VIEWS
BRITISH EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIERS ASSOCIATION (BESA)
Using broken toys in the
classroom to teach science Comment by MEGAN HALE, Co-Founder and CEO at BESA member Team Repair
As a child, I loved taking apart broken objects, curious to understand how they worked, and if I could fix them. This was my gateway to learning science. When I dismantled a device, I was asking real-world questions. How does this circuit create this output? Why does this mechanism move in that way? These hands-on experiences made science feel tangible. It was this early experience in repair that eventually led me to become an engineer.
This approach - learning by doing and engaging with real-world applications - stuck with me throughout my education. It was one thing to read theories in textbooks, but another to see how they worked in practice, solving real-world problems. Hands-on learning was far more engaging and meaningful than theoretical study alone. By the time I reached my final year of university, I realised that my co- founders and I all shared this common thread - a passion for repairing and understanding how things worked. We noticed that many of our fellow engineers also grew up learning by taking things apart and fixing them. We saw the same spark in ourselves that today’s students need, especially in light of the current STEM skills shortage. Addressing the STEM skills shortage
The UK is currently facing a major shortage of STEM skills, which is estimated to cost businesses £1.5 billion annually. But the good news is that this shortage represents an incredible opportunity for today’s students. The job market is hungry for talented engineers, scientists, and technicians, but we need to inspire more young people to pursue these fields.
One of the best ways to do this is by changing how we teach STEM subjects. Too often, students encounter STEM in ways that feel abstract or disconnected from the real world. But by incorporating repair activities and real products into the classroom, we can bring science, technology, and engineering to life in ways that textbooks alone can’t. Why repair-based learning works
Repair-based learning taps into students’ natural curiosity about how things work. When students dismantle a broken device or try to repair it, they engage directly with the core principles of engineering and science. They develop problem-solving skills, learn about the materials and mechanisms that make up everyday objects, and gain the confidence to tackle challenges.
Here’s what we’ve learned from our own experience. In 2022, we founded Team Repair to share the joy of repair with children, showing them how fun and rewarding science and engineering can be. Since then, we’ve reached over 5,500 children in 73 schools. We’ve also partnered with corporate sponsors and councils to make our programme available for free to certain schools, ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to this valuable learning experience.
The results have been overwhelmingly positive. In our surveys, 54% of students said they felt more confident in their ability to repair something after participating in our programme, and 26% reported that they were more likely to pursue a career in STEM. One of our favourite quotes from a participant was, “I feel like a real engineer.” How to get started in your classroom
We believe every child should have the opportunity to experience repair- based learning, which is why we’ve created free resources for teachers to use in their classrooms. Our Product Teardown Activity is designed to help you bring real science into your classroom.
Teaching repair in the classroom is more than just a fun activity; it empowers students with real-world skills, boosts their confidence, and ignites their interest in STEM. You can see more about our programme at
www.team.repair
November 2024 BBC TEACH Primary schools, ready?
Gladiators, ready? This month, CERYS GRIFFITHS, Creative Director at BBC Education, challenges school children across the UK to channel their inner Gladiator and design the ultimate fitness gadget. She also dips into the BBC Teach archive to reveal her favourite history resource. And shhh… there’s a Live Lesson taking place at the end of term that you won’t want to miss.
Primary schools, are you ready? We’ve teamed up with the Gladiators and the Micro:bit Educational Foundation for an exciting new challenge for children aged 7 to 11 years old. Schools across the UK are invited to participate in a design competition to create a fitness gadget that will help Gladiators, Phantom and Dynamite, to enhance their performance. The competition focuses on creativity in design and is the perfect
opportunity for classes to unpack their BBC micro:bits - no programming experience is required. We’re inviting you to get your class to work together to create an imaginative gadget. I can’t wait to see how children will use the pocket-sized BBC micro:bit computer to help the Gladiators. Design plays a crucial role in creating effective technology. Every
innovation starts with solving a problem, whether it’s helping us stay active by tracking our steps or monitoring blood sugar levels for someone with diabetes. While we often associate these solutions with technology, it all begins with understanding the problem and designing the right tool for the job.
The BBC micro:bit is a powerful tool for helping children to learn to code
and develop programmes for various tasks. However, programming doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s important that children grasp the connection between programming and design. Without thoughtful design, code is just a collection of instructions without purpose. To help, BBC Teach is offering free and easy to use lesson plans to bring
creative design into the classroom and help to engage children with the competition. There’s also a Live Lesson to watch online which features Phantom and Dynamite competing head-to-head in a design and technology lesson (I won’t tell you who wins!). The programme features a series of curriculum-linked design and technology activities for children to try. There are also free activity sheets and a teaching guide that you can download on the BBC Teach website. It’s a great way to introduce your class to the competition. The winning school will receive a visit by a Gladiator (eek!), a coding
session with our micro:bit coding expert and a £500 voucher for computer equipment. That’s not all. Their design will be turned into a prototype gadget. And three runners up will receive a £500 voucher for computer equipment and a Micro:bit coding session. Each school can submit a maximum of three entries and the competition closes at midday on Friday 6 December 2024. Head over to the BBC Teach website for more information. Good luck! If, like me, you enjoy stepping back in time, then may I suggest BBC
Teach’s collection of classroom videos about significant individuals from history. The videos profile the lives of those who have contributed to national and international achievements such as Malorie Blackman, Katherine Johnson and Wangari Maathai. Looking ahead to the end of term, we have a wonderful art and literacy
lesson which delves into Quentin Blake’s magical Box of Treasures. Aimed at 7 to11-year-olds, it challenges children’s comprehension skills, explores the hidden meanings that illustration reveals about book characters and introduces some simple drawing methods. By the end of the lesson, your class will have created their very own Zagazoo character inspired by the iconic work of Quentin Blake.
For more information visit
https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach www.education-today.co.uk 25
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