August 12-20th is marked as National Science Week, with the 2023 theme being Innovation: Powering Future Industries, which incorporates ideas such as advancement in technology and AI. 

So what are the curriculum link opportunities? 

Exploring the theme of Innovation can:

• Have students think Critically and Creatively about a problem and a possible solution. (Critical and Creative Thinking Capability, Science as a Human Endeavour)

• Exploring AI and its rapid advancement can be an opportunity to discuss ethical ideas around this topic, even creating a forum for a debate or persuasive essay where students get to express their opinions (Literacy, Ethical Capability). 

• Students exploring Women In STEM posters. Statistics show that unfortunately women still form a minority in the STEM workforces. Therefore promoting and celebrating the achievements of women in these STEM careers can inspire young learners to also follow this pathway. (Literacy, Science).   (Link: https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=23086)

• Explore the timeline of technology and its rapid growth in the most recent years, through the Small is… Challenge. Students can then develop their own tool that is missing in today’s society. (Link: https://www.stem.org.uk/elibrary/resource/26722)

More information can be found via National Science Week webpage via: https://www.scienceweek.net.au/#

The classroom possibilities of incorporating this years’ National Science Week theme are endless, unfortunately it is the time that isn’t!