Samsung and Questacon partnership teaches students tech smarts
Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Science, Karen Andrews, has welcomed an innovative technology partnership between Questacon and Samsung Electronics Australia helping students understand the transformative science behind smart tablets and smartphones.
The three-year, technology partnership between Questacon–The National Science and Technology Centre and Samsung Electronics Australia will support the Questacon Smart Skills programme in regional areas across Australia.
"The really exciting thing about this programme is that kids can take everyday technology and transform it into a powerful tool to fire their imagination.
"They’ll learn how to do things they probably haven’t even thought of – by designing, prototyping, controlling and testing model cars, rockets and bridges in the Smart Skills workshops."
Mrs Andrews said the partnership would support the national delivery of the Questacon Smart Skills programme in workshops for students and teachers.
"The workshops will be important for the students, but are equally important for teachers because they introduce innovative ways to confidently incorporate technology into their teaching, creating a powerful legacy in that classroom for years to come.
"Smart Skills is one part of the Australian Government’s broader agenda to encourage more students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics, throughout their school years and beyond.
"The programme shows them that sometimes success isn’t instantaneous, but that making mistakes is an important part of learning and innovating."
Smart Skills is Questacon’s newest national touring programme. It delivers interactive, in-school workshops in regional areas across Australia.
"Workshops expose students to the process of innovation using the steps of designing, prototyping, and testing, using Samsung technology products.
"So far it’s helped over 2500 students in regional Tasmania and NSW’s Illawarra and South Coast to become technology creators rather than just technology consumers," Mrs Andrews said.