Australian Educators Online Network

How do we prepare the next generation to navigate the rapidly changing world of transport, from e-mobility to autonomous vehicles? Today we speak with Kristine Luszczynski, Senior Manager of Community and Education at the NRMA, to find out how they are driving STEM education and road safety across Australian schools! We dive into how students can think like entrepreneurs to solve real-world transit problems, the critical new safety challenges facing teens today, and how schools can access free, curriculum-linked incursions and virtual programs. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About Kristine Luszczynski Kristine is the Senior Manager of Community and Education at the NRMA, where she leads the design and delivery of impactful educational initiatives that reach hundreds of thousands of children. With a deep commitment to community well-being, Kristine and her team focus on equipping young people—from early learners to graduating high schoolers—with the critical thinking skills and safety knowledge they need to navigate the future of transport confidently and responsibly. About NRMA Education Programs The NRMA believes every child deserves the knowledge to travel safely. Their road safety and STEM programs support students from early childhood through to their teenage years, bridging the gap between practical life skills and modern curriculum outcomes. https://www.mynrma.com.au/about/community/education Spotlight: The NRMA Future of Transport Challenge The NRMA Future of Transport Challenge encourages young people to follow their natural curiosity to solve real-world transit issues by innovating and thinking like entrepreneurs. Designed for students in years 5–10 (Stages 3, 4, and 5) working in groups of 2–5, the challenge guides participants through a unique 4-step process: Deep Dive Explore the real-world transport issues faced by Australian cities as well as regional and rural areas. Design Identify a specific need and apply human-centred design to create a solution product or service. Pitch Think like an entrepreneur to create and deliver a product pitch to a panel of experts. Educate Excite and inspire an audience of their peers with their innovation. Find out more and get your students involved: https://nrmafuturetransport.com.au/ Explore more of NRMA's School Programs Science and Road Safety Incursion (Primary) A free program collaborating with Fizzics Education, delivered to schools across Sydney, the ACT, and regional NSW. Since 2014, it has visited over 800 schools and educated over 450,000 children. Free Movers (Years 7–8) An online program helping Stage 4 students manage independent travel, peer influence, and modern challenges like e-mobility (e-bikes, e-scooters), smartphone distraction, and lithium-ion battery safety. Young Driver (Years 9–12) A virtual program featuring six 20-minute units covering critical topics like the "Fatal Five," learning to drive, and buying a safe first car—complete with interactive video content and school quizzes. Early Years Resources Practical online materials to support early childhood safety education. Access Resources & Learn More Discover the NRMA's complete range of online road safety modules, curriculum-mapped activities, and early childhood resources. https://www.mynrma.com.au/about/community/education Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode?  Share it! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Nalder, known as ‘the Edunaut,’ has spent 20+ years pioneering hands-on, problem-based learning with cutting-edge digital tools—STEM, AR/VR, AI, and environmental sensors. Drawing on his Drama Teacher background, he infuses learning with props, role play, and futures thinking.   Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About Jonathan Nalder Jonathan Nalder, known as ‘the Edunaut,’ has spent 20+ years pioneering hands-on, problem-based learning with cutting-edge digital tools—STEM, AR/VR, AI, and environmental sensors—while keeping the human element at the core of education. Drawing on his Drama Teacher background, he combines learning with props, role play, and futures thinking. A globally awarded innovator, Mars Society Ambassador, and World Teacher of the Year, Jonathan empowers educators to navigate the new space and digital era. His latest project, First Kids in Space, invites young dreamers to contribute their visions for space travel. Learn more at firstkidsinspace.info. Or if you are older and want to relax to stunning air travel or space exploration videos, subscribe at YouTube.com/@lofiairspace  Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode?  Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) http://www.aeon.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how gamification can transform your classroom! Join us as we explore proven strategies with Valary Oleinik, a learning experience alchemist who specializes in using games to simplify complex topics, spark curiosity, and keep students engaged. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About Valary Oleinik Valary Oleinik is a learning strategist, keynote speaker, and workshop facilitator known for her innovative and engaging approach to education. With a unique blend of creativity, technology, and gameful experiences, she helps individuals and organizations design more effective and memorable learning journeys. Her passion for learning stems from an innate curiosity—one she believes is contagious. Embracing her identity as Valary with a WHY, she inspires others to question traditional methods and explore new possibilities in education. Her expertise lies in translating complex concepts into simple, actionable strategies, making her a sought-after voice in the world of learning and development. Valary serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), where she contributes to shaping the future of distance education. With over two decades of experience in instructional design, facilitation, and project management, she continues to push the boundaries of engagement, helping educators and learners alike thrive in an ever-evolving digital landscape. When not crafting dynamic learning experiences, Valary is assisted by her cat and bunny—who may not be great at typing but excel at shredding paper. Find out more https://www.valarywithawhy.com/ Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode?  Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) http://www.aeon.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STEM MAD is designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address real-world problems and demonstrate how students in Catholic schools take action that matters. Student teams are invited to design a product, service or innovation to Make A Difference (MAD) to others or the environment. We talk with Shelley Waldon – Science & STEM Lead, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools who initiated this program in 2018. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About STEM MAD The mission of STEM MAD is clear: Celebrate students taking action that makes a difference Showcase deep learning Engage schools in effective STEM-based multidisciplinary inquires Promote high-quality STEM education for future-focused learning Contextualise STEM in the core curriculum Enact Social Justice for the Common Good What began in 2018 in Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) has now spread across Australian diocese schools. Find out more Catholic Network Australia STEM MAD site https://www.cna.catholic.edu.au/stem-mad-national Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools STEM MAD site https://sites.google.com/vic.catholic.edu.au/stemmad/home About Shelley Waldon Shelley started her career as a geochemist, working in the mining industry for 4 years with BHP and for the Victorian government as an Environmental Scientist for 6 years. After this she undertook postgraduate teaching qualifications to work in both the primary and secondary sectors. Have worked in Catholic education in Melbourne for 25 years in a variety of roles and educational settings. These include classroom teaching, specialist teaching, curriculum leader and Catholic placed teacher in extension education at Zoos Victoria. Also extended post-graduate learning with a Master of Education, Graduate Certificates in Assessment and STEM Education and additional qualifications in business management, leadership and risk management. Within Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, major responsibilities have been supporting schools and working with teachers to devise and develop resources and professional learning opportunities that enhance science learning across the curriculum. In collaboration with our teachers, cultural organisations and expert providers, we develop learning opportunities and partnerships that improve teachers' core content knowledge in science, whilst developing pedagogical models that improve understanding by enabling the application of scientific conceptual knowledge in the context of multidisciplinary projects. Acted as Primary Investigator for MACS in a 4-year ARC Linkage Research Project (with Monash Uni, BCE, and UQ) researching problem-based learning through STEM education. Using problems as the drivers for student engagement and motivation with the curriculum and exploring teachers' attitudes, beliefs and pedagogical practices as they participated as co-researchers. In 2018 initiated STEM MAD, which has become a flagship program in Melbourne and a national program in dioceses across Australia, and continues to demonstrate scientific learning, where students use STEM projects to Make a Difference (MAD) to others and the environment. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) http://www.aeon.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine hosting a running event for over 40,000 athletes and making it sustainable? That's exactly what the TCS Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge was designed to do where students from across NSW were challenged to create innovative solutions for the TCS Sydney Marathon through a design thinking process. We speak with Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at TCS, Binaisha Daruwalla as well as Nikyetta Pencheff from the STEM Enrichment team of the NSW Department of Education as well as Grade 5 student Annabelle and Flynn from Lindfield Public School. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About the TCS Sydney Marathon goIT Challenge With a growing number of athletes and spectators participating in the TCS Sydney Marathon from around the globe and across Australia, school-aged students were challenged to develop a creative solution to ensure that the TCS Sydney Marathon is one of the most environmentally sustainable events of its kind in the world. Run in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education, students collaborated in teams to complete a four-week design sprint. The end result was a three-minute video pitch showcasing how the solution will help make the TCS Sydney Marathon a model of sustainability. Learn more https://sydneymarathon.com/tcs-goit-challenge/ https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/apac/goit-main/monthly-challenge https://tcsempowers.tcsapps.com/apac/goIT About the STEM Industry School Partnerships (SISP) Program The STEM Industry School Partnerships (SISP) program is an initiative of the NSW Department of Education’s Curriculum and Reform Directorate and is led by the STEM Enrichment team. Through the collaboration of education with leading Australian companies, universities, government agencies and industry, the STEM Industry School Partnerships program provides an educational model that engages students, inspires them to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and prepares them for STEM-enabled careers. The program aims to improve teacher confidence and their capacity to deliver integrated and cross-curricula STEM education programs in rural, remote, and regional NSW. Learn more https://sispprogram.schools.nsw.gov.au/ Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) http://www.aeon.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is not an announcement I had expected to make under such circumstances, but unfortunately the TER Podcast will have to come to a close.We will release the final recorded interviews, and possibly a final panel discussion to close out 11 years of the podcast, but for now I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has supported the podcast - the contributors and guests who have given their time for every episode, and the listeners whose support has been the reason we've kept going for so lon...

Meet Ehab Gerges, a multi-award-winning STEM educator who loves working with his students on sustainability, flight & vehicle challenges and so much more. He shares his ideas for engaging students and how he has built his STEM space in his school. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About Ehab Gerges Ehab Gerges is a dedicated educator currently pursuing a Masters of STEM Education at the University of Canberra. With diverse qualifications in Business Management and Electrical Engineering, alongside teaching certifications, he is accredited by the Department of Education to teach Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Ehab's commitment to professional growth is highlighted through achievements like being accredited as a STEM Educational Instructor by STEM.Org USA, becoming a Microsoft Global Certified Educator, and receiving the Toyota Community Trust & Public Education Foundation STEM Teachers Scholarship in 2023. His dynamic career includes roles as STEM Coordinator and Senior Science Teacher at James Cook Boys’ Technology High School, with notable contributions to sustainability projects and STEM conferences. Recognised with the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales “World Teachers’ Recognition Award” in 2020, Ehab embodies excellence in education. Connect with Ehab here Recommended STEM resources STEM Resources on Code.org NSW Department of Education: iSTEM Resources Grok Academy: Coding and STEM Education FIRST Australia: Robotics & STEM Learning https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/35888/bridge-building https://certified.stem.org/users/password/new https://www.arduino.cc/ https://studio.code.org/teacher_dashboard/sections/5400230 https://arcade.makecode.com/ https://www.lego.com/en-au/themes/mindstorms/learntoprogram https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/ideal-gas/latest/ideal-gas.html?simulation=reversible-reactions https://www.minecraft.net/en-us https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) http://www.aeon.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Australian high school payloads to space! Find out about the BinarX Outreach Program which connects West Australian high school students with the Binar Space Program at Curtin University. We catch up with Outreach Program Coordinator Meg Berry and Ahla & Shivani from Bob Hawke College to learn more about the Binar 2-3-4 in early August! Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education About the BinarX Outreach Program The BinarX program sees West Australian students design and prototype science payloads for the Binar cubesat, and then build those projects for launch on-orbit with the Binar Space Program at Curtin University. Payload concepts are directed by students and teachers & may include sensors to study earth and space environment, samples for testing in microgravity, or samples for testing in a vacuum. They may also include a software-only payload running on Binar’s flight computer. Students will access their results using amateur band radio, either at Curtin or through other ground stations participating in the open source SatNOGS network. As part of the program, students and teachers will also construct and operate their own SatNOGS ground station to gain a better understanding of radio communications and contribute back to the SatNOGS community. As the program progresses, BinarX will guide teachers and students through obtaining radio licenses and installing amateur radio equipment in their schools. This will allow them to communicate with their satellite payload directly, and connect with the rest of the global amateur satellite community. The program is currently at capacity for the 2024-2026 Student Payload Development Program, but please register your interest for future opportunities with the program! Launch details for Binar 2-3-4! If you’re in Perth, WA, please register to join us at our in-person launch event this weekend! Binar 2-3-4 are scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral, FL on board SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS NG-2 at 23:28PM AWST, so the in-person event may be to watch the livestream of the docking with the International Space Station the afternoon of August 4th, 2024. (but please follow the socials for updates as launch times can change at the last minute!). Anyone, anywhere can watch the livestream of the launch carrying the next 3 cube sats to space! > Space Coast Live: 24/7 Views of NASA, SpaceX Falcon 9 Operations, and Starship Pad Construction - YouTube (for the rocket launch) > NASA Live: Official Stream of NASA TV (youtube.com) (for the docking with the ISS) Find out more https://www.binarspace.com/binarx/ Bintroduction to Electronics Kits > binarspace.com/box > Has all the materials and instructions that anyone can use to start building their own prototype payloads. > If you’re an educator in Western Australia, email us at binarx@curtin.edu.au to request a kit. BinarX summer holiday program which builds on the electronics kits and teaches students to design, build, test and fly their payloads on model rockets. About Meg Berry Meg Berry is the BinarX Outreach Program Coordinator within the Binar Space Program at Curtin University. Within her own community, Meg is actively involved as a coach and judge in FIRST® LEGO® League, which is a LEGO® robotics “co-opertition” that inspires innovation and fosters well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership in students. With a background in graphic design and project management, Meg brings a unique creative angle to the BinarX Outreach Program. Having worked extensively in public artwork and signage manufacturing, she understands the power of visual storytelling in conveying complex ideas to diverse audiences. Her goal is to support the school community—students, teachers, parents, and beyond—on the exciting journey ahead in the realm of space exploration. Hosted by Ben Newsome from Fizzics Education With interviews with leading science educators and STEM thought leaders, this science education podcast is about highlighting different ways of teaching kids within and beyond the classroom. It's not just about educational practice & pedagogy, it's about inspiring new ideas & challenging conventions of how students can learn about their world! https://www.fizzicseducation.com.au/ Know an educator who'd love this STEM podcast episode? Share it! The FizzicsEd podcast is a member of the Australian Educators Online Network (AEON ) http://www.aeon.net.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.