2024 Teacher Fellow, Government sector
Andy Ding
Beyond access: Transforming stem learning for students of all abilities
Andy Ding, from Gleneagles Secondary College, was awarded a Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership Teaching Impact Fellowship. Andy focused his teaching impact project on improving outcomes for students with a disability in STEM.
How would you summarise your Teaching Impact Fellowship?
I partnered with Casey Tech School to co-design and facilitate a learning community for teachers and educators from local schools. This community enables collaboration with disability inclusion specialists to explore resources for students with a disability in STEM classes. We initiated this project in response to the ideas among STEM teachers for greater collaboration and resources that support all learners.
What have been the impacts of your project so far?
Teachers appreciated the opportunity to explore new ideas and resources while building their confidence in supporting students with a disability in STEM. One participant encapsulated the spirit of our community, stating, “If we could have more STEM-based PDs - we as teachers could learn some new hands-on STEM activities which we could then take back to our schools and use for our students”.
What have been the benefits to date of taking part in a fellowship?
I am an avid attendee and participant in other people’s learning communities. I never imagined I would build and lead a learning community for others. I valued the journey, where I discovered I have an entrepreneurial spirit. This newfound understanding accelerated my leadership growth. Whenever I experience a setback, I have the confidence to pivot, seek, and synthesise feedback from others to create new opportunities.
