Our Tech School program development team will collaborate with you to create tailored learning experiences, to enable your students to solve specific industry problems, get practical experience with industry and visualise career pathways within STEM.
Here are few examples of the types of Programs we run.
Inquiry Programs
Biodiverse City
In partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council.
This three day Open Inquiry challenges students to rethink their relationship with the natural world, and to develop innovations that transform urban environments into sustainable, symbiotic systems that encourage biodiversity to flourish alongside people.
Future Transport our 2021 Inquiry Program
In partnership with North East Link
We welcomed experts from the North East Link Project and our Teacher Ambassadors to our online Inquiry Incubator. This was a hands-on session where alongside Tech School staff we ideated and workshopped a possible structure for our Future Transport Inquiry Program.
In a race against the clock, participants collaborated in real time via Miro (online whiteboard) to refine the program focus, formulate a design brief and come up with ideas for activities and resources.
Three fantastic program prototypes were pitched at the conclusion of the session, and we’re looking forward to building on the ideas presented and working with our industry partner – North East Link Project (NELP) – to develop an exciting and engaging program that will launch in Term 1, 2021.
Specialist Programs
Biotechnology in Focus Scientific Inquiry
In partnership with CSL Behring
This Specialist Program, created in partnership with CSL Behring, guided students through the process of designing their own scientific investigation to determine the antimicrobial properties of chosen extracts. As part of the pilot program, students were able to visit the CSL Behring facility and gain real-world insights into the biotech industry. The program focused on building career awareness of the rapidly growing biotech industry in Melbourne’s north and highlighting the importance of biotechnology in solving society’s biggest current and future challenges.
Educating students and becoming part of the education curriculum is really a great way to promote the opportunities and career and development that is open to students as they progress through their educational years.
FoodLab
In partnership with Costa Mushrooms
Costa Mushrooms, one of the largest mushroom suppliers in the country, has an ongoing problem with waste. The stalks, despite being nutritious, are discarded due to buyer requirements and the cost of cleaning. Costa Mushrooms has partnered with the Tech School to encourage student innovation in Melbourne’s north and challenge local young people to solve their waste problem by transforming mushroom stalks into a value-added product. The video tour, local issue and resources provided by this program partner have led to a very authentic learning experience for our students.
Design Challenges
Through our design challenges, students are guided through a number of Tech School innovation process stages before they get to come up with their own product idea and start prototyping.
Protective Moto Gear
In partnership with Institute for Frontier Materials
This program has been developed in partnership with Deakin University’s Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM). This program also features a number of community and industry partners including MotoFemmes, an industry revolutionising moto bike gear for women, and TAC. Macleod College attended a Master Class at IFM to undertake a series of abrasion tests on materials. The data collected will inform part of the scientific testing students will undertake while at the Tech School.
Entrepreneurial Programs
Student Start-Up
In partnership with Melbourne Innovation Centre
Through our partnership with the Melbourne Innovation Centre, we created our Student Start-Up Accelerator Program. This program provides students with the opportunity to work with industry experts and mentors to learn valuable skills in entrepreneurship, problem solving, design thinking, customer-centric design, business model development, data analysis and project execution. The available offerings through this partnership have now expanded, with a new free online introductory entrepreneurial program for high-ability students from across Victoria.
After-School Programs
Youth Maker Lab
In partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council
Banyule-Nillumbik Tech School and Nillumbik Council worked together to create the Youth Maker Lab in a digital format. Once established Nillumbik Council and their mentors ran and facilitated each session.
As part of the program the 3D prints and vinyl stickers students created will be printed and distributed to participants.
BNTS and Council are currently working together to create an onsite program for 2021, where mentors will be skilled up in equipment use and use the BNTS tech facilities to support youth within the Nillumbik LGA to produce their own maker projects.
About the Program
Designed for young people aged 10 to 18, The program provides a space young people to come together, meet new people and take part in free activities within a supported environment. COVID -19 restrictions, meant that registered participants could join via Zoom and engage with trained mentors in areas such as programming, 3D printing, digital design, animation and gaming all from the comfort of their own home.
“Hi Katie, Thanks for your email. My son, thoroughly enjoyed his time with the group! He told me he got his game working without help from teacher so I’m very happy to hear that. He’s not a very social kid , especially online so he was probably not interactive. You’ll need to pull stuff out of him. However he had a great time!”
“Thanks Katie for all the teams efforts over the past month or so, Amber has really enjoyed the sessions and is proud of her learnings.”
“On behalf on Nillumbik Shire Council, we would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to Banyule Nillumbik Tech School for their strong partnership on Nillumbik Youth Maker Lab. This new program has addressed a gap for young people in our municipality and it has been an extremely valuable and worthwhile project to collaborate on using the skills and expertise of both of our organisations. The program has received extremely positive feedback from parents and participants, despite having to shift and change to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19. We look forward to continuing this relationship and expanding the program for our local young people into the future.”
The Lab Greensborough
In partnership with The Lab
The Lab is a national organisation of technology clubs for young people aged 10 to 18 with high-functioning autism. We partnered with them to run online and in-person sessions for our partner school students, providing The Lab with access to our facilities, tech, equipment and facilitation support. In return, participants are paired with Lab mentors who have technical expertise of a mutual interest, such as in programming, 3D and digital design, and gaming.
