Discovery: TECHSprint

Overview

Collaborative Curriculum Enhancement

The KIOSC TECHSprint program provides a powerful platform for classroom teachers to actively enhance and extend their STEM curriculum through collaborative, co-designed learning experiences. By leveraging KIOSC’s specialised equipment and expert facilitators, teachers can seamlessly integrate targeted skill development and inquiry-based learning into their existing lesson plans. TECHSprints are meticulously crafted to address specific curricular objectives, ensuring that students gain practical, hands-on experience that directly reinforces classroom learning.

This program empowers classroom teachers to design and implement extended, project-based learning initiatives where a visit to KIOSC becomes an integral, vital component of the overall educational outcome. Teachers can strategically plan TECHSprint sessions to:

• Augment existing units of study: Providing students with access to specialised equipment and expertise not available in the classroom, thereby deepening their understanding of core concepts.
• Develop specific technical skills: Facilitating the acquisition of practical skills in areas such as coding, CAD design, digital fabrication, or advanced scientific inquiry, which are essential for project completion.
• Foster authentic problem-solving: Enabling students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges, culminating in tangible project outcomes.
• Provide a real world context: Connecting classroom learning with real-world applications of STEM skills, strengthening student engagement.

By actively partnering with KIOSC, teachers can create dynamic and engaging learning experiences that not only enhance student understanding but also cultivate critical 21st-century skills. The TECHSprint program serves as a valuable resource for teachers seeking to enrich their STEM curriculum and provide students with transformative learning opportunities.

Below are examples in key areas of skill/knowledge development within TECHSprint programs:

• Computational Thinking and Programming:
  • Proficiency in block-based and text-based coding languages (e.g., Scratch).
  • Application of coding principles to control peripheral devices (e.g., micro:bits, drones, mBots).
  • Development of algorithmic thinking and problem-solving skills through practical coding projects.
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Digital Fabrication:
  • Utilisation of CAD software for design and modelling.
    • Application of laser cutting technology and/or 3D printing for prototyping and fabrication.
  • Development of spatial reasoning and design thinking skills.
  • Application of design principals in a technology elective context.
• Science (Biology and Chemistry):
  • Biology:
    • Application of sensor technology to monitor environmental parameters (e.g., digital pH, temperature probes) in ecological investigations.
    • Design and implementation of data collection and analysis protocols for biological experiments.
  • Chemistry:
    • Utilise sensor technology to analyse chemical reactions.
    • Conducting digitally enhanced titrations and other quantitative analysis.

The TECHSprint format facilitates a learner-centered approach, enabling students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical applications within a supportive and resource-rich environment. This program aligns with contemporary educational objectives emphasising STEM integration, digital literacy, and the development of 21st-century skills.

To book a TECHSprint Program:

The KIOSC TECHSprint program is predicated on a collaborative partnership between classroom teachers and KIOSC facilitators, ensuring that learning experiences are precisely aligned with curricular objectives. To maximize the efficacy of a TECHSprint, classroom teachers are encouraged to articulate clear and specific learning outcomes prior to program design. This proactive approach allows KIOSC to effectively co-design a bespoke learning experience that directly addresses the identified needs of the students and the classroom curriculum.

By establishing well-defined learning outcomes, teachers provide a focused framework for the TECHSprint, enabling:

• Targeted Skill Development: Clear outcomes allow KIOSC facilitators to tailor activities and utilize specialized equipment to directly support the acquisition of desired skills, whether in coding, CAD, scientific experimentation, or other STEM areas.
• Curriculum Integration: Defined outcomes ensure that the TECHSprint seamlessly integrates with existing classroom units, reinforcing and extending core concepts rather than existing as a standalone activity.
• Meaningful Assessment: Explicit learning outcomes provide a basis for assessing student progress and demonstrating the impact of the TECHSprint on their learning. Teachers and KIOSC facilitators can collaborate on assessment strategies that align with the defined goals.
• Efficient Resource Allocation: Outlining specific outcomes allows KIOSC to optimize resource allocation, ensuring that the appropriate equipment, materials, and expertise are available to support the learning experience.
• Enhanced Student Engagement: When students understand the specific learning goals and how they relate to their classroom work, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated.
• Precise Co-design: A clear understanding of the classroom teachers goals facilitates a precise co-design process. This ensures that the TECHSprint is not a general activity, but a highly specific and effective tool to promote student learning.

In essence, the establishment of learning outcomes serves as a crucial foundation for a successful TECHSprint, fostering a collaborative and outcome-driven approach to STEM education. This ensures that the program directly enhances classroom learning and empowers students to achieve their full potential.