Aspirations

These programs focus on developing relationships with primary schools, high schools and other universities. They deliver educational sessions, material and events.

Aspirations programs aim to:

•Engage students in their education and develop the academic skills necessary for university entrance
•Offer several innovative and engaging online programs to develop students’ knowledge of careers and the pathways available to access them
•Provide opportunities for students to visit and use university campuses

Playing with Numbers

ACU staff and students engage primary school students in fun activities that reinforce basic number concepts and that aim to foster an appreciation of the value of maths learning for life.

Offered to: Years 5 & 6

Thinking with Maths

ACU staff and students engage secondary school students in activities that reinforce basic maths concepts and that aim to develop an appreciation of the relevance of maths to careers and higher education participation.

Offered to: Years 7, 9

On the Job

A fun, interactive online program that introduces students to a broad range of careers and their potential linkages to university. Contains job profiles, games, activities, links, relevant resources and videos.

Can be used as a whole class activity or as an option when other class work has been completed.

Offered to: Years 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

On the Job

Journal Writing Program

ACU staff works with Year 7 and 8 teachers to assist them to engage their students in discussions around their future career and educational aspirations, and the pathways necessary to achieve them. 

Students are assigned an on-going journal writing exercise that asks them to reflect on and identify further their aspirations, and to articulate what is required to achieve their goals.

A hardcopy journal is provided by ACU.

Offered to: Years 7 & 8

Aim for the Future

Students and parents are invited to participate in a range of interactive and hands-on activities conducted by ACU staff and ACU students in collaboration with teachers in partner schools. The program may be conducted on school sites or on the ACU campus.

Offered to: Students and parents

Shadow a Student

This program provides secondary school students with the opportunity to experience ‘the day in the life of a  university student.’ Students are invited onto their local ACU campus to accompany a university student for a day, as they attend lectures and tutorials and practicals, share lunch in the cafeteria, and make use of library services.

It is the expectation of this program that students will return to school and share their experiences and impressions with their Year Level cohort.

Offered to: Years 9, 10, 11

Careers Web Quest

A ‘Web Quest’ is an online interactive educational program that employs a problem-based learning approach.

 Careers Web Quest is a team based activity requiring higher order thinking skills. It introduces students to a broad range of career options and to their links to higher education courses.

The approach taken in this program is similar to the television show “The Apprentice”.

The team is required to explore and research the best career options for a clearly defined fictional student.

ACUgate staff will provide in-service support to teachers prior to the programs introduction to students.

Offered to: Years 9, 10, 11, 12 

Careers Web Quest

e-conferencing

This is a forum-based event that takes place biannually. The program is based on the format of the ABC’s political program ‘Q & A’, The e-conference gathers together a panel of experts and an audience of secondary school students to discuss a selected topic related to the current school curriculum. Students are also encouraged to view and participate, using a live video-link. Students are invited to submit questions via twitter and consequently are actively engaged in the conversation. Passed topics have included  “Conversations with Islam” and “Conversations with the Environment”.

This program develops skills pertinent to issues and activities in a range of school based subjects.

Offered to: Years 10, 11, 12

e Conferencing