Matt Hewson
Herne Hill Primary School hosted its annual Science and Technology Fair as part of National Science Week 2024.
Students from prep to year 6 took part in the fair, with around 15 stalls and presentations displaying the science and technology topics students have been investigating throughout the year.
North Geelong Secondary College also attended, sending along students and staff to showcase some of its technological learning tools such as VR goggles, drones and robots.
Herne Hill PS STEM leader Matt Hobbs said since the school had begun holding the annual fair science education outcomes among students had improved dramatically.
“Going back five or more years ago, our science data and confidence in teaching science wasn’t that strong,” Mr Hobbs said.
“And that’s been flipped on its head. We’re getting really good student learning data and teachers feel confident to teach science.
“I’ve been teaching now for 20 years and (student participation in STEM activities) has grown exponentially over the last five. Especially with girls; there are probably more girls with stalls here today than boys, where in the past that might not have been the case.”
North Geelong SC transitions leader Steve Quinn said the two schools enjoyed a close relationship, with Herne Hill one of the local primary schools participating in a semester-long STEM program at North Geelong.
“Herne Hill has been involved with that for a while now as well,” Mr Quinn said.
“So we decided we would bring some of our fun toys and some of the things that the kids are going to be linking in with in the future to add to the technology side of the Science and Technology Fair.”
