Sciences

Learning and Teaching> Sciences

Sciences - Fiona's News

This page will keep you up to date with national initiatives and developments in science as well as suggesting resources and websites that you may find useful.

I’d also be very please to hear about any exciting and successful science work that you have been involved in or have heard about. Contact me at the Colgrain Area Education Office on 01436 678635.

Recommended resources and ideas

What’s new in science resources and ideas?

Click here to find out about the latest science resources and ideas to try.

CPD

Building on the evident success of the 2007-2008 SSERC CPD programme, SSERC are again offering residential courses supporting Curriculum for Excellence. Each of the courses run in two parts with part 1 starting on a Thursday morning and finsihing shortly after lunch on Saturday; part 2 will run from Friday to Saturday. Particpants will be expected to carry out a classroom based project between parts 1 and 2. Previous participants have considered the SSERC courses to be very good. Information can be found on the SSERC website, under Bridging the Gap.

SSERC website

SafetyNet CD

please note that SSERC have provided an adapted online version of SafetyNet which is available from the members'area of the SSERC website.

Useful Links

www.ltscotland.org.uk – external site
Learning and Teaching Scotland’s homepage with information on national events, research, resources and examples of good practice. Click on National Qualifications Online and then choose your subject from the Find materials for your subject box.

www.asescotland.org.uk – external site
The website of the Associaiton for Science Education in Scotland.

www.asescotland.org.uk– external site
ChemWeb the interactive student guide to all levels of High School Chemistry in Scotland.

Learn Genetics. University of Utah - external site

Planet Science - external site

www.sserc.org.uk – external site
Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre.

www.britishscienceassocation.org – external site
which contains information on national science and engineering week national science competition etc.

The Royal Society - external site

STEMNET Webpage - external site

STEM Directories - external site

Environment for young europeans – external site
A fun website aimed at younger children, contains information, games and puzzles on the environment.

STEM North of Scotland website - external site

SSERC, Science 3-18 - external site

I’d be delighted to hear of any websites which you have used and found helpful. Please contact me with your ideas.

Common content between Science and other subjects

Click here to download 'rough audit of areas of common content/working in science and other subjects'(PDF)

Click here to download common content between science and other subjects(PDF)

STEM

Introducing STEM

STEM North of Scotland is a collaboration between six local authorities - Argyll and Bute, Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles along with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and STEM related sector skills councils. Together they have secured both a stempoint and a science and engineering ambassadors contract for the region

These contracts are centrally funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and managed through STEMNET. New funds now coming into the region are supporting the costs of establishing a STEM infrastructure which works to promote high quality enrichment opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

This infrastructure will be used to facilitate industry placements, bursaries and challenges, as well as to support creative approaches to fostering innovation and enterprise in the education system. The Stempoints and Science and Engineering Ambassadors Programmes aim to encourage more young people in the UK to make a choice to enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related careers at all levels, and ensure communities are properly informed about the science and technology that surrounds them. Drawing STEM opportunities together and promoting them through our regional communication channels will help you as teachers to quickly identify which projects may be relevant to you and whether they are actually available in your area.
For more information on stempoints and the science and engineering ambassadors programme visit STEMNET

Darwin 200

Coming to all schools teaching Biology Highers will be a set of books called "Think Darwin, Think Evolution, Think Now".

The books have been produced by SIBE (Scottish Initiative for Biotechnology Education) at The University of Edinburgh to celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. The booklet has been designed for Scottish Higher and Advanced Higher students of Biology.

These are books to complement what you are already teaching and to highlight the work of Darwin and show the relevance for the 21st century. Every school teaching highers will get a limited set. Please contact Laura Keenan on laura.keenan@hient.co.uk for more information on the delivery of these books. A downloadable version is available too Click Here

SCHOOL SCIENCE SUMMIT - REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS AND UPDATE ON ACTIONS

Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, has today launched the report of the School Science Summit held on 5 May.
Click here to download report (PDF)
Alongside the report, we have published a Draft Action Plan which sets out a series of measures that are designed to improve the pupil experience of science, engineering and technology.
Click here to download draft action plan (PDF)

Key elements of the Action Plan include:

**** Increasing shared learning between industry, schools and academia;
**** Improving the status and image of science through a science careers advertising campaign;
**** Working with Skills Development Scotland to develop and promote careers advice in science and engineering;
**** Maximising the benefits of partnership with Scotland's science centres;
**** Increasing the use of Glow, the schools intranet, to share best practice in science education;
**** Reviewing teacher Continuing Professional Development opportunities in science and engineering;
**** Using the Curriculum for Excellence framework to create a seamless transition in science education.

Connecting it up: Towards a Route Map for STEM education in Scotland

STEM-ED Scotland has secured funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to lead a collaborative project entitled 'Connecting it up: towards a Route Map for STEM education in Scotland'. Working with the ASE, SMC and STTA, the project aims to identify and develop progressions of learning and teaching - STEM pathways - that build on, support and enhance pupils' understanding of the "core ideas" across the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, and makes clear their huge impact on the world.

The project is conducting a survey to investigate the areas in STEM and skills that should be at the core of every 5-15 years olds education. The aim is to identify: (a) the core areas in STEM; (b) areas where pupils form mistaken beliefs and/or have difficulty understanding the concepts; (c) areas to prioritise in the development of the STEM pathways and (d) practitioners with experiences of learning progressions, dealing with misconceptions and linking the STEM areas.

There are opportunities for practising STEM teachers to work together to create or build on activities that (i) are designed to deal with misconceptions, (ii) progressively develop concepts over the years and (iii) link or have the potential to link across the STEM areas. If practitioners within your authority have knowledge or experience of learning progressions, dealing with misconceptions and linking the STEM areas that they would like to share or further develop we would be interested to hear from them.


If you would like to be kept updated about the project please email stemed@bio.gla.ac.uk with the subject 'Subscribe to Connecting it Up' and your details will be added to the list. You can leave the list at any time by emailing stemed@bio.gla.ac.uk with the subject 'Leave Connecting it Up' and your details will be removed.

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