STEM IN ACTION is an entity within the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Technology (EBET) at the University.. They primarily focus on partnering with learners and educators in Nelson Mandela Bay in the teaching and learning of Physical Science. Their funding partner, SANRAL, supports their hands-on, brains-on approach when interacting with educators and learners at their laboratories on the Missionvale Campus.
STEM IN ACTION programme manager Isabel van Gend said during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period, the team, together with their Physical Science Educators Community of Practice (CoP) forum, conceptualised the Grade 12 Boost Series.
“This series would bring the STEM in ACTION team, laboratories, and teaching into grade 12 classrooms while adhering to COVID-19 safety regulations.
“The purpose of the Boost Series is to assist and support Physical Science educators and learners in their continued efforts to complete the academic year in time for their final Physical Science examinations. It is intended to give the matrics an extra “Boost” with summary videos of their entire Physical Science curriculum, including the experiments. It encourages learners not only to work together with their educators but also independently.”
The learners are part of the STEM IN ACTION after-school programme and would visit the laboratories weekly and participate in an intense Physical Science support session which includes exploring careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
They are selected from schools which include, St James Senior Secondary, Bertram Secondary, Morningside High, Uitenhage High, Khwezi Lomso Comprehensive, Hoërskool Cilliè, Cowan High, Ethembeni High, Gelvandale High, Chapman High, Collegiate Girls’ High, Westering High, Daniel Pienaar Technical High, Grey Boys’ High, Alexander Road High, Hoërskool Despatch, Pearson High, and Victoria Park High.
The Boost Prep Pack includes a booklet with the examination guidelines for Physical Science, past exam papers, and memoranda, as well as a flash drive with twenty-five episodes. The STEM in ACTION lecturing team summarises the Physical Science curriculum and uses demonstrations and other memory techniques to facilitate recall and explore approaches to tackle their examinations.
“STEM in ACTION believes that the Boost Series will not only boost the grade 12’s Physical Science knowledge but will also boost their confidence and encourage them as they sit down to focus on preparing for their matric finals.
"The hope is that each one of them will know that there is a team at Missionvale Campus who is rooting for them together with their parents, educators, and principals,” said van Gend.
n the photograph from left to right are Boost Uitenhage High School, Tameryn Arries, Kaizer Gongo, Renaldo Matthys.