New online STEM education perfect timing for Term 2 at home

With the Queensland Government announcing children are to be home schooled for the first half of term two, an education group has turned their model online to make this process easier for children, while inspiring tomorrow’s innovators.

STEM Punks are a group of educators who have developed innovative and creative online classes, with a unique twist of looking at 21st Century skills.

STEM Punks Managing Director, Michael Holmstrom, said that STEM skills are highly valued and even more strongly sought after by parents with children at home right now.

“This new online learning platform is all about assisting parents and students who are learning from home.”

“We launched our live sessions which gives kids the ability to work autonomously from home and it is linked into real world problems like robotics, aviation and agriculture,” said Mr Holmstrom.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise Food Leaders Australia General Manager, Bruce McConnel, said TSBE has been supporting school-based learning with STEM Punks for several years, now adapting to restrictions.

“We have quickly worked with them to make sure that in this new world of home learning they are still providing high level entrepreneurial learning to our community, when families need as much support as possible with learning we are really proud of the TSBE network to provide education for all,” said Mr McConnel.

With many parents needing to juggle employment and home schooling, the STEM Punks program can offer students quality and engaged learning.

“We understand that learning from home won’t achieve the same outcome as learning in a classroom, with many parents unable to be full time teachers – they have to drive the economy forward.”

“The STEM Punks team are educators, so the online platform allows kids to engage through this program without an adult but achieve teacher level education,” said Mr Holmstrom.

But more than just education for children, STEM Punks are working to provide learning for adults, and create partnerships with Toowoomba industry organisations to encourage upskilling.

“As we have more of our workforce idle at the moment, due to the impacts of COVID-19, we want to make sure they have the tools available to gain the skill sets they need to be the best employees when they get back to the workforce.”

“Technological entrepreneurial learning is a key skill set for our region to have more of, putting our region ahead of the curve by having the brightest workforce available to help in recovery, post COVID-19.”

“The STEM Punks online learning for adults will be a keyway for us delivering this,” said Mr McConnel

“We are tying it in to local industry as well so that we can exposure on how the skills can be applied in the industry.”

“Working with TSBE has given us links to industry, which is really important. We are looking at how we can tie in what we do at STEM Punks to link with the amazing things happening in the Toowoomba region,” said Mr Holmstrom.

For further information and to access classes, head to www.stempunks.com