The Science Learning Centres and Psychology Teachers

1
The Science Learning Centresand Psychology
Teachers

• Jeremy Airey
• Professional Development Leader
• National Science Learning Centre

2
Moores Law

• Computing power doubles every 18 months

3
The Genome Revolution

• Genetic information doubles every 16 months
• Dr Richard Durbin FRSWellcome Trust Sanger
  Institute

4
Science Mission for the UK

• "Our ambition is for the UK to become the
  science capital of the world. We are well on the
  way. I believe we can be the best."
• The Prime Minister, 17 November 2004

5
The UK has

• 1 of the worlds population

• 4.5 of the worlds spending on science

• 8 of the worlds scientific papers

• 9 of the worlds citations in scientific papers

6
We are all scientists now(Sara Parkin, Forum for
the Future)

• It is essential to have young people prepared to
  become the engineers, research scientists and
  doctors of the future.
• It is essential, but not enough. Developed
  countries also need a population who understand
  science, and are critically aware of its
  implications.

7
Challenges for Science Teachers

• teaching science for scientific literacy
• how to teach science to less academic students
• how to engage the interest of students so they
  will continue to study science

8
Labour Party Business Manifesto commitment (2001)

• our manifesto commitment to, with charitable
  and corporate involvement, establish a National
  Centre for Excellence in Science teaching to
  promote best practice.

9
Mission for the Science Learning Centres

• To inspire a new generation of scientists by
  inspiring their teachers
• support teachers, technicians, teaching
  assistants, examiners and others involved in
  science education from primary to FE
• promote increased enjoyment, attainment and
  retention in school science
• change the culture and expectation of
  professional development amongst science
  educators

10
The National Network of Science Learning Centres
National Science Learning Centre University of
York
North East University of Durham
Yorkshire and Humber Sheffield Hallam
University
North WestManchester Metropolitan University
West Midlands Keele University
South West _at_Bristol
East Midlands University of
Leicester East of England University of
Hertfordshire London Institute
of Education
South EastUniversity of Southampton
11
The Science Learning Centres

• Regional Centres 26 million from the DfES.
  Nine Regional Centres for England. Funding for 5
  years.
• National Centre 25 million from the Wellcome
  Trust. To be at York, run by the White Rose
  Consortium Universities (Leeds, Sheffield,
  Sheffield Hallam and York). For the whole of the
  UK.
• Funding for 10 years 5 years minimum.

12
www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk

• A state-of-the-art web portal
• register, search, apply
• manage your professional portfolio
• browse the resource bank
• communicate with other professionals

13
Access to courses

• Affordability is part of the brief
• all SLCs have funding to offer bursaries to help
  schools with the costs of courses
• the way SLCs use this money varies from centre to
  centre
• at the NSLC, Impact Rewards cover fees and
  accommodations (leaving schools to pay travel and
  supply) in return for a commitment to ensure the
  course has a wide impact on the delegates return
  to school

14
Who are the Centres for?

• Secondary science teachers
• Secondary heads of science
• Primary science teachers
• Primary science coordinators
• Further Education tutors
• Psychology teachers and heads of psychology
• Science technicians
• Other support staff in the science classroom
• Citizenship teachers
• Examiners of science subjects
• Scientists who wish to work with schools
• Non-science teachers who wish to collaborate with
  science

15
Including Psychology

• Psychology is
• increasingly seen as a mainstream science
• part of the major growth in UK science
• especially in the fields of neuroscience and
  imaging
• dependent on influx of students with solid
  science skills and understanding
• a long-standing beneficiary of Wellcome Trust
  funding

16
Including Psychology 2

• Psychology in schools is
• one of the fastest growing subjects post-16
• now more popular than physics post-16
• included by Ofsted in the sciences
• increasingly seen as a mainstream science
• a rich fund of How Science Works case studies and
  scientific literacy
• overlapping with biology
• seen as a discipline on the verge of delivering a
  longed-for transformation of learning school-wide

17
Including Psychology 3

• Teachers of psychology are
• rarely specifically trained, and often not
  through a science route
• a very broad church indeed, often teaching
  outside their specialism /or co-opted into the
  subject
• in some cases insecure in their knowledge, skills
  and understanding of science and How Science
  Works
• sometimes poorly resourced and supported
• rarely offered subject-specific CPD
• in some cases, overly didactic and uninspiring in
  their teaching styles
• isolated and under-represented in small
  departments
• not sure where they sit in school hierarchy

18
Courses for Psychology 1

• Being developed by many regional SLCs and by the
  NSLC
• The SLC SW at _at_Bristol is a leader here,
  particularly in neuroscience. They are actively
  working with psychology teachers, the ATP and
  others to develop CPD experiences.
• www.youramazingbrain.org
• There are four courses currently available for
  psychology, with lots more to come.

19
Courses for Psychology 2

• Neuroscience Insights and implications for
  education
• SLC South West,
• 25th January 2006
• Our burgeoning knowledge of the brain is set to
  radically influence educational thinking in the
  future.
• What are the opportunities and issues and how
  should we approach them?
• Develop constructive classroom discussions and
  debates.
• Join leading neuroscientists and education
  experts at the University of Bristol as they are
  presented with the latest scientific advances and
  discuss the future.

20
Courses for Psychology 3

• Inspiring Post-16 Psychology
• National Science Learning Centre
• 7th 10th February 2006.
• This course will focus on the scientific content
  of current specifications and on how to
  illustrate practice through classroom-based
  investigations and innovative learning
  activities.
• Meet with psychologists to get up-to-date with
  contemporary aspects of the subject and its
  applications.
• Develop leadership skills for those supporting a
  department made up of teachers from various
  backgrounds, including how to provide colleagues
  and students with a full and accurate
  understanding of the subject.

21
Courses for Psychology 4

• Brain, language and memory activities for
  Post-16 psychology
• SLC London.
• Date to be confirmed, but you may express an
  early interest by adding it to your wish list on
  the web portal.
• This course emphasises practical activities and
  the cognitive elements in teaching Post-16
  psychology. Sophie Scott, Institute of Cognitive
  Neuroscience, draws on her latest research into
  the science of speech, while providing
  interesting insight into the brain, language and
  memory. You are also shown how to use the Science
  Museum's exhibits and activity sheets to enhance
  your teaching of psychology.

22
Courses for Psychology 5

• Practical Psychology for the Classroom
• Science Learning Centre West Midlands,
• March 2006, in development.

23
Courses for Psychology 6

• Courses in development at SLC South East
• Introduction to teaching psychology A level
• 12 July 06 or 10 Oct 06, for those considering
  teaching post-16 psychology, or in their first
  year
• Advanced practice in teaching psychology A-level
• 21 Nov 06, for experienced teachers
• Using ICT to teach psychology A-level
• 27 June 06, for all teachers
• Subject updates for psychology teachers
• 5 July 06, for all teachers

24
(No Transcript)
25
NSLC assets the building

• an auditorium to seat up to 300 people
• restaurant (seats up to 150) and bar area
• a large teaching laboratory, that can be divided
  and configured for primary, secondary or FE use
• preparation rooms and workshop
• a Resource Centre with a comprehensive collection
  of resources to support the teaching of science
• teaching rooms, seminar rooms, computer suite and
  videoconferencing facilities
• residential accommodation of good hotel standard
  for 64 people

26
NSLC assets the people

• Expertise in
• science education at primary, secondary and
  tertiary levels
• laboratory management
• marketing
• ICT
• finance and administration
• hospitality

27
NSLC assets the hardware and software

• state of the art teaching equipment and computer
  facilities
• outstanding audiovisual equipment
• a 2 million web portal
• a sustainable building with geothermal heating,
  sedum roof, grey water system etc

28
NSLC assets some of the partners

• White Rose University Consortium
• Wellcome Trust, DfES and Yorkshire Forward
• The Royal Society
• Association for Science Education
• Institute of Physics
• Royal Society of Chemistry
• DfES post-16 Success for All
• National Institute for Adult and Continuing
  Education
• Specialist Schools Trust

29
Course Dimensions(an example)
30
Some courses at the NSLC

• Alternative Pathways in 14-19 Science
• Inspiring Post-16 Biology/Psychology/Chemistry/Phy
  sics
• Science for All gifted and talented pupils
• Inspiring Science Learning through ICT
• How Science Works
• Inspiring Science Learning through Demonstrations

31
Highlights Week One

• Have been really impressed.
• Really well organised and fun!!
• All staff very helpful friendly!
• Building here is great - well resourced.
• Food brilliant - compliments to all involved.
• IT facilities excellent.
• Thanks - a great course and venue.
• Excellent and helpful staff on reception desk.
• Great technicians!
• Labs well equipped staff were great.
• One of the best courses I've been on to date.

32
Bespoke Course, 31.10.05Bellerive School,
Liverpool
33
Bespoke Course, 31.10.05Bellerive School,
Liverpool

• "The accommodation was excellent as was the
  teaching." "I enjoyed seeing experiments from
  another view." "Excellent day - the team has got
  a lot from it." "A very impressive visit - lots
  of good ideas generated."

34
Enriching the Teaching of Science, 1.11.05
35
Enriching the Teaching of Science, 1.11.05

• This course has superseded every one of my
  pre-course expectations. The activities were very
  engaging, exciting and innovative.
• More! I am now full of ideas about how I can
  enrich the science curriculum.
• Lots of inspirational ideas from both course
  leaders and other delegates.
• I have been really inspired and will take a lot
  of ideas away.
• Better than expected. More interactive, and
  bursting with ideas. Im full of enthusiasm and
  want to get started back at work.

36
Inspiring Science Learning through
Demonstrations, 2.11.05
37
Inspiring Science Learning through
Demonstrations, 2.11.05

• The course has exceeded expectations
• WOW Inspirational
• Fantastic so many simple encouraging short and
  safe examples
• A chance to see fun physics its often
  represented as hard and dull
• Visiting the resource centre (was valuable)
  even in its early days its full of useful
  resources

38
Contacts

• Science Learning Centres web portal
  www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk
• National Centre administrator Maureen Legge
  ml504_at_york.ac.uk
• National Centre director John Holman
  jsh4_at_york.ac.uk
• Jeremy Airey ja518_at_york.ac.uk