July 8, 2015

Learning Labs program expands in popularity

The highly successful UOW ‘Learning Labs’ program had to be expanded again. More than 750 high-achieving students descended on the Wollongong campus during their July school holidays to take part in fun and challenging workshops.

Due to a growing demand within the local community, the gifted and talented program is now on offer to students from Year 1 right through to Year 10.

Conducted by the In2Uni Team at the University, Learning Labs Project Coordinator, Sarah Smith, has been steadily building the program since its inception in 2012. The high school program, ‘Learning Labs’, for high-achieving students in Years 7 to 10 ran from 2-3 July.

This year the primary school program was split into two streams; ‘Little Learning Labs’ for Year 1 and 2 students and ‘Early Learning Labs’ for Year 3 to 6 students. Workshops have been led by teachers with specialist training or a specific interest in gifted education.

Photo shows kids from UOW Learning Labs meeting with the Hon Scott Morrision and the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells at the Early Start Opening this week.

The program has proved to be extremely popular with all workshops full and many more students on waiting lists. Some of the workshops offered included building video games, LEGO robotics, 3D animation, biology, poetry and graphic design.

Little Learning Labs took place on 30 June and 1 July. Early Learning Labs was held on 7 and 8 July.

The high school ‘Learning Labs’ program included workshops held on the Wollongong campus and Innovation Campus. The new science and technology workshops, Mythbusting Physics, 3D Modelling and CAD Design and An Introduction to Building Video Games have proven to be extremely popular with students travelling from all over the region to participate.

“Each workshop for the high school program has been developed and were presented by university academics or specialists who are leaders in their particular field,” Ms Smith said.

“We know this program is successful as students keep returning to the University to attend ‘Learning Labs’ and now with the primary school program, we are seeing younger siblings attend -- it’s lovely to see the whole family on campus. We plan to give high-achieving students from the region something different to what they can achieve at school –a real university experience with a variety of dynamic and challenging workshops that suits their interests,” Ms Smith said.