STEM & Entrepreneurship – it’s only right they co-exist

STEM & Entrepreneurship – it’s only right they co-exist

Esteemed Principal Tania Gilchrist from Coopernook Public School was one of 70 teachers selected nationally from hundreds of applicants to attend the STEM X Academy during the school holidays.  STEM X recognises elite teachers of science and STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math) in primary and secondary schools across Australia.

The five-day residential teacher professional development program offered the opportunity for teachers to hear from and work side by side with world-leading global scientists  with the purpose of building confidence and skills in teachers to design, develop, implement and lead STEM education programs across their own schools and wider networks.

Mrs. Gilchrist said the program not only provided her with increased STEM knowledge and a national network of like-minded educators, but also made her realise how STEM and entrepreneurship need to co-exist in the classroom.

“I thought I knew a lot going into the STEM X program, but after spending a week with the world’s leading STEM experts it has really opened my eyes to how I can  further apply STEM-based learning through the broader application of our entrepreneurship program ‘Club Kidpreneur’,” she said.

“There is a synergy between STEM and entrepreneurship that shouldn’t be denied as the entrepreneurship skills of problem-solving, creativity, persuasion and critical thinking enabled the STEM skills and knowledge to be put into practice.

“Using a project-based, immersive entrepreneurship program such as Club Kidpreneur is a great way for our primary school students to develop STEM skills and experience inquiry-based learning. That’s how I will be running the program this year,” she said.  

Last year students from Coopernook Public School won Club Kidpreneur’s national primary school entrepreneurship competition Kidpreneur Challenge. Two of the Coopernook teams who submitted video pitches about their great product ideas to entrepreneurs won the title ‘Kidpreneurs of the Year’, a HP Inc Sprout computer package worth almost $5000 for the school, and a one-day business internship trip to Melbourne where students spent the day learning from leading industry professionals at Moose Toys. You can view one of the team’s winning pitches here and the Moose Toys Business Internship experience here.

Mrs. Gilchrist said, “The confidence and self-belief the children gained through this program is the major growth factor, which in some terms is unmeasurable, but in others so visible”.

Registrations for the Kidpreneur Challenge are now open for 2017. To enter your school visit www.https://www.theentropolis.com.    

WEBINAR – How STEM and Entrepreneurship Co-exist in the Classroom

Want to hear more about how Tania Gilchrist will be incorporating STEM and entrepreneurship into her classroom? Join the Club Kidpreneur Teacher Webinar, March 14th at 4:30pm AEDT. Register Now.

*Sourced: http://asta.edu.au/programs/stemx