FEATURE: SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIVE TEACHING PRACTICE
Delivering inspiring practical science lessons that prove science’s global value
surroundings. As science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) coordinator at Oaklands Catholic School, my aim is to provide students with fun and interactive opportunities to think and act like scientists in the classroom, so they can experience first-hand the vast possibilities of science. In our classroom, we have shown students how scientific theories can apply to everyday life, and linking these to their individual subject interests has particularly helped them to thrive with their learning.
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n our first look this month at innovative teaching practices, Jackie Hardaker, science
teacher and STEM coordinator at Oaklands Catholic School, shares how she helped her Year 12 Chemistry students engage with real-world science in the classroom through a hands-on, investigative project exploring the synthesis of aspirin, encouraging them to think like scientists and understand the wide-reaching benefits of STEM.
One of the most important things a science teacher can do is encourage students to be curious about the world around them and explore the real-life impact of science in their
Now is our chance to inspire the next generation of scientists Students are far more likely to question the way that science works whilst fostering a deeper understanding of STEM disciplines when teachers facilitate practical science lessons. In fact, research from the Gatsby Foundation has found that practical projects are key for motivating students, and this is especially the case for those who are not typically engaged with science. Sadly, for a long time, it hasn’t been possible to
deliver practical science lessons, as the pandemic has caused many schools to close. However, now schools have re-opened across the UK, we can offer our science students more opportunities to explore and be inspired by STEM. In fact, it may be the case that more students
than ever before will be inspired to apply what they learn in science lessons to real-world issues.
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As a recent study by Thales UK showed, one third of 2,000 children surveyed have been motivated to explore STEM careers after seeing the incredible impact of scientific innovation during COVID-19. As science teachers, it is our job to harness this inspiration and channel it into creating well-educated, ambitious and inquisitive science students.
Encourage student creativity To truly inspire students, teachers can facilitate a connection between science and their wider global interests. For example, we have been running the British Science Association’s CREST Awards scheme, which encourages students to devise and manage their own open-ended investigative practical projects. The CREST scheme has been a highly effective teaching tool since it covers the key learning objectives for the national science curriculum, ensuring that students are building key skills and competencies whilst still having the freedom to connect science with their interests and the wider world. For example, if you are teaching students about
renewable energy, you can encourage them to apply their knowledge on this topic by carrying out a CREST project on areas they are passionate about. Investigations that colleagues of mine have found useful include encouraging students who are interested in the environment to explore the use of wind turbines. This independent style of
September 2021
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