About STEM Challenges
How do the STEM Challenges work?
Once a term, the challenge will be introduced to participating (registered) schools. If you want to register, click here. There is no obligation to take part in all of the challenges if you register.
Once announced, the timer begins to tick… teams are set tasks, some closed, some open-ended and some requiring lots of creative thought. The STEM Challenges are being designed to cater for a range of abilities in the 11-14 age range. There will be a mixture of hands-on testing, experimental work and research associated with each challenge.
The judges
Teams will be judged by STEM Ambassadors who will meet the team face to face on the judging day.
Entries will be judged against the core Olympic and Paralympic Values, along with teams’ abilities to communicate their findings and their understanding of the work that they have done.
Prizes
There are some pretty impressive prizes up for grabs for each STEM Challenge. Think of ‘experience’ prizes, behind the scenes tours, equipment for your school or a day with a VIP and you are only scratching the surface of what is on offer to the winning teams.
These are not ordinary prizes as it’s not often that we get to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in our country. It’s a chance to celebrate and be inspired!
If a team impresses the judges, then they will be shortlisted as a potential national finalist. A panel of judges will then meet to select the national finalists.
Think you can rise to the STEM Challenges?
Do you have one or more teams up for the challenge at your school? If so, register now (or ask your teacher to register) for all the latest information and access to the full challenge information, once each one is launched.
The challenges will each take up to four weeks to complete and will run all the way up to July 2012. They have been designed so that you can carry them out in a club environment (e.g. a STEM Club) or even during lessons, with each one taking up to four weeks to complete.
Other ways to use the Challenges
How to use the STEM Challenge Resources for school and club activities?
Each of the STEM challenges was originally launched as a competition for school pupils. However, we are really keen that the resources from previous STEM Challenges are used by schools and other organisations after the competition element has passed.
The Challenge briefs, factsheets and activities can be used in many ways to support Club activities, or to supoprt extra-curricular activity days. You may wish to run the whole Challenge again in school as a one-day activity, or you can choose to focus in on a single aspect of the material which supports a specific part of the curriculum – the choice is yours!
Get Set Programme
The STEM Challenges form part of Get Set, the official London 2012 education programme. Get Set is all about involving children and young people in the excitement and inspiration of the London 2012 Games.