The innovative Hunter based company, Obelisk Systems has launched a new educational program designed to teach industry relevant STEM (science, teaching, engineering and maths) skills to school students.
Founded by four Novocastrians and graduates of the University of Newcastle, the business recognised the need to deliver improved STEM education to the market to enable young people to be ready for the labour market of tomorrow.
The program, titled StarLAB, is a wireless coding and sensor platform which allows students to perform scientific investigation and guides them through everything from the basics of programming and coding a robot to autonomously navigating an alien terrain.
One of the Founders of Obelisk Systems, Levi Weitenberg said the idea was backed by a claim in a 2015 PwC report which found that “changing 1 per cent of the workforce into STEM roles would add $57.4 billion to (Australia’s) GDP”.
“There was a lack of learning materials mapped to the NSW and Australian curricula that teachers could use to deliver these vital skills,” Levi said.
“The StarLAB platform was designed to address this gap, allowing teachers of any experience level, to teach STEM in the classroom from year five onwards.”
Obelisk Systems has worked closely with Regional Development Australia Hunter (RDA Hunter) and with local schools, such as Maitland Grossman High School and Hunter Valley Grammar School, to develop the learning materials that assist and support teachers, mapped to the NSW Education Standards Authority and approved iSTEM curriculum.
StarLAB was developed through this partnership as a fun and exciting way of capturing student interest in STEM, while at the same time teaching them the skills they will need for a successful career in the 21st century.
The program has now also been backed by the Newcastle City Council and Federal Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
“Some people see STEM and robotics as skills for tomorrow, but the reality of today’s world is that there are STEM and robotics jobs right now,” Levi said.
“It would be a wasted opportunity to let today’s young people miss the fun and opportunities of the already changed world.”
StarLAB platform has now been adopted by more than 60 schools across Australia. The Obelisk team have also run a Mars Rover Challenge, which was held at the University of Newcastle recently.
Obelisk Systems has also been named as a partner in the Smart Cities Program funded by Newcastle City Council and the Federal Government.
Obelisk Systems is continually developing its products and is interested in talking to any businesses that wish to participate in this new initiative.
IMAGE | Students participated in the Mars Rover Challenge recently.