CQU working with Education Queensland to find ways to mix science with play

By Greg Chapman

CQUniversity and Education Queensland’s Queensland Virtual STEM Academy (QVSA) are working to open minds to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths at a young age by looking at ways to design STEM-friendly parks.

The QVSA’s The STEM for the Small Grand Challenge’ – ‘Grand Challenge’ is an ongoing Education Queensland activity that often involves CQU researchers as experts and mentors.

CQU STEM Central Lead Associate Professor Linda Pfeiffer participated in the activity and shared her research into STEM in the Park, focusing on three-year-olds.

Her focus included looking at ways parks can incorporate STEM into play and park facilities. 

“Some parks prompt lots of imaginative play but not many promote STEM-thinking, and some parents might find it challenging to talk to their kids about STEM,” she said.

“Our research involved visiting two kindergartens and conducting small group discussions with three-year-olds and recording their responses to questions about play parks using photo prompts and having the children draw. 

“We then made signs with questions for parents and carers to ask their children. We then placed them in actual playparks. The questions were based on the data analysis from the three-year-olds.”

The concept also involves primary and high school students from across Queensland. Assoc Prof Pfeiffer and Associate Professor Gillian Busch recently attended a session at Rockhampton State School during a QVSA livestream. 

“The STEM for the small is an offshoot from STEM in the Park where the Year 5 and 6 QVSA students are going to design a park for children based on our research,” she said. 

“The primary school children have 10 weeks with QVSA to plan a solution to a problem. The stem for the small “challenge” is about designing a play park for small children. The QVSA students will present their designs in May.

Assoc Prof Pfeiffer said she and others involved in the project have presented a deputation to Gladstone Regional Council.

“We are seeking funding from the Council to have semi-permanent signs placed in parks that will have QR codes in order collect further data from users,” she said.

Deputy Principal Queensland Virtual STEM Academy at Central Queensland Breeha Sinnamon said CQU played a vital role in the STEM for the Small Grand Challenge’ – ‘Grand Challenge’ project.

“Our experts and mentors provide authenticity to our programs – they are able to demonstrate to our students possible pathways in careers and research, mentor the students with their ideas as they work towards their own ideations, and then provide feedback on students’ presentations at the culmination of our Grand Challenge. 

“There have been times where students have maintained this relationship with our CQU experts, even after their Grand Challenge has finished.

“Some of our students are working on modifying their own school playgrounds to embed STEM-thinking and STEM-opportunities. As their ideas progress, we will work with them to get their ideas into the real world. Teachers at the students’ schools are also heavily involved in the Grand Challenge and are working on improving their own STEM capabilities to take back to their home schools.”