In this episode, Dr. Peter Dalmaris and Marcus Schappi talk with John Burfoot.
John is a STEM robotics teacher and trainer. He is a Science and STEAM specialist in the state of NSW in Australia, for primary schools. He also facilitates and delivers technology workshops through the MacICT Innovations Centre at Macquarie University in Sydney.
John is also a founder of Sci-riffic, a company that delivers specialist science and robotics training for schools. As you will see, John has a passion for science and technology and a vast experience in teaching it. He also has a lot of experience outside of teaching, and in particular in communications, marketing, electronics, avionics, and as a special effects technician.
This is Stemiverse episode 8.
Stemiverse podcast is brought to you by Tech Explorations, a leading provider of educational resources for Makers, STEM students, and teachers. Go to techexplorations.com to see a complete list of our books and courses covering the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and electronics.
Show Notes
- [00:00] Introduction – Introducing John Burfoot
- [01:26] John talks about his background, his apprenticeship in electronics & avionics, his love for movie-making and working for a special effects company, as a financial services consultant, and in communication & marketing
- [07:58] How John became a teacher and his introduction to Lego Robotics
- [09:56] Diverse backgrounds in other teachers: Typical or not?
- [11:06] The diversity in the subjects John could teach due to his background
- [12:51] John’s background in Communications in Westpac Financial Services
- [14:51] Learning can be hard
- [22:45] John’s current occupation with STEM Robotics
- [24:34] Lego Educational Robotics Platform NXT
- [28:22] Conducting science experiments with Lego
- [31:20] What is STEM? The definition of STEM for new educators: Vague, but still evolving
- [33:52] STEM: a methodology or a collection of subjects? John answers this question according to his experience in schools
- [36:01] What does the STEM facilitator bring that a teacher doesn’t have?
- [38:42] What an ideal STEM teacher looks like and how to empower teachers to do STEM: Technological and Methodological requirements
- [47:11] The essence of STEM: Training children to think and act like scientists and engineers
- [50:22] Rapid Fire Questions
- [50:40] Who has been the most influential in shaping the way that you teach: Skip Ross, and his book Say Yes to Your Potential, Martin Seligman (Positive Psychology), Stephen R. Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)
- [52:33] Advice to Educators just starting out: Understand electronics – Learn how to use LittleBits
- [58:09] PD Recommendations: STEM conferences, Future Learning, Science Teachers’ Association of New South Wales, Australian Science Teachers Association
- [01:00:56] Australia vs. the World regarding STEM teaching
- [01:03:31] John’s Contact Information: Email: [email protected], Website: Sci-riffic