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STEM
Graham engages and inspires the students because he brings maths into the There is a real duty says Brown, on the scientific community to engage with
real world; by attaching it to high status technology, he completely changes the public to explain the issues and enhance the role and prestige of science in
their perception of the subject. Bridging the gap between classroom society. He has said that over half of those who responded to the 2008 public
achievement and the workplace, those that applied themselves will have seen attitudes to science survey, said science “was too specialist for ordinary people
the ‘real-world’ results of their efforts in Graham’s predictor of the marketplace. to understand,” adding that we have to explain it better so that it is no longer
Just as the features and benefits of a product need to be seen to be believed, so seen as elitist.
too do those of STEM if both results and take-up are to be improved. Add this to last months announcement that classroom staff, many of whom
frequently fulfill the role of a teacher, will now be eligible for Qualified
Using innovative products Teacher Status by providing evidence of their chalk face skills as part of the
Across and beyond the curriculum, whether students are collecting new route into the profession being prepared by the Teacher Development
information on a geography field trip, visiting a local museum, carrying out a Agency for Schools (TDA) and the intention to close the gap between
healthy eating survey in school or identifying and recording creatures in the education and the workplace is clear.
school pond, teachers can create maps, forms, keys and interactive images as
resources to support data-gathering activities.
WildKnowledge creates applications for handheld devices such as Netbooks
or iPhones. The application suite (WildForm, WildMap, WildImage and
WildKey) provides a toolkit for students of all ages to capture data at ‘points
of inspiration’ in class or on field trips. The applications exploit the full
functionality of today’s devices (GPS, text, camera, audio, video and internet)
opening up exciting learning opportunities. Data collected is stored securely
within an internet account and the database can be mapped and exported –
allowing students to view their data in Google Maps or analyse their findings.
The WildKnowledge Community also gives teachers the opportunity to share
and collaborate with other schools.
There is a real duty on the
scientific community to enhance
the role and prestige of science
The Galileo from Mind Your IT is a compact, mobile unit designed to deliver
a total teaching platform for Science anywhere in a school. No dedicated
laboratory is required to bring interactive, hands on, experimental learning and
full scientific demonstration to students. It makes optimum use of space for
effective storage of equipment and charges up to 8 Netbooks. Integrated into
the Galileo is a projector and laptop (optional) for multimedia presentations,
allowing students and teachers to access a vast range of scientific information
or material through power point presentation, software and/or internet
access. Great for Primary Schools which often have no separate laboratory, or
where rooms and facilities are limited in Secondary education, this mobile unit
enables the practice of science anywhere in the building, timetabled or not.
Government bridging the gap?
Little over a year ago Gordon Brown said the government was working
towards all pupils having access to single subject science teaching - with a
‘guarantee’ that 90% of all state schools will offer this within the next five
years. Supporting the move, Ofsted said: “Evidence from the DCSF and
qualitative evidence from Ofsted suggest that those who study three separate
sciences are more likely to choose to study science at A-level and degree
level.”
Industry title New Electronics promoted STEMNET’s Ambassadors
programme in a recent article on the need to avert a skills crisis: “One of the
solutions involves working with school children at a much earlier age than is
currently the case. In fact, some believe that if you haven’t convinced them to
Wild Knowledge provide the tool kit for students to capture data
become an engineer by the time they reach 14, you have lost them.” This is
quite a challenge when you consider that many want to leave their career Among the groups most likely to benefit are so-called “instructors” said The
options open at this age - opting for triple science is a difficult decision to Times Education Supplement as the news broke; those employed for their
make when it means dropping another subject that might be enjoyed in order specialist knowledge in areas such as PE, design and technology, or music, but
to accommodate it. who have not been through formal training. Others likely to apply will be
Linking future economic strength and recovery with STEM professions, not independent school staff, who are more likely not to be formally qualified, and
only is the PM keen to get more qualified teachers into the profession, he has further education lecturers. The move will open up the possibility of lecturers
announced plans to use the downturn to make this happen. How? By offering running the government’s 14-19 diplomas and though it is unclear how much
routes into teaching for STEM professionals that the recession has made experience will be required to qualify, the TDA said it would be open to
redundant: “Because - for them, for our young people, and for the future of graduates working in schools.
Britain - we must seize this opportunity to bring new people with science and There seems to be a theme running throughout each of these initiatives,
maths qualifications into the teaching profession.” one in which Education and Industry work in closer partnership. Improving the
From September 2011 the new Diploma in science will be available in image of STEM professionals through the Ambassadors programme; bridging
schools and colleges - “offering a fantastic opportunity to get young people the gap between classroom achievement and the workplace by offering a
involved in doing science whilst working towards a high quality qualification Diploma; bringing in teachers that have worked in the field to provide
that is valued by both employers and higher education providers.” This specialist knowledge; and educating the next generation of teachers and
qualification will offer students an alternative route of study, blending professionals to build on the skills of those before them; the aim is to widen
classroom-based learning with work-related practical experience, which allows access to STEM careers for all young people, increasing their life chances and
students to keep their options open. strengthening Industry in the process.
March 2010 www.education-today.co.uk
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