• Home
  • Lutheran learning experience
    ▼
    • Learning in a Lutheran school
    • What is a Lutheran education?
    • Parenting and schools – a learning partnership
  • Learning Journeys
    ▼
    • K-12 in Lutheran schools
    • Queensland Certificate of Education
    • Tertiary ready
    • Vocational Education and Training
    • Outdoor Education
    • International students
    • Boarding
    • Service Learning
  • Latest News
  • Find A Lutheran School
  • MyLEQ
  • Contact
  • About us
    ▼
    • About us
    • Our proud history
    • Our team
  • Careers
    ▼
    • Why work for Lutheran Education Queensland?
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Staff Portal
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • MyLEQ
  • Search

Lutheran Education Queensland

Inspired learning for life

MENUMENU
  • Learning experience
    • Parenting and schools – a learning partnership
    • Learning in a Lutheran school
    • What is a Lutheran education?
  • Insider insights
  • Learning Journeys
    • Service Learning
    • Boarding
    • International students
    • Outdoor Education
    • Vocational Education and Training
    • Tertiary ready
    • Queensland Certificate of Education
    • K-12 in Lutheran schools
    • Overview
  • News
  • About us
    • Our team
    • Our proud history
    • About us
    • Job Openings
  • Find a school
Home / Contemporary Schooling Messages from Australia’s Chief Scientist

Contemporary Schooling Messages from Australia’s Chief Scientist

Recently I was invited by QUT to join some of their staff for an intimate working lunch with Alan Finkel (Aus Chief Scientist) and Cathy Foley (Chief Scientist CSIRO).

While we were brainstorming the desired future of K-12 schooling, there were a number of key messages that Alan and Cathy shared during the engagement:

  • K-12 schooling needs to continually emphasize Real World Applications during the episodes of learning.
  • Schools need to create a lot more industry/community partnerships to support and facilitate the learning. “Don’t just put inappropriate expectations on teachers”.
  • “It’s not all about STEM” Prof Alan Finkel. All subjects feed into the metacognitive process and analysis. For example, Alan mentioned that English literature would be highly pertinent to developing innovative scientific thought.
  • Schools need to create more learning and working which is inter-disciplinary or multi- disciplinary.
  • Schools need to tell more contemporary success stories related to the learning that is occurring at a micro and macro level.
  • With more real world applications and application of authentic contexts during learning, there appears to be an increase in females choosing to engage in fields of study which have previously had low numbers of female engagement. The areas include science, engineering and mathematics.

Alan and  Cathy introduced the newly revised Australian Government “Star Portal”  which is a highly needed information source for schools and parents in seeking out STEM activities and resources. https://starportal.edu.au/

Alan discussed some key skills that are needed to be enriched by all to engage in a career in the contemporary world which were:

  • EQ and Soft Skills
  • Digital Capability on top of your normal role/job including data analysis
  • Global cultural intelligence and being able to speak foreign languages

They were supporting the notion that Science, Maths, Engineering, Technology professionals do not operate by themselves in a room as they work in teams, collaborate and engage to solve real world problems.  They were concerned that generally schools do not support or replicate this model during the learning in schools.

During the course of chatting alone with Alan, he elaborated on the type of individual he would favour leaving junctures of education. He indicated that the individual would need to have a good grasp or all the soft and emotional intelligence skills while having one deep academic and knowledge passion.

It was heartening to reflect on these and more messages while quietly celebrating how Lutheran Schools have and are adopting these ways of working as part of the learning journey for our many inquiring minds.

Derek

Find a Lutheran school near you

Search now

Footer

Lutheran Education Queensland logo - white reversed

REGIONAL OFFICE

Level 2, 24 McDougall Street
Milton Q 4064
PO Box 1535, Milton Q 4064
T:  (617) 3511 4050

Home

  • Careers
  • Contact
  • News
  • About us
  • MyLEQ
  • Copyright and privacy

LEQ Experience

  • What is a Lutheran education?
  • Learning in a Lutheran school
  • Parenting and schools – a learning partnership

Find A School

  • Find by location, service and name

Learning Journeys

  • K-12 in Lutheran schools
  • Queensland Certificate of Education
  • Tertiary ready
  • Vocational Education and Training
  • Outdoor Education
  • International students
  • Boarding
  • Service Learning

© 2023 Lutheran Education Queensland