Aspiring STEM Specialists

Develop yourself, develop your team

Aspiring STEM Specialists provides the expert guidance, collaborative network and professional learning pathway required to lift STEM capability and collaboration at your school.

• Improve pedagogical practices through strategic integration of effective STEM teaching and learning methods – including explicit instruction, inquiry learning, design thinking, critical thinking and project-based learning.
• Enhance curriculum delivery through planning that integrates/aligns STEM or STEAM learning areas (where appropriate) and the general capabilities to ensure ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ alignment of the Australian Curriculum.
• Develop expert teaching teams through a culture of continuous professional improvement and sharing of best practice within school teams and across the Aspiring STEM Specialists network.

We support your success

Aspiring STEM Specialists presents your leaders and teachers with an excellent platform for professional growth.

• Network members and experts intentionally collaborate through online and face-to-face focus topics, workshops and masterclasses.
• Members include principals, school leaders and teachers from 85 schools across all seven regions of Queensland.
• Expert contributors are shown below. Your school can join us.​​​  ​

How it works

Step 1: Join via a 2-day foundational workshop.

Step 2: Intentionally collaborate within your school and across the network.

Step 3: Be a STEM leader!

Foundational workshop

We are proceeding with face-to-face workshops based on Stage 3 of the Roadmap (PDF, 157KB) to easing Queensland’s restrictions.

• The foundational workshop introduces participants to the IMPACT Learning Framework—'a dynamic, valid and transferable instrument that utilises a more integrated approach to teaching and learning.'
  
• Read the executive summary from the Griffith University School of Education and Professional Studies.
• Experts from the IMPACT Centre and Sentis Education facilitate the foundational workshop.

Registrations close approximately 1 week prior to the workshop date (or earlier if sold out).

What comes next? Online and face-to-face collaboration, including contributions from a range of experts.

Target audience

• Aspiring STEM Specialists is most suited to primary or secondary school leaders (including principals) and classroom teachers who are passionate about STEM (or STEAM), have the mindset to lead improvement, the interpersonal skills to influence your staff and the dedication to actively participate in the network.
• Some schools are investing in a 'STEM Leadership Team' and involving representatives from senior management, middle management and key teachers.
• It is highly recommended that medium-large schools/clusters register at least 2 members to support local leadership and collaboration, however you can register 1 staff member if desired.
• Small schools/clusters can register 1 staff member.

The value of membership

• Aspiring STEM Specialists engages you and your team in ‘the right work’ if STEM capability and collaboration is a priority at your school.
• Members and experts intentionally collaborate and deepen professional learning through online and face-to-face focus topics and masterclasses.
• The initial membership fee is $950 per person—this includes participation in the foundational workshop and network membership for 12 months.
• School principals join for free⁠—no charge for the foundational workshop, no charge to join the network for the first year (not transferable to other staff).
• Teacher Relief Scheme and travel costs may be necessary for face-to-face workshops.

Note: The costs above apply to Queensland state government schools.