SSiSTEMIK Pathways
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been gathering and honing traditional skills and knowledge for more than 65,000 years. They are the world’s first Scientists, Technicians, Engineers and Mathematicians.
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Indigenous Knowledges in the STEM Classroom
At the Stronger Smarter Institute, we recognise the opportunity to build on the strong foundations that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students demonstrate in STEM classroom spaces.
The Stronger Smarter Institute Indigenous Knowledges in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SSiSTEMIK) Pathways offers educators and community leaders three opportunities for deeper engagement in the role that Indigenous Knowledges have in shaping and redefining STEM now and into the future. These are:
- Scholarships and mentoring support through the Teachers of STEM Initiative (supported by NIAA).
- Teacher Professional Development through our Masterclasses in STEM.
- Quality Curriculum and Resources.
Teachers of STEM Scholarships
The Teachers of STEM Initiative supports First Nations women to become STEM teachers. This Initiative provides scholarship, mentoring, and networking support for university study as well ideas for embedding Indigenous Knowledges into STEM teaching.
The Initiative is funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency as part of the Indigenous Girls’ STEM Academy.
Masterclasses
Our STEM Programs offer educators the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the integral role that Indigenous Knowledges play in STEM. Indigenous Knowledge experts take participants on a journey that highlights these knowledge systems and how that is relatable to each community across the country. These programs provide educators with the Indigenous Knowledges in STEM thinking and culturally responsive tools to add to their toolkits.
Indigenous Knowledges in STEM curriculum resources
Together with Education Services Australia, the Institute has developed resources on Embedding Indigenous Knowledges for the Mathematics Hub. The resources are intended to inspire teachers of mathematics to see the connections between mathematics and First Nations peoples’ histories and cultures.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, maths is not always about quantities and numbers, and instead often focuses on relationships. In six interconnected themes, learning and knowledges are provided from different perspectives. The resources include guidelines for teachers to use these examples by working collaboratively with their Indigenous teacher assistants and their local community to localise perspectives for place-based mathematics.
The Institute was also involved in the review of the Let’s Count early mathematics program and supported the resource to be more culturally responsive and build on the rich mathematical traditions of First Nations Australians.