Excellence in STEM Teaching Communities of Practice

The objective is to build educators STEM capacity. This is focussed not on individual teachers, but rather building communities of practice that can self-sustain over time. Leadership and classroom teachers are targeted to ensure that changes necessary to support effective STEM teaching are strategically implemented and resourced. This project will develop and trial an innovative professional learning model that has potential for significant use into the future, including:

• Blended learning, using a combination of face-to-face, video-conferencing; coaching-call check-ins and self-paced online modules.
• Targeted professional learning (1 leader and 1 STEM teacher per school) to build a deep understanding of STEM implementation and form a community of practice. Comprising one day face to face, four 1-hour self-paced modules, two 30 mins coaching call check-ins, and a 90 min wrap-up report back via video conference.
• Broad professional learning (likely online only, accessible broadly by registration) to allow more teachers to build expertise and expand the communities of practice. This would be five to seven 1 hour self-paced modules.

About STAV

The Science Teachers Association of Victoria (STAV) is a member organisation which promotes, stimulates and supports the study and teaching of Science throughout the state of Victoria. Since its foundation in 1943, STAV has a long history of working to support educators across the state to improve student engagement in the learning of science.