Little Scientists STEM Design and Technologies Workshop, Perth, WA, Aug 2023

In this thought-provoking workshop, you will learn how to engage children in technical learning through design, production, investigation, and analysis and to foster children’s technical competence. We will also build on our own appreciation of the relevance of technology education for children’s understanding of the world and their creative spirit. 

Through partaking in hands-on, interactive activities, we will explore technical inventions of the past, optimise present-day technology, and design sustainable solutions for the future! By the end of this workshop, you will feel prepared to help children identify needs and design technical solutions. You will have also acquired a variety of technology education approaches you can use in your setting. 

STEM topic: Design & Technologies 

In this interactive workshop, you will learn how to create rich STEM learning experiences in your service through the exciting topic of design and technologies and use it as a topic through which to teach the outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework. Activities may include: 

• Solve a transportation crisis.  
• Design your own innovative way to get from A to B. 
• Explore the history of technology and the impact it has on our everyday lives. 
• Create a training course that teaches people to eat with chopsticks. 
• Design and build a confetti factory. 
• Design and build a vehicle prototype that can travel over land and in water. 
• Run a technical experiment and test a wind-up spool with different tubes and rubber bands 

Pedagogical topic: Philosophical inquiry in early childhood 

This STEM workshop will provide you with essential knowledge and skills to foster children’s technical competence and to develop age-appropriate training courses for children to acquire new skills. This STEM learning opportunity will help you: 

• Embrace ethical decision-making as an important part of technology education. 
• Recognise the importance of communication, evaluation, and assessment for technical learning. 
• Understand the differences between engineering and technical education and learn the objectives of technical education. 
• Recognise everyday situations where children can acquire technical competencies. 
• Differentiate between reflective thinking and routine skill development.  
• Learn how to kindle children's interest in philosophical inquiry, ethics, and sustainability. 
• Understand the potential of technology education for assessing the impact of technologies on society and the environment. 

STEM Learning Outcomes 

This STEM workshop will provide you with the following learning outcomes through the specific lens of design and technologies:  

• Understand the important role of inquiry-based learning and co-construction in early education.  
• Uncover how early education can foster children’s metacognitive development.  
• Learn how communication, reflection, and questioning can enhance children’s ability to think about their own learning.  
• Exchange ideas and experiences with other like-minded educators and reflect on your current practice.  
• Receive comprehensive topic-specific materials with educational STEM ideas and information about inquiry-based practices.  
• The confidence to tap into, guide, and focus children’s natural interests and abilities.  
• The confidence to pass on your new knowledge and skills to your colleagues and to become a STEM champion in your service. 

Practical info about this workshop:  

WHO: This workshop is suitable for all educators and teachers — no prior STEM knowledge required.  

COST: $215 per participant. Ticket includes morning tea. 

FACILITATOR: Wendy Gorman, Little Scientists Local Network Partner Trainers.

BRING: Please bring something to write notes with and wear comfortable clothing suitable for hands-on activities and experiments.  

TRANSPORT: Please research your parking and public transport options ahead of time. 

GOOD TO KNOW: This workshop provides you with a variety of tools and educational concepts to meet a range of requirements of the NQF and EYLF. 

Questions? Email us at workshops@littlescientists.org.au  

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