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Last week, Mathematics teachers Hannah Mast and Geoffrey Rouse stepped outside the classroom to present at EduFest WA, a professional learning conference for educators across Western Australia.

The opportunity to present came about in an unexpected way. 

"We were approached about presenting after a conversation we had over lunch with someone at The Beyond Boundaries Institute's ReimaginED Conference in April this year," said Hannah.

"It was a happy accidental networking opportunity and we actually had never considered presenting this work. It was a little out of our comfort zone to present in front of our peers but we thought if we are always telling our students to try new things, we should to," she added.

Their presentation showcased a Year 9 project in which students analyse real climate data from the Perth region and explore whether the Noongar six seasons might better reflect our climate than the four European seasons currently used. The project not only connects directly to the Year 9 Maths curriculum but also responds to a growing need for authentic, purposeful learning experiences.

"The theme of the conference was around how students in a post-AI schooling environment have the strongest desire we have ever seen for meaning and purpose in their learning," said Geoffrey.

"Students want learning experiences that prepare them for the adult world they will encounter, where the career they pursue may not even exist yet. They want authentic learning experiences based in reality, which address sustainability concerns and call on diverse cultural perspectives."

The 2025 Future of Jobs report included "big data expert" as leading the charge in job growth. Hannah and Geoff's project aims to marry these needs into a rich task that aligns closely with the Year 9 Maths curriculum.

At EduFest, Hannah and Geoff shared the story of how the project was developed, celebrated some of their students’ outstanding work and provided a framework for other educators to design tasks rooted in real-world datasets and linked to the Cross-Curriculum Priorities.

"We learned a lot in going through this whole process and are really grateful to the College for the opportunity to present to our colleagues from across WA," they said.

Their contribution to EduFest highlighted the value of collaboration, innovation and the power of authentic learning to inspire both students and educators alike.