Education Scotland is inviting applications from secondary physics teachers for a two-week placement at CERN in November 2012.
The placement has been arranged in collaboration with education and scientific staff at CERN, and is funded by the Scottish Government.
We are seeking two teachers who will work together to develop material and approaches to support the teaching of physics in the sciences curriculum area.
CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, produces a variety of educational resources and it is intended that the new resources will add to and complement the range of existing assets available to teachers. We have a particular interest in resources and learning opportunities which focus on enquiry-based learning or make use of emerging technologies.
This placement opportunity will assist implementation of Curriculum for Excellence and support practitioners in the delivery of the new Higher Physics course.
CERN is well known for its research in particle physics, for the development of the Large Hadron Collider, and research into the Higgs Boson particle. Based in Geneva, CERN runs a well-established teacher programme to stimulate science educators with new material based on cutting-edge research.
It is expected that the placement will include two weeks at CERN, starting with travel to Geneva on a Monday and running for nine working days, with return to Scotland on the Friday evening at the end of the second week. The exact dates are 11 to 23 November. Participants will have the weekend between workdays free for personal time
Funding will cover:
- Return flights from Scotland to Geneva, airport to hostel transfers, and overnight accommodation in the CERN hostel on a bed and breakfast basis.
- A subsistence allowance for meals each day.
- Classroom cover for the days away from school.
- Travel to and from home to the Scottish departure airport.
This opportunity is targeted at current practitioner teachers of physics in Scottish secondary schools.
Expected outcomes
Participants will have an opportunity to:
- explore learning and teaching approaches to physics in school education
- develop resources which are enquiry-based in their approach
- plan opportunities for use of videoconferencing (e.g. Glow Meets) and other forms of ICT to enhance the teaching of particle physics and develop awareness of the work of CERN and its research in Scottish schools.
Upon returning from the study visit, participants will be expected to disseminate information about the new resources and approaches within their own establishment and more widely in the sector.
Applicants may wish to use the experience towards professional recognition by GTCS.
Applications are invited from suitably qualified members of Scottish school or authority staff, who should complete the CERN application form below.
The closing date for applications is Monday 1st October. Interviews will be held in October.
Any further queries, please contact nick.morgan@educationscotland.gov.uk
