Teacher preps for science excellence

Dunsborough Primary School teacher Helena Nicholson has been selected to attend a specialist science program in Canberra next month.

Ms Nicholson was chosen from a pool of 384 applicants to attend the STEM X Academy program, which aims to address the growing national focus on STEM subjects.

Ms Nicholson said the aim of the five-day program was to develop resources for classrooms in teaching STEM subjects, with new curriculum relating being introduced next year.

“The new curriculum is about new technology and design technology,” she said.

The program would help develop ideas on how to teach this new curriculum to students.

“It’s all about figuring out how to implement the new curriculum in the classroom,” Ms Nicholson said.

Ms Nicholson said she was looking forward to meeting and working alongside like-minded teachers who are passionate about science.

“I think it’s important we consider design technology and that is where my focus is,” she said.

“I love science and technology and it is so hands-on, so the kids engage with it.”

While attending the five-day program, Ms Nicholson will be visiting places including Mount Stromlo Observatory, National Arboretum, Deep Space Centre and Questacon, which she said she was looking forward to.

“To be right up there at the cutting edge is very exciting,” she said.

“The harder you work, the luckier you get.”