Splat 3D: creating value within STEM education | Newcastle innovation community
Splat 3D: creating value within STEM education
Sometimes, it really is as simple as seeing the gap in the industry. Kylie Burrett, the award-winning creator of the Splat 3D design tool, is one such example of this age-old entrepreneurial advice.
After noticing a clear difference between the STEM skills taught in schools and where they lead to practically, she decided to create an out-of-the-box engineering design process resulting in hands-on learning and a more streamlined education tool for STEM educators.
Kylie has been teaching and working in education within Newcastle for more than 20 years, as well as working as an education consultant for ABC TV. After having time off to start her family, she returned to the classroom and noticed the lack of connection between the classroom activities and the engineering industry. “There was no connection between drawing shapes and actual industry work and understanding the 3D world.”
Through Kylie’s teaching practice and experience in creative industries, the Splat 3D design tool was born. The online design tool is currently helping students develop their design skills, ultimately helping improve practical engineering experience and STEM competencies.
This program has won numerous awards and is being adopted in education systems in Australia and beyond. Kylie asserts that above all, the program creates value.
“It’s in human nature to follow what we value. If we don’t put context to certain things in education and add contextual value to things, then students will not follow along.”
Growing up in the Hunter region, Kylie says her focus with her design program is to appeal to the creative engineering side of education as well as mentoring students and implementing the program in a more corporate scene.
On the business side of Kylie’s journey, the team have recently signed the Splat 3D program to a school in South Africa, marking their 14th country to adopt the STEM tool. Not only is this increasing education opportunities, but it’s furthering their marketing reach outside of Australia. The team’s approach is a ‘K to Gray’ methodology, targeting everyone from children drawing shapes in kindergarten mathematics to secondary and tertiary levels of engineering professionals.
Kylie maintains that Newcastle has been instrumental in the business lifestyle she has adopted, as she feels that business operations are drawn here because of the easy-going yet established lifestyle. “Newcastle has incredible potential for entrepreneurs in different niches working outside of the classic CBD environment. Newcastle has a great community of really bright, interested locals that are drawn back here because of the lifestyle.”
Despite the obvious success of her program and platforms, Kylie remains characteristically humble, crediting the power of human connection within Newcastle and beyond as her biggest reward. “Starting my company has allowed me to connect with people beyond the classroom and the standard brick and mortar office, connecting with cultures all around the world.”
“It’s really about that power of human connection and working with other like-minded people. I would not have met these kind of people in the same way had I not started this entrepreneurial journey here in Newcastle.”
To anyone in the learning platform industry or beginning a start-up business, Kylie’s advice is simple. “Try and enjoy the journey.” She affirms that it was the result of “a million different touchpoints” and “a collection of life experiences” that created her business. For younger entrepreneurs, she also stresses the importance of taking advantage of the digital world.
“Sometimes, people are really focused on the one particular career trajectory or journey, and when you speak to a lot of entrepreneurs, they will tell you it’s actually a culmination of touchpoints throughout their lives that ignites their passion in their journey.”
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