Marian Heard - CSIRO - Pathways for boosting Indigenous participation and achievement in STEM

Indigenous STEM EducationSupported pathways to successful careers

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

Marian Heard | Director, Indigenous STEM Education | July 2015

Improving participation and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

• BHP Billiton Foundation has invested $28.8 million over 5 years

• Managed by CSIRO Education and Outreach

• The project provides supported pathways that aim to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation and achievement in STEM subjects

• Leading to increased representation in STEM-related professions.

Indigenous STEM Education | Marian Heard2 |

Recognising the importance of culture

• Appreciate the fundamental importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and identity in student achievement

• Develop, implement and evaluate the program in this context


Major issue

Indigenous students in Australia

• Underachieve in science and mathematics at both primary

and secondary school levels compared to non-Indigenous

students1

• Are significantly under-represented across all fields in higher

education, with this being more pronounced in science,

technology, engineering and mathematics courses2

Sources:

1. Challenges for Australian Education: Results from PISA 2009, p 233; National Assessment Program – Science Literacy

Year 6 Report, p 64; Highlights from the full Australian report: PISA 2012: How Australia measures up, p 18.

2. Behrendt et al, 2012, Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

People, Final Report, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, Canberra.


Context

Diversity of Indigenous learners

• Students in remote communities who have English as a second or third

language

• Students in mainstream regional and metropolitan schools who are

disengaged with STEM subjects because they are regarded as

irrelevant, boring and too difficult

• Students who are high achievers but for whom STEM subjects have

never been seen as attractive or achievable options


Context

In schools

• Low expectations of Indigenous students

• Lack of understanding of the importance of culture and identity

• Teachers lack appropriate cultural training


The research is saying

Critical success factors include:

• clearly articulated pathways

• opportunity to experience university life and study

• mentoring and academic support

Key challenges include:

• the cost of providing mentoring and academic support, particularly for

regional and remote students

• building aspirations of students to see university as a viable option

• having few Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models in science,

engineering and mathematics

Source: Behrendt et al, 2012, Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People,

Final Report, Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, Canberra.


Reaching a diversity of learners

Mathematics

Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students

ASSETS

Excellence Awards

BSc (Extended)

Science Pathways for Indigenous Communities

Lower Primary Upper Primary Junior Secondary Senior Secondary Tertiary


Progress so far

• Three elements underway

• BSc (Extended)

• ASSETS (Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence in Technology and Science)

• Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students

• Three still to come

• Mathematics (at contract finalisation stage)

• Science Pathways for Indigenous Communities (at Procurement discussion stage)

• Excellence Awards (to be introduced in 2016)


BSc (Extended)

First cohort commenced in 2015

• 12 students from• Queensland – 3 (including Thursday Island)

• New South Wales – 1

• South Australia – 1

• Victoria – 4: regional 1; metro 3

• Tasmania 2

• Western Australia – 1 (Perth)

• Support from residential colleges and Murrup Barak, the Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Development

Next 12 months• First cohort continues• Second cohort enrolls in 2016


Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence in Technology and Science

Two aspects• Residential summer schools – end of Year 10

• 100 students• 3 locations

• Adelaide (14-22 December 2015)• Newcastle (8-16 January 2016)• Townsville (17-25 January 2016)

• Leadership and Support Program – Years 11 and 12• Work placements with STEM professionals • Facilitation (assistance with applying for cadetships, scholarships etc)• Skills development (CV writing, presentation skills etc)• Online information (highlighting relevant opportunities)


Inquiry for Indigenous Science Students

Three aspects• Indigenous-themed, hands-on, inquiry-based student resources• Teacher professional development with dual focus

• Indigenous culture• Science inquiry pedagogy

• Professional learning community • Teachers in school clusters• Links to local Indigenous communities

Pilot• Six clusters in Term 3, 2015

• Qld (Mackay, Rockhampton, Brisbane)• NSW (Muswellbrook, Gunnedah, Quirindi)

• In 2016, increase Qld and NSW clusters and expand to other states


Monitoring and evaluation

Research questions1. Has the project contributed to increased participation and achievement of

Indigenous students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects?

2. Has the project impacted on Indigenous students’ attitudes and aspirational goals towards science and science-related careers?

3. Has the project improved the capacity of teachers and Indigenous teacher assistants to teach science and mathematics to Indigenous students?

Four aspects to measure1. Participation2. Achievement3. Aspirations4. Sustainability


14 |

Key messages

For Indigenous students to reach their full potential in STEM we need

1. Supported pathways connected to community and professions

2. Culturally appropriate training and experience for teachers

3. Quality pedagogy across the curriculum

4. A model for systemic adoption that ensures ongoing impact

CSIRO Education and Outreach| Marian Heard

CSIRO Education and OutreachMarian HeardDirector, Indigenous STEM Education

t +61 2 6276 6589e [email protected] www.csiro.au/indigenous-education

CSIRO EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Thank you