Science, Technology and Innovation in action

Science, Technology and Innovation in action

Executive summary As a leading school for girls, we believe it is critical to prepare the next generation of young women for the new economy that will define their working lives.

Girls are chronically under-represented

Despite the growing opportunity

The gender gap in rapidly-growing

in the technology sector. The recently-

for STEM careers, in the developed

fields such as artificial intelligence (AI)

released Women in STEM Decadal Plan

world, women account for just one-

is even more pronounced, with female

revealed that girls in Australia were the

quarter of graduates in Information

workers accounting for just 22 per cent

least likely of all Asia-Pacific students

and Communications Technology

of employees worldwide, according

to undertake STEM subjects in school

– even though women outnumber

to UNESCO.

(27 per cent, compared with 76 per cent

men in graduate schools overall

in China and 69 per cent in India).

(source: OECD). According to

Pymble is proud to take an intentional

a report from the Australian Bureau of

approach to addressing the significant

STEM powers our nation’s innovation

Statistics, men accounted for around

challenges of under-representation

and, therefore, its wealth. In 2019,

four-fifths (81 per cent) of the 2.7

of girls and women in STEM-related

the federal government pledged $3.4

million people with higher-level STEM

fields, particularly in the technology

million to improve STEM equity in

qualifications from 2010 to 2011.

sector. Our Strategic Plan, with its focus

Australia and boost the participation

on Digital Intelligence, creates life-

of girls and women in this space.

Women remain a significant minority

changing opportunities for our students

Still, we need to do more.

in the scientific fields driving the

to engage meaningfully with STEM and

digital revolution, amid a general skills

to be inspired to go on to use their

shortage that’s holding back progress.

learnings and acquired skills to make

STEM roles are so impactful to our nation’s prosperity that a one per cent

the world a better place.

increase in people choosing a STEM

The UNESCO Science Report 2021

career could contribute more than $57

found that women are still under-

DR KATE HADWEN

billion to the economy over the next

represented in computing, digital

PRINCIPAL

20 years, according to PwC’s report,

information technology, engineering,

MR JAMES HUNTER

Future-proofing Australia’s Workforce.

mathematics and physics.

CHAIR OF COLLEGE BOARD

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Strategic Direction: Watch Us Change the World Watch Us Change the World is

Pymble girls are active, responsible and

Students are encouraged to be part of,

Pymble’s Strategic Direction, which

engaged global citizens who harness

and fuel, the technological revolution;

began implementation in 2021.

the power of technology to effect

to build, change and co-create the

positive change. They understand the

future. Through developing digital

It introduces four new directional

importance of technology to activate

fluency, students cultivate healthy

themes/pillars for teaching and

human potential, enable

learning, along with the enablers we

connections and make the

technologies in beneficial

believe will combine with the themes,

world a better place for all.

and sustaining ways.

to empower Pymble girls to become influential and compassionate women who have the knowledge, skills and courage to make a meaningful contribution to the world. These themes/pillars are: ACADEMIC INTELLIGENCE: Knowledge for a better world EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Empowered to be courageous SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE: Diversity as the path to unity DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE: Technologies for an innovative future

habits and are equipped to use

Teaching and Learning in the Science and Technology space

NEW DATA SCIENCE CURRICULUM In 2022, Pymble is offering an inaugural Introduction to Data Science (IDS) Curriculum for students to learn to reason with, and think critically about, data in all forms. We are the first school in the Southern Hemisphere to offer

• Rigorous learning that fuses mathematics with computer science through the use of R/RStudio, an open-source programming language/environment that has long been the standard for academic statisticians and analysts in industry.

this course, which includes: • The Common Core State Standards

STUDENT UPTAKE OF IDS IN 2022

(CCSS) for High School Statistics and Probability relevant to data science.

• Data demands of good citizenship in the 21st century.

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Year 9:

40

Year 10:

33

Year 11:

19

Total:

92

The number of students enrolled in our inaugural Data Science Course is impressive and reflects a growing interest in this area, given it is the first time the College has offered this course and students have no prior knowledge of what it entails.

GROWTH IN SOFTWARE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT Software Design and Development (SDD) is a course where students learn how to design and develop software.

It sparks creativity and gives students a tech superpower to create programs that can impact their world.

The number of girls in NSW taking up SDD for the HSC is an indication of how far we have to go with elevating women in STEM. In 2021, only 10 per cent of students in NSW undertaking this course were female. We want to increase this percentage, which is why we are working hard in the K-6 space (see Junior School over page), as well as in the Secondary School years to promote interest in STEM through innovative and engaging programs and opportunities.

Our SDD Class of 2021 saw more than 40 per cent of students achieve Band 6 and 70 per cent have enrolled into tertiary degrees in Computer Science.

SENIOR STUDENT UPTAKE OF SDD

2022

39

2021

20

In just one year, the number of Year 11 students enrolled in Software Design and Development has doubled.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AT PYMBLE | 5

Teaching and Learning in the Science and Technology space

FOCUS ON STEM IN JUNIOR SCHOOL 2022

STEM initiatives and opportunities for the K-6 curriculum in 2022:

In line with our Strategic Focus on Digital Intelligence, the College has been further developing and implementing a focus on STEM learning for students in Kindergarten to Year 6.

K-2

• I ntroduction to sequencing and algorithms.

• Design-and-make opportunities embedded within Inquiry Units.

YEAR 3

• L earning in the STEM lab, including developing algorithmic thinking as a stepping stone to coding activities.

• Use of Vex Go robots linked to Science Syllabus.

YEAR 4

• U se of Minecraft Education, in collaboration with external learning partnership, to explore sustainability within Inquiry Units.

• Design-and-make opportunities embedded within Inquiry Units.

• Use of virtual reality within Inquiry Units.

YEARS 5 AND 6

• U se of robots and spheros in mathematics.

• Coding opportunities that address the Science curriculum including writing code, creating algorithms, debugging codes and game creation.

• Design-and-make opportunities embedded within Inquiry Units.

It has progressed quickly to include a comprehensive STEM curriculum for each learning stage, and an impressive 102 students participating in the co-curricular Robotics program.

The Junior School Science Week, which will be held in Term 3 2022, is a culminating activity celebrating all STEM areas of study. In 2022, we are excited to be launching our annual STEM Creativity Festival during Science Week.

Co-curricular robotics innovations in 2022: YEARS 3 AND 4

• N ew program using VEX GO kits, with a view to creating a Pymble competition for younger students.

YEAR 5 AND 6

• I ntroduction of accelerated programs for top stream students.

• Student tier system to inspire students of all levels of interest and ability.

YEARS 7 TO 12

• D evelop partnerships with universities and industry.

• Develop Outreach program where students create robot kits from scratch and digital resources to distribute to schools and institutions interested in starting robotics programs.

MENTORING/ OUTREACH

• D evelop Pymble Robotics Mentor program.

• Create holiday workshops utilising STEM spaces within the College, for girls and boys beyond Pymble.

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Partnerships in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation It has been a long-term strategy of the College to create genuine education partnerships with external businesses, organisations and industries to give our students opportunities for future-focused, real-world learning that takes place outside the classroom.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (UCLA)

by the UCLA team in preparation for

Pymble is the first school in Australia

the 2022 curriculum. (See New Data

to partner with UCLA to offer

Science Curriculum, page 4.)

the implementation of the course into

the Introduction to Data Science Curriculum as an elective for students in Years 9, 10 and 11. Five classes of excited students have joined a ‘Top Gun-style’ group of outstanding Pymble educators, who were trained

Ms Tanya Davies, Member of the Legislative Assembly Member for Mulgoa, Elizabeth Gan (Year 11), Emma Sullivan (Year 11), Mr Justin Raymond, Dean of Curriculum Innovation K-12, Megan Buson (Year 11) and Mr Duncan Challen, General Manager – Celestino Property Development, Sydney Science Park

1

In recent years we have focused on the Science, Technology and Innovation sectors and, in 2022, our partners in this space include:

1

CELESTINO In 2020, Pymble was the first independent girls’ school to partner with Celestino, the creators of Sydney Science Park. Through the program, our students have worked on real-life challenges, including urban greening, energy and water demand, future mobility and community wellbeing with industry leaders and specialists in sustainable urban development.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AT PYMBLE | 7

Partnerships in the fields of Science, Technology and Innovation

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) The College is currently working on a partnership with MIT thorough its NuVu Innovation School of creative education. NuVu aims to empower the next generation of young designers, entrepreneurs, makers and inventors who will impact their communities and world through their work and ideas.

Pymble will be NuVU’s only partner school in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Digital Intelligence projects in 2022 DIGITAL FESTIVAL

DIGITAL LEARNERS

DIGITAL PATHWAYS

In Semester 1, we will celebrate the

Our three focus areas for digital

Pymble Online will be amplified to

launch of our new Data Science

learning include: delivery of the UCLA

allow students access to the College’s

course with the support of external

Introduction to Data Science course;

outstanding learning opportunities

partners in the field. In Semester 2,

establishing the partnership with

regardless of where they live and learn.

we will host a K-6 STEM Creativity

MIT’s NuVu Innovation School; and

Festival with support of Pymble

distributing the leadership of wellbeing

Aim: To continue to provide excellence

community and industry partners.

and skills classes among staff.

in learning opportunities for all, and to remain the premier school for learning

Aim: To celebrate student pioneers,

Aim: To give students access to future-

amplify the profile of Data Science and

focussed workplace skills and context

grow involvement in the course among

for Deep Learning in the digital space,

students, families and industry partners.

enhance STEM learning, and upskill staff.

during any COVID circumstances

PYMBLE PASSPORT Students in Years 5 to 12 will showcase their achievements and work across the Curriculum, Mind Body Spirit (wellbeing) program and Co-curricular domains in a digital passport.

Aim: To encourage students to reflect on growth, access leadership and vocational opportunities and develop language around the value they bring to an opportunity.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AT PYMBLE | 9

Robotics overview Robotics is emerging in schools and academies all over the world. Pymble is ahead of the curve, leading the way as a school with the largest number of student participants in our Robotics program.

Our Robotics students range from girls with aspirations of changing the world through engineering, to girls who enjoy competing with their friends as a break from other cocurricular commitments. Pymble teams compete in regional, national and international robotics events, often alongside

2020 VEX IQ (Years 7 and 8) – Six Pymble teams qualified to compete at Nationals. One team was the highest-ranked team in Australia for robot coding.

university teams and always achieving outstanding results,

VEX EDR (Years 7 and 8) – Eight Pymble teams qualified

many of which are listed below:

to compete at Nationals, and four Pymble teams made

2021

it through to Worlds, where they received two awards and one team was the top-ranked Skills Team in Australia.

VEX IQ (Years 5 and 6) – Seven Pymble teams qualified to compete at Nationals (March 2022). One team won

FRC – Pymble student, Pragya Mehta, won the Dean’s List

the Excellence Award (highest team award in Australia).

award, which is the highest achievement a student can attain

Two Pymble teams combined to get the highest total score

in Robotics in the world.

in Australia.

VEX EDR (Years 7 and 8) – Eight Pymble teams qualified to compete at Nationals (March 2022). Pymble teams received multiple awards, including the Excellence Award.

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In 2022, 234 girls from Kindergarten to Year 12 are participating in curricular or co-curricular Robotics at Pymble.

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pymblelc.nsw.edu.au Avon Road, Pymble NSW 2073 PO Box 136, North Ryde BC NSW 1670 Australia +61 2 9855 7799 A SCHOOL OF THE UNITING CHURCH

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2022-EXEC_1v4

ACN 645 100 670 | CRICOS 03288K