Kids test skills with program
Hands-on drone workshop allows students to explore STEM
CONCORDIA Lutheran College students had the chance to get hands-on with drone technology yesterday, as part of a workshop facilitated by IntegratedSTEM.
Year 5 and 6 students each got the chance to fly one of the mini machines, before learning about its real-world application in the agricultural industry.
“Every session we design, it’s as hands-on as possible with links to future careers they could go into,” IntegratedSTEM director Fraser Border said.
“I think the hands-on program helps to engage and then I try to tie it into the theory – so if you want to do this stuff, which you’re all loving, you need to be an engineer and this is the knowledge you need.
“Schools teach the fundamentals of maths, science, technology and engineering – I like to give them an engineering problem and let them solve it using STEM as a tool.”
Concordia Lutheran College year 5 teacher Stacey Warrener said the students had enjoyed drawing on their STEM knowledge during the program.
“I think in our community it’s good because we’re quite an agricultural city and sometimes the students can’t see past what they’re doing in the classroom and how that might relate to the real world,” Ms Warrener said.
“The kids absolutely love it – any time they can start to use what they know in a hands-on environment it just consolidates what they have learnt but also allows them to see purpose in their learning.”
Mr Border said the workshop program was funded by a Queensland Engaging Science grant, which was one of 10 handed out across the state.
IntegratedSTEM is hosting the program for free at primary schools across the city.
For more information on the program or to apply please visit www.integratedstem.com.au or email info@integratedstem.com.au.
WORK has started on the major $7.5 million revitalisation of a busy street in the Toowoomba CBD, with motorists to be affected by lane closures for several weeks.
Trucks are on-site for the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Russell St Refresh project, with the majority of the construction currently taking place outside the National Hotel.
The program of works between Victoria and Neil Sts, which was endorsed by the councillors in November last year, would revitalise the street by upgrading footpaths, building a median strip between Victoria and Ruthven Sts, planting trees, installing street furniture, upgrading lighting and installing public artwork.
The refresh has not been without controversy, after a plan to reduce the speed limit from 40km/h to 30km/h was reversed by the councillors.
“If a future council wants to change the CBD to 30km/h we can do that, but all this is going to do is boost the coffers of the State Government with speeding tickets,” Cr Sommerfield said at the time.
Business owners along Russell St have expressed mixed opinions about the project, with some questioning the impact it will have on shops during the construction period.
But Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl backed the plan.
“We are fully supportive of refreshing the street — we think this will make a great contribution to things we’ve been advocating for, like asset renewal,” he said in November.
“We’ll just have to make sure construction impacts are closely monitored.”
The council was contacted for comment by did not respond in time for publication.
Single lane closures as well as traffic and pedestrian detours will be in place along Russell St while the works were being carried out.
For more information about current and upcoming roadworks, head to the website at tr.qld.gov.au.