ECU represents at Google Educators Conference 2022

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ECU represents at Google Educators Conference 2022

Monday, 18 July 2022

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On 14 and 15 July, representatives from ECU spoke at the Google Educator Conference 2022 with the event hosted by the University’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering and supported by Google. The conference aims were to support Kindergarten to Year 12 teachers (both pre- and in- service teachers) and educators learn more about using information and communications technology through hands-on activities, presentations and the sharing of innovative teaching and discussions with other educators, industry speakers, and researchers.

Divided into two components, with a focus on primary school teachers on the first day followed by secondary teachers on the second, ECU’s Dr Michelle Ellis and current ECU student, Soumita Kale – both from the School of Science, spoke at the event:

Dr Ellis’s presentation, entitled: 'Where are the girls?' - What do we need to do to fill the STEM gap, highlighted the concerning facts that despite STEM-related occupations growing significantly faster than other occupations, millions of projected STEM jobs will go unfilled based on the current university and high school participation rates in STEM subjects and disciplines. Alarmingly, Australian figures show that the university STEM qualified workforce is made up of 71% male and only 29% women. Dr Ellis highlighted the influential role of parents and teachers in changing the narrative and perception around technology-based careers.
Soumita’s presentation and workshop, entitled: ‘Cyber Security is not Cyber Safety - so how do we become cyber secure? Essential 8 cyber strategies’ covered a set of 8 strategies released by the Australian Government, that people should employ to be cyber secure in teaching and the classroom as well as daily life. Soumita urged the audience to share the takeaway information with students, family and friends in order to support our next generation in living cyber-smart lives. After the presentation, Soumita spoke about the concepts of cryptography and how it protects data. The audience took part in a hands-on "hack-the-box" activity by solving a series of cyphers.

For more information about how ECU is supporting women and girls in STEM and our commitment to gender equality, visit the ECU Gender Equality website or contact athenaswanaustralia@ecu.edu.au

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