Industrial Technology Teaching Summit 2026 (Brisbane)

Agenda

• 8:30 am - 9:00 am

  Arrival and Registration

  Registration Tea and Coffee served

• Welcome & Introduction

  Introduction to the day's events and overview of presenters and showcases.

• Session 1: Lighting the Fire (30mins)

  This session highlights the experiences of past school graduates as they share their success stories since leaving school. They reflect on the parts of their junior Industrial Technology & Design ITD and pre-apprenticeship VET courses that had the greatest impact on their learning. Trainers will also hear from these students’ employers on WHAT and WHY makes these students successful and what industry wants to see from up-and-coming future tradespeople.

• Session 2: Teaching Skills Transfer (15mins)

  This session gives participants insights and practical skills on how to transfer teaching skills from other curriculum areas into practical trade-based subjects. Unpack the journey of a highly accomplished practitioner who upskilled from HPE across to junior ITD/ senior VET. Learn essential ways to implement teaching methods from other subject areas with success.

• Session 3: From Site to Classroom (30mins)

  The session targets vocational educators and practitioners, exploring practical methods to translate real-world field experience directly into classroom environments. The discussion centres on boosting student engagement, standardizing trade competencies, and employing realistic training scenarios to bridge the gap between initial onsite exposure and academic delivery

• Morning Tea / Trade Challange

  Unleash your competitive spirit in the 'Trade Challenge' which places participants in a race against the clock to drive framing nails and embed decking screws. This 'knock-out' style competition will see a hotly contested event and a 'Trade Champion' announced.

• Session 4: Teacher Collaboration (30mins)

  This session allows participants to work together to design and reflect on subject/ course projects being delivered, review project plans and ideas for potential future delivery and explore options available for technology first tasks.

• Session 5: Classroom Management and Observation (30mins)

  Explore how to manage practical classrooms using 'Teaching 101' skills which facilitate smooth lesson planning delivery (hook, intent, success).This includes classroom set-up, movement, selective responding, verbal/ non-verbal cues and peer to peer instruction. Furthermore, learn how to turbo-charge your teaching practice through genuine lesson observation, feedback and reflection

• Session 6: Effective AI use in practical classes (30mins)

  This session will focus on using AI tools to produce quality and engaging resources to support teaching in trades classrooms. The emphasis will be on using simple, effective approaches to use of AI that ensure rapid production of high quality and useful resources for teaching and learning, including lesson planning and activity ideas that have come up during earlier sessions on this day. Teachers should leave this session with ideas that can be immediately implemented into their own planning for teaching.

• 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm

  Lunch

  Catering is provided along with tea & coffee

• Session 7: The Impacts of effective classroom delivery (15mins)

  Gain an understanding of the impacts of effective teaching in a practical curriculum area. Participants will hear of the influence that success in practical (ITD/ VET) subjects can have on educational outcomes for a student. Furthermore, insights will be offered into how and why slight daily classroom delivery improvements can have a wide-ranging influence on a student cohorts’ journey.

• Session 8: How Industry Sees the Future: Trade Readiness (15mins)

  Hear directly from leading industry bodies, including Manufacturing Skills Qld as they share their perspectives on the future of trades, construction and manufacturing. This session will explore where industry is heading, the skills and practices expected of future workers, and how trainers can better prepare students for changing workplace needs. Attendees will also consider opportunities to upskill their own industry knowledge and ensure course delivery reflects current and emerging industry practice.

• Session 9: Course Delivery, Resource Review & Collaboration (45mins)

  This self-directed session gives trade trainers time to connect, share course delivery approaches and discuss practical training across different school and workshop settings. Trainers will have the opportunity to unpack course resources and projects, compare delivery methods, and build professional connections with other teachers delivering practical trade subjects and pre-apprenticeship programs.

• End and Feedback

  Wrap up of day's proceedings and presentations. Teachers are invited to provide feedback on the event and their experiences.