Episode Overview
Stephen Anderson sits down with five Year 11 and 12 students from Cleveland State High School to launch the 2025 Teacher Excellence Awards and Service to Design and Technology Education Award. Recorded on March 26, 2025, this episode celebrates the educators and supporters shaping design and technology education in Queensland. The students share heartfelt stories about teachers who go above and beyond—think quirky sayings, passionate literature lessons, and collaborative classrooms. Stephen also shares a gem from his own past: an English teacher who wove Jake and The Fatman into Macbeth. Plus, get the full scoop on how to nominate a deserving teacher or community member for these prestigious awards.
Key Topics Discussed
What Makes a Great Teacher: Students share stories of teachers who make learning fun, foster collaboration, and show genuine care.
Teacher Excellence Awards: Recognizing educators who shine in design and technology classroom teaching.
Service to Design and Technology Education Award: Honoring community members, teacher aides, retirees, or businesses supporting the field.
Nomination Details: Learn how to nominate, including deadlines and criteria for both awards.
DATTA QLD Conference Dinner: Mark your calendars for June 19, 2025, when winners will be celebrated.
Links and Resources:
Cleveland State High School: www.clevelandshs.eq.edu.au
DATTA Queensland: www.dattaqld.org.au
Awards Nomination Form: www.dattaqld.org.au/awards (Check for updates)
Connect With Us:
Host: Stephen Anderson – podcast@dattaqld.org.au
About the Bridge Building Podcast
“This is the place where we dissect and then discover the many ways ITD teachers all over this country are using their passion to create passionate students. We talk of measuring and manipulating a multitude of materials of design and divergent thought, of creation with our minds and with our hands. And most of all, we talk of growing great young people because of course that is what we do.”
So what does that mean other than I like to show off my alliteration skills? Since coming back to teaching a few years ago the thing that strikes me most, and frankly scared me most is how lonely this job is. How little we know about what is happening in our subject area. The classroom next door, a class in the next school, let alone the next town are a mystery to me. I know there are teachers out there doing incredible things and this (the podcast) is a way for me to find out and be inspired. I would like to invite you along to listen and learn, to be inspired by some of the sensational teachers I speak to on the “Bridge Building Podcast – from technology to the trades”
About the Podcast Host
Stephen Anderson is a Design Technology, Trade Training and accidental Science teacher at a small high school 2 hours North West of Brisbane.
Over To You
If you know someone who is doing something spectacular or just great fun in design and tech or in trade training, I would love to know about them.
Contact me through my email osaerial@gmail.com
Music by:
Viola Pink
My favourite busker from the Nanango markets.