Teachers from throughout Dundee, Perth and Angus sampled the role of food in bringing science to life in Scottish classrooms
Dundee Science Centre’s Science Learning Institute (SLI) hosted a free Food and Science ‘Teach Meet’, focusing on food and drink and their role in teaching and learning. The event was aimed at practitioners in pre-school, primary and secondary settings and was attended by a range of practitioners, pre-service teachers and science communication providers.
The CPD session was the first in the SLI’s brand new programme of courses for the academic year 2013-2014.
Delegates discovered the resources available from a range of organisations to support learning and teaching in the context of food and drink, heard a selection of short presentations and explored a number of exhibitor stands.
Teachers also boarded the Healthier Scotland Cooking Bus which, throughout the week and in partnership with Education Scotland, is giving 80 local primary and early years teachers specialist hands-on training in teaching children how to cook. The massive articulated lorry transforms into a spectacular purpose-built kitchen classroom where teachers can cook a range of healthy age-adaptable recipes that showcase how to teach various cooking skills and techniques.
The event was delivered by Education Scotland, Scottish Food and Drink Federation, Dundee Science Centre and other partners.
Moira Stalker, Scottish Food and Drink Federation Schools Programme Coordinator said, “The food industry is an exciting place to work. It offers great career opportunities and there are so many exciting job opportunities in food, such as food science, product development, engineering, nutrition and design. Working with Dundee Science Centre, Education Scotland and others is a great way to get practitioners involved collaboratively and to help teachers better understand the links between science and careers in food and to encourage them to work with industry to use food as the context for delivering the curriculum.”
Suzanne Hargreaves, Senior Education Officer, Health and Wellbeing, Education Scotland said, “The TeachMeet has brought together a range of early to senior phase practitioners to share innovative approaches to learning and teaching linking food and science. These two curricular areas open many pathways for employability skills that will help learners to develop their understanding of skills making connections across Curriculum for Excellence and into the world of work. “
The Science Learning Institute at Dundee Science Centre supports the Curriculum for Excellence through professional learning for practitioners, promotes public engagement with science through science communication training, and supports core skills training in further education.
Linda Leuchars, Head of Science Learning and Public Engagement commented, “Following the success of last year’s Science Learning Institute programme, which facilitated professional development opportunities for over 1000 professionals, we are delighted to launch the programme for the 2013/2014 academic year. Tonight’s event provided an excellent example of the opportunities which the collaborative nature that underpins the Science Learning Institute can bring. We have been pleased to work with Education Scotland and the Scottish Food and Drinks Federation towards running this highly successful Food and Science TeachMeet. Clearly this is demand for such opportunities for teachers, as the event was fully booked within a matter of days.”
