Real Time Learning

Real Time Learning helps middle year students connect to purpose through teaching STEM in Real World Settings.

 What is the problem that you are committed to solving?

• Students and Australian girls in particular are disengaging from STEM subjects. Last year research tells us that only 34% of students in Yr 12 were engaged in their learning.  Gallup 2016
• The research by Gallup also tells us that students in Grade 5 were significantly more engaged in their learning (74%)
• Schools are building facilities for STEM focused activities but find recruiting the necessary expertise challenging. We see industry playing a critical role in assisting schools partner with Industry Professionals that can help deliver such expertise. Our model invests in people.

What is the solution you are proposing?

• Real Time Learning (RTL) partners with Industry. Middle Year Students (Grade 5 to 8) participate in STEM workshops hosted in industry locations and are facilitated by Industry Professionals, Postgraduates and Undergraduates studying Engineering.
• We see examples of industry partnerships with universities, but very few with schools. Siemens has recently made very sizable investments in several universities to the tune of $1 billion.
• The point of difference with the RTL model is that it can deliver both on Depth and Breadth.

• Once students complete the 5 starter workshops they can work in partnership with RTL to help foster STEM clubs and other workshops that they help run in their own schools. RTL will seek to assist with recruiting undergraduates to work periodically in these schools. We would expect schools to hire undergraduates in this capacity which helps schools recruit the desperately needed expertise.
• RTL has appointed student leaders to help recruit and facilitate in future workshops. This model addresses professional development that is very lean. The students and undergraduates learn from the Industry Professionals and then sharing their learning with teachers in their schools. Currently we see very limited developing of teacher capacity in this way largely because of time and cost constraints.
• Students collaborate on the latest industry tech platforms. Their use of Trello and Onenote is a great example of this.
• These collaborations skills that enhance their ability to work in teams, and problem solving increase their self-confidence. Past students have already identified they want to pursue careers in STEM at this young age and they are far more likely to engage more in schools now they know what they want to do. See links to videos on the RTL blog

How will your solution change the world?

• The workshops at BOSCH for example are only the tip of the iceberg. Real Time Learning sees many ways to engage with industries in similar models in the future that will focus on other capacities in STEM, Entrepreneurship and Media.
• Through this “Experiential Learning” – Learning by Doing Model students develop agility and resilience. Our current education model struggles to develop these much-needed capacities. These extra-curricular opportunities complement the work being done in schools and best prepare students for a future that will see new jobs replacing existing jobs.