Year 11 C4E Students Explore Real-World Maths Through Robotics Workshop
Written by Year 11 student Pak Chan
Last week Darwin High School Year 11 C4E Mathematics students had the incredible opportunity to participate in a STEM workshop delivered by David Ompong and his team of enthusiastic engineering students from Charles Darwin University (CDU).
The workshop focusses on robotics and provide students with a hands-on experience to engage with emerging technologies and real-world applications of their studies. Their teacher, Ms Tan is passionate about helping students see the relevance of math beyond the classroom.
“It’s refreshing for students to see mathematics applied outside the classroom. I hope the workshop inspires more interest in STEM and helps students realise that mathematics opens doors to a world of possibilities.” Ms Tan said.
Throughout the session, students explored the fundamentals of programming and operated robotic arms, gaining a practical understanding of how mathematics underpins innovation and engineering.
Dr Ompong emphasised the importance of showing students the real-life value of mathematics. “Many students think maths is abstract, but once they see its application, their motivation to learn increases.”
The workshop also aligns with Darwin High’s ongoing partnership with CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools program, which connects students with scientists and engineers across the Northern Territory. These initiatives help students consider future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Dr Ompong thanked Darwin High School for its continued collaboration and highlighted the importance of nurturing future scientists and innovators for the development of the Territory.
Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing new interest in STEM-related careers. Year 11 student Yufan Chen shared “It was inspiring to think about how we could use these skills in fields like medicine and manufacturing. Especially for C4E students, this was a great chance to explore where our studies could take us.”
