through to year 12 in the independent co-educational college set on 56 acres.
Image caption, pictured from L-R: Sheldon College Year 12 Student Jacob Johnson, Sheldon College CEO and Principal Lyn Bishop, Year 9 Student Magnus Prain, and Science Teacher Heather Dixon.