
Principals as STEM Leaders (PASL):
Building the Evidence Base for Improved STEM Learning
Principals as STEM Leaders – Building the Evidence Base for Improved STEM Learning (PASL) is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, and responds to the need for a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skilled workforce to ensure Australia remains globally competitive. PASL will support principals to effectively drive whole-of-school collaborative effort in STEM engagement and STEM teaching and learning for STEM capability.
About PASL
The project is led by the University of Tasmania in partnership with the Australian Catholic University and with the support of five additional universities (University of Queensland, University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle), Macquarie University, Flinders University, The University of Sydney) and two peak principals' associations (Australian Primary Principal’s Association (APPA), Australian Secondary Principals Association (ASPA)). The research is funded for three years 2018 – 2020.
Objectives
The objectives of the PASL project are to:
- Determine best-practice and expand evidence-based approaches that enhance student STEM engagement and outcomes through the professional development of principals as successful STEM leaders.
- Develop high quality and accessible resources (e.g. for principals to build their understanding of the concepts, skills and practices related to STEM disciplines; to lead initiatives promoting STEM teaching and learning; to foster a STEM positive school culture) and a supporting mentoring model to be made available beyond the life of the project.
- Evaluate both the impact of the resources and the project processes and share lessons learned to inform future policy and practice.
Outcomes
PASL will deliver a set of three high quality and accessible programs of professional learning (PL) for developing the capabilities of principals for leading school-wide ongoing enhancement of STEM teaching and learning. The programs will draw from case studies of effective practice and will expand evidence-based approaches to STEM leadership and improving STEM capability of students.
Overview of the Project
The PASL project responds to the need for a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skilled workforce to ensure Australia remains globally competitive. The Australian Government is committed to increasing the STEM capability of schools and for increased enrolments in STEM related subjects in schools to ensure young Australian have the skills they need to live and work in a globalised world.
Within our schools, principals are key to creating environments in which teachers can succeed or fail in improving STEM learning outcomes in our schools. There is an increasing array of resources that focus on developing STEM skills for both students and teachers, but little that focus on principals. To complement and ensure these resources are effectively harnessed, the PASL project will develop a robust approach to support principals to effectively drive whole-of-school collaborative effort in STEM engagement and learning outcomes. This will involve building on their leadership skills and supporting them to acquire an appropriate level of STEM capability, to enable them to provide effective leadership in STEM education.
The PASL research project will consist of three work streams:
Work stream 1: March 2018 – Jan 2019
Research (including identifying best practice STEM leadership approaches) to inform the development of professional learning modules/resources and a supporting mentoring approach to principals as STEM leaders
Work stream 2: May 2018– June 2020
Develop and pilot the professional learning modules and mentoring resources in the PASL research project with an estimated 210 primary and secondary school principals or assistant principals across sectors across Australia.
Work stream 3: Whole of project
Over the life of PASL, monitor and evaluate two aspects of the research project: the effectiveness of professional learning programs, modules, resources and supporting mentoring approaches for principals; and the conduct of the PASL research project. Monitoring and evaluation of the project will focus, therefore, on the extent to which the project:
- Develops and trials best practice approaches to increasing principals’ capabilities to lead STEM in their schools;
- Makes available high quality and accessible resources for the development of STEM capability; and
- Undertakes a process of national collaboration with partnering institutions, school clusters and principals which enables the development, trial and dissemination of project objectives.
Project Team Members
Project Directors
![]() | Professor Sharon Fraser University of Tasmania, TAS |
![]() | Professor Kim Beswick University of NSW |
![]() | Professor Vince Geiger Australian Catholic University, QLD |
Project Team Members:
![]() | Professor Chris Branson Australian Catholic University, QLD |
![]() | Associate Professor Julie Clark Flinders University, SA/NT |
![]() | Malcolm Elliott President, Australian Primary Principals Association |
![]() | Professor Garry Falloon Macquarie University, NSW |
![]() | Dr Derek Hurrell Notre Dame, WA |
![]() | Dr Mellita Jones Australian Catholic University, Ballarat |
![]() | Dr Jodie Miller University of Queensland, QLD |
Andrew Pierpoint President, Australian Secondary Principals’ Association | |
![]() | Associate Professor Stephen Viller University of Queensland, QLD |
![]() | Professor Helen Watt The University of Sydney, NSW/ACT |
![]() | Dr Vesife Hatisaru University of Tasmania, TAS |
Principals’ Workshop
What: | Principals as STEM Leaders - Building the Evidence Base for Improved STEM Learning (PASL) project workshop |
When: | Tuesday 4 September – Wednesday 5 September |
Where: |
Sir Raymond Ferrall Centre (SRFC) Trust Bank and Michael Courtney Rooms (Flex Space) University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Launceston |
Principals from across Australia will meet face-to-face with the Project Team and CSIRO Education for a two-day workshop event held at the University of Tasmania’s Newnham Campus in Launceston.
The workshops will:
- Discuss the big ideas in STEM Educational leadership
- Provide input into the development of the Principal professional learning programs
- Draw together the expertise and experiences of Principals with the project team
- Participate in inquiry-based learning in STEM leadership
Agenda
DAY 1: TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4
TIME | AGENDA | SPEAKERS |
8.30am | Arrival Tea and Coffee: Freshly Brewed Coffee and a selection of Teas | NA |
9.30am | Acknowledgement of Country Project Brief: What is STEM and what is leadership? What does this mean for STEM leadership? |
A/Prof Sharon Fraser Prof Chris Branson Project Directors |
10.30am | Welcome and opening remarks: Vice Chancellor, Professor Rufus Black Morning Tea |
Vice Chancellor, Professor Rufus Black
|
11.00am | Professional Learning Module development: Project team members to facilitate discussion about the project’s eight professional learning modules in small groups | Project Team members |
12.00 | Group Discussion on learning modules | Prof Kim Beswick |
12.30pm | Lunch | |
1.00pm | CSIRO STEM workshop
|
Vicki Stavropoulos Mary Mulcahy, CSIRO |
3.00pm | Afternoon tea | |
3.20pm | CSIRO STEM workshop
|
Vicki Stavropoulos Mary Mulcahy, CSIRO |
5.00pm | Recapping the day’s activities |
Prof Vince Geiger Prof Kim Beswick A/Prof Sharon Fraser |
5.30pm | Evening refreshments
| |
7.30pm | Dinner at Launceston restaurant to follow |
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 5
TIME | AGENDA | SPEAKERS |
8.30am | Arrival Tea and Coffee: Freshly Brewed Coffee and a selection of Teas | NA |
9.00am | Module Recap: furthering the discussion on professional learning in light of practical CSIRO resources | Prof Vince Geiger |
10.00am | Big issues in STEM: open discussion and implications for the PASL Project | Prof Kim Beswick |
10.30am | Morning Tea | |
11.00am | Project participation: advancing the project, research demands and expectations, how do I get involved? | A/Prof Sharon Fraser |
12.00pm | Workshop close |
Critical Friends
Thank you for your interest in becoming a PASL Critical Friend. The PASL critical friends document outlines the requirements and expectations of the role.
In order to participate in the project, you will need to download and complete the volunteer work checklist, and return it via email to the PASL project manager for our records: PASL.Project@utas.edu.au
The Becoming a Critical Friend in PASL document provides you with some guidelines about participating as a critical friends with principals undertaking the professional learning component of the project. Any queries about this information should be directed to Dr Gail Dennett through her email address: gaildennett@gmail.com
Links
- Department of Education and Training (DET)
- Partner Universities:
- Principals’ Association Partners:
Contact
![]() | Linda Page Project Manager, PASL
|
