Lae International School Students Receive Hands-On STEM Lessons

Students at Lae International School gained hands-on experience with coding, programming, mini computers and digital systems during a two-week STEM programme in Papua New Guinea.

The programme was delivered by STEMPunks, a Brisbane-based STEM education company funded by industry partner Orica. The team worked with four schools in Lae and adjusted lessons to match each school’s skill level. Students explored algorithms, robotics and ways to use STEM skills for ideas such as smart agricultural systems and autonomous farms.

Lae International School joined the programme while rolling out an information technology transformation as part of its 50th anniversary. Principal Greg Neville said schools run by the International Education Agency would upgrade their ICT infrastructure and place greater emphasis on STEM education.

The school is introducing virtual-reality headsets, robotics, 3D printing and laptops. Students in grades 3 to 8 and their teachers took part in the lessons, and teachers received guides to support future STEM teaching. The students then applied their skills at a mini science fair, where a Grade 7 group won first place.

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It’s a good support for what we’re already doing. We’re rolling out a whole lot of STEM resources across the school like VR headsets, robotics, 3D printing and laptops, amongst many other technologies, so this is a great support to the work that the teachers are already doing in their classrooms.