Syllabus information for leaders
Whole school considerations
School leaders should consider the following areas before electing to offer iSTEM:
- Curriculum – due to the wide range of elective topics available, careful consideration should be given to timetabling, staffing, and rooming.
- Work, health and safety – Schools need to ensure that work, health and safety policies and procedures and other policies are followed. This includes school leaders ensuring appropriate teacher training and approval to teach and class sizes when utilising practical classrooms.
- Learning spaces – The practical nature of iSTEM, may require access to specialist rooms in Technological and Applied Studies and Science.
- Resourcing – iSTEM is a contemporary, technology-based practical subject which may require investment in additional equipment and materials.
- Pedagogies – A combination of inquiry, problem and project-based learning pedagogies are required to meet the intent of this course.
- Staff training – Additional professional learning may be required for staff to effectively deliver some aspects of the course. Schools need to ensure that staff have appropriate training and expertise.
- Industry links and pathways – The purpose of any STEM initiative must involve active engagement with the wider educational community, government, and industry groups.
The introduction of department approved electives provided an opportunity to update the iSTEM course so that it remains at the forefront of STEM education.
Previous versions included topics which were referred to as either core or elective modules. iSTEM (2022) has core, elective, and a new category of specialised topics.
New specialised topics are focused on STEM priority industries, with industry input pivotal in their development. Topics will develop knowledge and skills that underpin future-focused industries.
Whilst some topics have been superseded, essential elements of their content can be found in other areas of the course.
Course outcomes have been refined so that all are now covered within each topic.
- professional learning available in 2022
- Teaching and Learning 7-12 and Secondary STEM Statewide staffrooms