Grammar Gazette-Issue 1, 2021

Easy Listening Community podcast offers new way to learn

Robotic Engineering The value of co-curricular pursuit

Mr Brendon Thomas Director of Technologies

Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s podcast series, Illumine , is a space for considered thought and friendly debate about all things related to education and student care. In each episode, Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviews School staff, students and notable guests about current topics and trends. The first series of Illumine , launched in 2020, covered topics such as Schools as Homes for the Mind , The Importance of Self-Care During Uncertain Times and Spaces for School Science .

Hampden-Turner (2009) suggests that great eras of creativity in world history occurred when protagonists knew each other and were deeply involved in shared callings. Additionally, futurist and businessman Alvin Toffler states that most innovative breakthroughs occur somewhat in the spaces between known disciplines (Toffler, 1980, as cited in Hampden-Turner, 2009).

restorative effects of contact with nature on attention capacity and stress levels ‘I am interested in whether increased activity with nature, and increased exposure to green space, can continue to impact wellbeing, but not just wellbeing but also a connection to the way the girls can learn,’ Mrs Ingram said In Term 2, Ms Euler sat down to discuss the important issue of sexual consent education in schools with our Year 12 students. Significant media coverage over the past months has revealed that more work needs to be done in homes, schools and communities to educate and empower young people on this topic

We began the 2021 series with Women inLeadership , inwhichChair of the Board of Trustees, Ms Julie McKay, discussed the many achievements and challenges that still remain in establishing an equal proportion of women in leadership roles In the second episode, Nature for Nurture , Ms Euler discusses the restorative power of nature and its pivotal place in secondary school education with Deputy Principal, Mrs Anne Ingram, who has researched and written about the topic During the podcast, Ms Euler and Mrs Ingram discuss how greenspace and nature relate to school design and how recent experimental work supports the

Year 12 student, Rose, said ‘I think there’s a flaw in society that excuses the mistreatment of women from a very young age … explicitly talking about sexual consent can encourage respectful relationships ’ To hear the complete Nature for Nurture and Sexual Consent Education podcasts, or browse other topics, subscribe to the BGGS Illumine series on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts or via the School’s website ■ — References Hampden-Turner, C (2009) Teaching innovation and entrepreneurship: Building on the singapore experiment Cambridge University Press

Co-curricular involvement is the space between known disciplines, providing us with an environment to willingly pursue like-minded scholarship, curiosity, and endeavour Brisbane Girls Grammar School’s Robotics club is certainly attuned in this space, dedicated to nurturing creativity and innovation through our FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics competitions Robotics competitions, like most team sports, see teams go head-to-head in state and national events The competitions require teams of students to design, fabricate and drive robots, and compete against other teams in specific challenges. Ultimately, co-curricular endeavours in the Technologies Faculty have led the School to achieve recognition in national competitions: a BGGS team placed 16th in the Australian national FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Finals—while being the only all-female secondary education team at the state competition

Competition robots are built from a reusable aluminium platform, powered by Android technology, and can be coded using various levels of Java-based programming To compete, the robots must be engineered to set specifications, including a vast array of originally designed 3D-printed and laser-cut mechanical components Java- based programming wirelessly controls the electromagnetic solenoids, sensors, and handheld Bluetooth controllers In their teams, students combine and apply their technologies and mathematic and scientific knowledge to solve computational and mechanical design challenges Girls Grammar Robotics Club members are mentored by experienced mechanical and electronic engineers, who provide them with a wealth of experience and confidence to consider future careers in applied mechatronics and robotics engineering Specialised

mentoring provides an essential impetus to synthesise their young minds in ways far greater than basic subject matter learning can (Gardner, 2008) However, applying their holistic core subject matter knowledge improves the team’s overall problem solving, creativity and design thinking By unshackling the requirement to tie-in classroom academic criterion standards and formalised assessment validity, co-curricular activities, such as Robotics, foster an unconstrained quest for innovation and creativity Without the restriction of formal assessment metrics, student curiosity is extended through a genuine zest for learning discovery ■ — References Hampden-Turner, C (2009) Teaching innovation and entrepreneurship: Building on the singapore experiment Cambridge University Press

Listen to the podcast

left Principal, Ms Jacinda Euler, interviewing Year 12 students, Rose Whiting (12E) and Annabel Douglas (12R) for the podcast

above Anna Butler (11G), Johanna Conomos (11W), Abigail Woodcock (11W), Sandra Jiang (11W) and Zoe Pearson (11O)

Gazette

Gazette

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

Brisbane Girls Grammar School

10

Issue 1, 2021

11

Issue 1, 2021