Sydney Metro Education: Inquiry-based learning at Oatley Public School
Schools near the Sydney Metro rail alignment were invited to participate in a unique, cutting-edge professional learning opportunity, designed and facilitated by Western Sydney University in partnership with Sydney Metro.
Take a look at how Oatley Public School students are exploring a real-life railway project in their classroom.
For free teacher resources and to learn more about Sydney Metro’s award-winning education program visit https://www.sydneymetro.info/education.
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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
(Uplifting music)
Catherine Attard, Professor, Deputy Director, Centre of Educational Research, Western Sydney
University: So a few months ago, these teachers came along to Western Sydney University and took part in a professional learning program that, not only introduced them to the idea of
inquiry-based learning, but also to the Sydney Metro project.
Presenter: The thing is that students have high expectation of themselves.
Sarah Kennedy, Teacher, Oatley Public School: Working with Sydney Metro and the Western Sydney University has been fantastic, because we have had the opportunity to do something we haven't been able to do before with this inquiry-based learning project. Having some experts come in from Sydney Metro and being able to actually get them in and talk to the kids first-hand and face-to-face and engage them in what the metro project is all about has made a really big difference to the project.
[Uplifting music]
Kennedy: I think it's really important to teach them STEM in schools. Prior to being a teacher, I was actually a computer science person. So I am really passionate about teaching digital technology and science technology and engineering and maths. Especially for all of the students going forward in the future, with everything changing so much with our jobs, it's really important that we engage the students and we actually teach them those STEM skills.
Student, Oatley Public School: I love design, shapes, 3D, mathematics, and STEM. I love stuff like that. I really want to figure out why. Why are they making new trains? Why were they doing that?And our project was to discover, how?
Debbie Hunter, Principal, Oatley Public School: I would definitely recommend this opportunity to any other school because of the authenticity and the fact that the children are looking at purpose. A lot of them were saying, 'I now get on a train and I understand what goes on in a train.'
Liam Barns, Project Engineer, Waterloo Station: At the start we came in to give them some guidance on what questions to ask. They have gone away and thought about those questions. The kids then present to us. They have come up with some great presentations and great ideas. Really left of the centre ideas that you wouldn't think about, which was great to see.
Tell me about how Sydney Metro is going to ensure safety for passengers?
Student, Oatley Public School: Instead of having a yellow line, to not cross the yellow line to get too close to the train, there are glass barriers.
Student, Oatley Public School: Today you'll be seeing a presentation that includes a Minecraft boring machine.
Debbie Hunter, Principal, Oatley Public School: The excitement is, I've seen a journey happening. I have seen how the children have gone into groups and how they have been collaborative and how they have to choose the topics of what they wanted to investigate in their inquiry-based project. What I saw today was a culmination of the richness of the processes of inquiry based learning.
Sarah Kennedy, Teacher, Oatley Public School: When I walked around today, I saw nothing but excitement on the kids' faces. Sometimes when we do our presentations in the classrooms, they
are very reluctant to get up in front of others. Today, I saw a completely different side. I saw them really engaged and really happy to have an audience, to speak to people and to show their product and to show their mind craft worlds, to show their videos.
Catherine Attard, Professor, Deputy Director, Centre of Educational Research, Western Sydney
University: Look, I think what we see here today, does mean that this program is a success.
If I see children who are producing really good work, and teachers who are also getting engaged
about teaching through an inquiry based approach, that to me is a success.
NSW Government. Sydney Metro.