We recently conducted two exciting workshops on Human Rights and STEM Education for year 9-11 students in Cabonne, as part of a Youth Week event facilitated by the Cabonne Council. The sessions provided insights into key human rights concepts while offering hands-on STEM exploration through robotics, coding, virtual reality, and architectural modeling.
Smoking Ceremony
The day began with a powerful traditional smoking ceremony led by Dale Carr, warmly welcoming everyone to Wiradjuri Country.
Human Rights Workshop
Students were introduced to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and discussed its relevance to modern society.Â
- Introduction to Human Rights: The Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, joined the workshop via Zoom to open the forum. They began by completing a pre-knowledge survey to assess their understanding of human rights.
- Interactive Discussion and Gameplay: The students engaged in an interactive gameplay session that encouraged them to apply human rights concepts in real-life scenarios. This activity sparked critical conversations, allowing students to share their perspectives on how human rights play out in their community and globally.
- Community Impact Suggestions: Each student was given a sticky note to write down their suggestions for improving human rights within their community. These sticky notes were attached to a wall so that all of the ideas were then shared with the group, fostering a collaborative space for brainstorming actionable solutions to human rights challenges.
- Post-Knowledge Survey and Follow-Up:
At the end of the session, students completed a post-knowledge survey to assess their progress and reflections. The insights gathered from both surveys will be compiled into a report with unique findings, which will be shared with teachers and the Cabonne Council. This report will offer valuable insights into how the community can better support human rights education.
Stacy Whiley, Department Leader Community Services at Cabonne Shire Council
STEM Education Workshop
This session focused on Agritech, designed to cater to the booming agricultural industry in the area. The approach successfully captured the students’ interest and allowed for an engaging, participant-focused workshop.Â
- Introduction to Agritech through Virtual Reality: Students kicked off the session by exploring the future of agriculture and sustainability through virtual reality, which sparked inspiration for the hands-on challenges that followed.
- Sustainable Architecture Challenge: Using Arckit model building kits, students took on the role of architects hired to design and build a new sustainable home for a fictional client on a wheat farm. They integrated renewable energy systems and developed Agritech solutions to enhance the home’s sustainability and farm productivity. At the end of the challenge, students presented their final houses and designs to the class, showcasing their creative solutions.
- Weeding Robot Challenge: Students received a letter from a fictional local farmer seeking their help—the weeds in the crop field had gotten out of control! Using Fable robots to simulate a weeding agritech robot, students first built the farmers field by taping out a boundary on the floor and placing ping pong balls to represent weeds and colored paper symbolizing the crops. They then programmed their robots with a ‘remote control’ system, using computer arrow keys to navigate the field and remove the weeds while carefully avoiding the crops.
Outcomes
- Skills Developed: Students improved critical skills like teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and technical proficiency. The sessions encouraged iterative learning, where students learned through experimentation and collaboration.
- Innovative Solutions: In the STEM workshop, one student created their own unique program to control their weeding robot using Python, instead of Blockly, demonstrating creativity in coding. In the Human Rights workshop, many students presented thoughtful and innovative suggestions to address challenging issues within their community.
- Impact: The workshops provided students with a deeper understanding of how STEM and human rights can intersect to address real-world challenges. The feedback gathered will contribute to ongoing support from the Cabonne Council in promoting both STEM education and human rights awareness.
Student Engagement
Students were highly engaged throughout both workshops. The STEM workshop had everyone—teachers, library staff, and students—actively participating, with lots of laughter and excitement as robots tackled the challenges. In the Human Rights workshop, students were engaged in meaningful discussions, actively presenting thoughtful solutions to improve human rights in their community.
Both workshops were a resounding success, providing students with valuable insights into the intersection of STEM and human rights. The hands-on activities and meaningful discussions inspired creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of how they can make a positive impact in their communities.
Interested in bringing either workshop to your school? Contact us at info@thebrainary.com to learn more!
