SOUTH East students built on their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills when the Questacon Smart Skills recently visited various schools around the region.
Nine Limestone Coast schools hosted the visiting roadshow over a 10-day period, with students taking part in a roller coaster design workshop.
The free program travels throughout regional Australia, delivering in-school workshops that immerse students in creativity, design thinking and problem solving.
A number of Mount Gambier High School students from Year 8 to 10 were among those to test their innovation with a series of challenges.
The workshop started by viewing a roller coaster virtual reality experience using virtual reality technology.
A foundation of ideas were brainstormed from the activity which allowed students to adapt to their own roller coaster design model.
Questacon supplied the roller coaster frames for students, allowing them to use a variety of design elements and building materials for the project.
Each group individualised their designs based on the type of ride and experience they wanted their “future customers” to experience.
“We want the students to know it is okay to fail while you are creating and designs will not always work the first time,” Questacon presenter Bree Masliah said.
“Students can refine the design and keep working on it to obtain a more successful outcome.
“One particular group of students made a fantastic prototype that worked really well.”
Mount Gambier High School science coordinator Karen Jared said the workshops were a fantastic opportunity for students.
“It was fantastic to see students engage in learning, use problem solving skills and work collaboratively on a project,” she said.
Year 8 student Chloe Davies said watching the virtual reality roller coaster tour was exciting.
“I was also excited to have input into being able to design and have a say in the way we made our roller coaster The Drop,” she said.
“It was great to be able to make the actual product and view other group’s ideas.”
Following the student workshops, staff had the opportunity to engage in a professional development session, which aim to equip teachers to implement inquiry-based activities within their own classrooms.
