About ASISTM

Project aims | Project background | Project funding | Eligibility | Project selection criteria | Teacher associates

Project aims

The ASISTM Project is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

1) Encouraging innovation in Australian schools

1. the fostering of a culture of innovation in schools;
2. the development of an elevated capacity and predisposition for innovation in school students;
3. improved levels of coordination of Science, Technology and Mathematics teaching and learning between primary and secondary schools;
4. increased collaboration between Australian schools and science organisations, universities, business and industry and other organisations;

2) Promoting world class teaching and learning

1. growth in numbers of students undertaking Science, Technology and Mathematics teacher education;
2. changes and improvements in teachers' approaches to, and techniques in, teaching Science, Technology and Mathematics;
3. improved Science, Technology and Mathematics student learning outcomes;
4. enhanced student interest and engagement in the learning of Science, Technology and Mathematics;
5. increased numbers of senior secondary school students interested in, and participating in Science, Technology and Mathematics study;

3) Teacher attraction and retention

1. growth in numbers of newly qualified teachers in Australian schools in Science, Technology and Mathematics; and
2. improved retention of teachers in these fields.

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Project background

The ASISTM project is part of the Australian Government's Boosting Innovation, Science, Technology and Mathematics Teaching (BISTMT) Programme.

Over the seven-year life of the programme, the ASISTM Project will:

• identify and fund an estimated 500 ASISTM initiatives in school clusters; and
• fund the involvement of an estimated 1,300 Teacher Associates in these initiatives.

Boosting Innovation, Science, Technology and Mathematics Teaching (BISTMT) Programme Guidelines
Text version
PDF version

The Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations web page on ASISTM

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Project funding

Over the seven-year period of the BISTMT Programme, ASISTM will provide $33.7 million in funding to cluster initiatives throughout Australia.

Individual school cluster initiatives may apply for ASISTM funding in the indicative range of $20,000 to $80,000, with most successful projects expected around the middle of that range. A typical ASISTM project will be carried out over a single school year, in some circumstances projects may be allowed to continue for up to an extra 6 months.

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Eligibility

Applications should be submitted by a nominated Project Coordinator, on behalf of a cluster of schools and non-school organisations. The size of clusters is not prescribed, but is likely to consist of between 4 and 12 schools and organisations. Initiatives which show genuine collaboration between schools and non-school partners are the most likely to be successful.

School-based Project Coordinators are encouraged to seek opportunities to collaborate with non-school organisations capable of contributing expertise or resources to their project. Such organisations may include, but are not limited to:

• science, technology and mathematics organisations (from museums, to hospitals, to environmental organisations);
• teacher and principal professional organisations;
• tertiary education institutions;
• industry and the broader community.

Project Coordinators based in non-school organisations must identify specific schools contributing to the project in their applications, and to ensure that their project includes meaningful collaboration with the schools named.

ASISTM clusters may incorporate government and/or non-government, primary and/or secondary schools. They need not be geographically defined, and may operate in more than one State or Territory, provided cross-jurisdictional issues are adequately addressed. Online or other communication may be used to enable collaboration within ASISTM clusters which are widely dispersed geographically. Clusters may be formed around a common need, shared interests or the opportunity for mutual enrichment through collaboration.

Initiatives which include practical plans for involving schools facing special challenges (eg rural/remote schools, or schools with high proportions of Indigenous or disadvantaged students) will be especially highly regarded.

Individual schools and non-school organisations may be part of more than one ASISTM cluster simultaneously, either within one funding round, or between multiple rounds.

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Project selection criteria

Applications for ASISTM projects will be assessed on the following:

• Extent to which the project proposal addresses the ASISTM guidelines, including:
  
  • ASISTM objectives and performance measures;
  • the capacity to advance significant, sustainable innovation in Science, Technology and/or Mathematics;
  • collaboration with other schools;
  • involvement of Teacher Associates; and
  • connections with State/Territory and/or Australian Government initiatives and policies in related areas;

• The quality of the plan for the conduct of the project including:
  
  • reflects well-regarded research, theory and/or practice;
  • addresses the identified needs of teachers, students and schools;
  • quality assurance of all stages of the project;
  • an appropriate and sufficiently detailed budget for project activities; and
  • a feasible timeline for activities;

• Potential for the findings, practices and/or other outputs from the project to be adopted by and benefit other schools in Australia.

• The range, level and quality of involvement in the project of non-school partners, and the level of complementary support through related programmes or initiatives.

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Teacher Associates

Teacher Associates are intended to work with students, acting as role models and helping teachers to inspire and motivate students by bringing their 'real-life' experiences of using Science, Technology or Mathematics into the classroom. They might be tertiary students studying for a degree in a related discipline, researchers, science/technology/mathematics professionals, or others who can provide examples of how these learning areas relate to a wider context beyond the classroom. Their subject-related knowledge will help inform and shape students' Science, Technology and Mathematics learning experiences through an ASISTM initiative.

Teacher Associates will be an integral part of successful ASISTM projects. On average, two or three Teacher Associates are expected to be engaged for each project. Teacher Associates may be engaged for limited periods, over part or all of a project's duration, and may be paid or voluntary. Project budgets are expected to include payment as necessary for the engagement of Teacher Associates. The costs and number of Teacher Associates may vary considerably from project to project; however, an indicative average cost per Teacher Associate might be around $5,000.

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© Commonwealth of Australia, 2004