Flinders University pre-service teachers Luke Reppucci and Henk Plaggermars feel more confident in their ability to guide students towards careers in Science Technology Engineering and Maths following their participation in a “Bridging the Gap” program at SAGE Automation.

Over the course of two days Luke and Henk visited SAGE to see what kind of careers exist for their future students.

During their first visit Luke and Henk observed SAGE’s training program which they said provided them with a good foundation for their second visit.

Flinders University research scientist Mick O’Neill said the program gave the students an advantage as many teachers go straight from school, to university back into schools and don’t get an idea of what these STEM careers look like.

SAGE senior systems engineer Chris Poetsch showed Luke, Henk and their supervisor Mick around the workshop showing them the kinds of projects and careers that are available to STEM students.

“When explaining the [practical applications] Chris related everything back to how the concepts are taught in schools,” Henk said.

“It was just really good being able to relate it all back to my teaching.”

Luke said their first visit focused on the training options for the automated systems SAGE developes which provided a lot of information regarding the industry.

“Seeing how a lot of the science theory is applied in practical ways in these various applications, it’s been very insightful,” Luke said.

“Today’s tour really complemented nicely with last week looking at the training aspect of the business.”

One of the key takeaways for the pre-service teachers was around how to convince their students that the complex maths and science equations do have a use later in life.

“During my placement, I really did have a lot of students asking ‘when am I ever going to use this’,” Henk said.

“So now I can tell them ‘this is where you will use it’.”