Learning Adventure with Finch Engineering
Dalby South’s Learning Adventure with GISP & Finch Engineering
Levi Jenkins and Erin Johnston (GISP AM) recently had the privilege to travel to Dalby and Chinchilla to visit GISP AM schools. The highlight of the trip was attending a showcase to conclude a year-long LIVE project collaboration between Dalby South State School and Finch Engineering.
The LIVE project, curated for Dalby South's Year 4 students, was a hands-on experience designed to address a real-world problem supplied by Finch Engineering. Tasked with creating a prototype for a steel bracket, the students tackled a big challenge – after 30 years, a crucial bracket used in building grain bins was no longer in production, and Finch Engineering needed a solution.
Students were given the existing bracket to study and tasked with replicating it, utilising specialised measuring equipment, modelling software, and 3D printing. Finch Engineering also provided an additional challenge to students to solve an issue that they were having with their robotic welder. The students created a working prototype and also devised an ingenious solution to the additional challenge that impressed their teacher as well as the team at Finch Engineering.
The showcase event allowed the students to tour Finch Engineering's facility and personally test each of their prototypes on an actual grain haulout bin. During the testing phase, students received valuable feedback on their bracket prototypes. After testing their prototypes, students presented their finished pieces along with their written portfolios and engaged in one-on-one industry presentations.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Angela Finch expressed her excitement and stated, “The Finch Engineering Team were excited to be involved with the joint venture with Dalby South State School for 2023. We were absolutely thrilled with the effort the students put into their research and development, prototypes, and their written folios. Renitta and the South Team have done such an amazing job with facilitating this programme throughout the entire school, and particularly this Showcase with a select few of their Year 4 cohort. We can’t wait to work with them again in 2024."
Helen Bates, representing the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing, and Water, also expressed her enthusiasm. She said, "The Department is delighted to attend the Dalby South STEAM and Finch Engineering Project. This collaboration exemplifies the kind of hands-on learning experiences that fuel the next generation's interest in STEM fields."
The focal point of the Dalby South Live Project showcase was the 'Research & Design' initiative assigned to the students. Each student presented outstanding portfolios showcasing their designs, research methodologies, and reasoning. Helen Bates states, "School-to-industry collaborations like these are instrumental in developing children's creative confidence, design thinking, spatial reasoning, and solution-based skills. It's heartening to witness the students not only tackling real-world challenges but also learning that the first solution is not always the final one."
Levi and Erin echoed the sentiment. Erin commented on the calibre of work, stating, "It's amazing to see the work coming from Ms. Flynn and her students, and the engagement with industry from Finch Engineering."
This collaborative initiative between GISP-AM, Dalby South State School, Finch Engineering, and the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing, and Water underscores the transformative potential of hands-on STEAM education. As these students continue to hone their skills, they are not just solving problems—they are shaping the future of innovation and contributing to the advancement of STEAM education.
