Year 9 deep learning students from Victoria University Secondary College (VUSC) are delving into research to tackle issues that are impacting young people.
In conjunction with Brimbank Youth Services, students are participating in the Brimbank Young Researchers in Schools Program to develop advanced qualitative research skills
Alongside the help from research academics, students are working in small groups to explore a key issue, gather data and deliver recommendations on the issue.
VUSC instructional coach Mary-France Navera said the program aims to develop students’ problem-solving, critical and creative thinking skills that will put them in good stead for VCE and tertiary studies.
“Students are very aware of what is happening in their community and they want to look at issues that affect them and their age group,” she said.
“At the moment we are at the point where students’ have developed their inquiry questions, and are preparing to interview five different people who they feel have experience or opinions on their chosen topic.”
“The students are enjoying the program and finding it challenging at the same time, which is exactly what it is supposed to be doing.”
In Term 4, each group will present their project to Brimbank councilors, as well as the school’s leadership team to see how the recommendations can be implemented at a local level.
“We are trying to involve young people in the community to have a voice and empower them to come up with ideas on how to resolve some of these issues they are facing,” she said.
The research topics aim to investigate a breadth of issues including the impacts of vaping on young people and the experience of first generation young migrants in schools.
Hannah Hammoud
