{"id":30555,"date":"2023-09-05T13:42:33","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T17:42:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/?p=30555"},"modified":"2023-09-05T14:00:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T18:00:44","slug":"intl-educator-spotlight-sharon-raj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nearpod.com\/blog\/intl-educator-spotlight-sharon-raj\/","title":{"rendered":"Educator Spotlight: Elevating STEM education in Australia with Nearpod"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

STEM education is all about teaching students in a way that connects four important areas: science, technology, engineering, and math. Instead of treating these subjects as separate things, STEM mixes them together and shows how they’re used in real life. It’s not like the usual way of teaching, where you learn science and math separately. STEM shows how these subjects are all connected by giving practical examples that let you use what you’ve learned in real situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEM education in Australia has gained significant momentum over the years, emerging as a cornerstone of the country’s educational landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on information gathered by the Department of Education<\/a>\u00b9, Australia faces pressing concerns regarding its STEM landscape and the implications for its future trajectory. The percentage of secondary school students opting for STEM courses in later stages (Years 11 and 12) has stagnated at around 10% or lower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s concerning news about how Australian students are doing in science and math. They’re either not getting better or just staying the same, while other countries are improving. While four countries or economies outperformed Australia in PISA mathematics back in 2003, this number surged to 23 by 2018<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sharon<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, all Australian education ministers endorsed the National STEM School Education Strategy 2016\u20132026<\/a>. The strategy emphasizes foundational skills, mathematical and scientific literacy, digital literacy, problem-solving, critical analysis, and creative thinking skills.<\/strong> It aims to coordinate and enhance STEM education activities across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharon Raj, a primary school teacher (STEM RFF) at Dee Why Public School, Australia, is aware of all these challenges and is determined to make the subject really exciting for her students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tackles the task of overcoming the hurdles in providing STEM education to a diverse range of students spanning from kindergarten to grade 6. Her solution?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She uses <\/strong>Nearpod<\/strong><\/a> to differentiate learning, create <\/strong>active learning experiences<\/strong><\/a>, and connect with her students.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teachers can sign up for free below to access and create interactive lessons. Administrators can schedule a call with an expert to unlock the full power of Nearpod for schools and districts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Teachers: Sign up for free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Administrators: Schedule a call<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Navigating STEM Challenges in Australia: A Teacher’s Insight on Transforming Education with Nearpod<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sharon’s initial introduction to Nearpod came through New South Wales’ Technology for Learning program<\/a>, commonly known as STEM T4L. Reflecting on her experience, she exclaims, “Dealing with the diverse needs of each student in a classroom can be quite challenging. Fortunately, Nearpod has been a lifesaver!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We interviewed Sharon to dive deeper into the valuable insights gained from her journey with Nearpod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the main challenges of STEM education in Australia?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSTEM is not a traditional classroom subject. It involves project-based learning<\/a>, problem-solving, and using technology. Students bring diverse experience levels into the classroom based on their exposure and access to technology at home. Some students may have spent time being creative using building blocks. Some others may not have had the opportunity. STEM education, therefore, must cater to this diversity in students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second challenge is that since STEM is not a traditional subject, students find it uncomfortable. Learning involves trial and error, and, most importantly, failing but then trying again. The idea of failing can be uncomfortable for many students. It is hard to change their mindset about this. To engage and motivate them, I introduce them to game-based learning to get them used to the idea of experimenting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you always want to be a teacher? When did your love for teaching start?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did not start my career as a teacher. I am trained in the sciences. I stumbled upon teaching when I helped at my children\u2019s school during my early motherhood years. I loved being around children so much that I decided to train as a primary school teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the school decided to pay attention to STEM education, they needed someone to teach the digital technology curriculum. So, I stepped up. I could use these technology kits, including robots, in my lessons. It has been a rewarding journey because I get to discover and grow with the students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell us about your Nearpod experience. Are there any special instances that you would like to share?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI remember when I first got training on Nearpod, especially the [Virtual Reality] Field Trip <\/a>feature. Seeing the students light up at the 360-degree beach view was amazing \u2013 they were so excited! I found all these tools really helpful to keep them engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Virtual<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I was curious to try out the other stuff in Nearpod, like gamification and the Draw It feature<\/a>. But what really surprised me was the instant feedback I could get. When I asked the students questions, their responses blew me away. I never knew they had such thoughts. And the cool part was even the quiet students who usually keep to themselves joined in. Their answers really convinced me of how powerful Nearpod is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a STEM teacher, I come across many apps, but not many excite me. But with Nearpod, I was genuinely thrilled about the possibilities it offered.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the benefits of using Nearpod in classroom teaching?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNearpod activities are especially useful when I need to explain complex concepts. When I simply talk about these concepts, students find it boring to listen. With Nearpod, every student has a screen, so they already feel as though they are interacting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also use Nearpod to wrap up a project after introducing the concepts. When I ask them to respond, every student can respond at the same time, even those who are typically nervous about speaking in front of their friends, or students for whom English is not a first language. With this feature, I know exactly what each student is thinking. It is an amazing personalization tool for a teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the STEM classroom, there is a lot of project work and hands-on work. It is difficult to gauge where a student is. Using Nearpod as a quick, low-stakes assessment tool without scaring the students too much has been fantastic! It has saved a lot of time in being able to reuse\/reconfigure a lesson. It has revolutionized the way I teach!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"STEM<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Explore Nearpod\u2019s STEM lessons<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Please share an example of when you used Nearpod for good results.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRecently, I played a video for a class about the use of technology in sustainable agriculture. After the video, I asked them questions. I was shocked by the students\u2019 limited ability to retain information from the video. I had to play the video again and point out the details for them to learn better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I use Nearpod, even if I play a short video, I can highlight key points, and insert open-ended questions that make the students pause and think. So, getting students to engage and interact with videos has been great with Nearpod.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Personification<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

What are your top tips for maximizing the use of Nearpod in STEM education?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a few things to keep in mind when planning your lessons to ensure that your students will have the best learning experience. A good STEM lesson should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n