19 October 2022

Teachers and curriculum leaders from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) and staff from Monash University continue to collaborate on a project aimed at building teacher capacity to create challenging, authentic and exciting STEM learning opportunities for their students.

The three-year project titled ‘#theSTEMproblem’ draws together the key principles for a successful problem-based learning (PBL) model.

Teachers from five Catholic primary schools and seven secondary colleges are participating in the project, and working with Monash academics to develop and share expertise as they co-construct a shared understanding of best practice teaching and learning approaches.

The project, funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council (ARC), will produce evidence-informed exemplars of powerful school-based PBL practice in STEM education (Years 5–10), which will also help develop a common teacher professional language and shared understanding.

By explicitly focusing on further enhancing the quality of STEM learning and teaching across the system, this project aligns with MACS’ strategic intent to support the full flourishing of all learners.

The project participants gathered at the Catholic Leadership Centre for a professional learning day on Friday 14 October.

Queensland counterparts Brisbane Catholic Education and The University of Queensland (UQ) are also participating in the project.

The participating Melbourne Catholic schools are:

• primary: Clairvaux Catholic School, Belmont; St Fidelis’ School, Moreland; St Jude the Apostle School, Scoresby; St Paul the Apostle Catholic Primary School, Doreen; and St Peter’s School, Epping
• secondary: Avila College, Mount Waverley; Caroline Chisholm Catholic College, Braybrook; Kolbe Catholic College, Greenvale Lakes; St Columba’s College, Essendon; St Monica’s College, Epping; Thomas Carr College, Tarneit; and St Peter’s College, Cranbourne (Diocese of Sale).