August 16, 2013
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TEDX Women – Think Exchange Debate

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” The program is designed to give communities, organisations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

At TEDx events, a screening of TEDTalks videos — or a combination of live presenters and TEDTalks videos — sparks deep conversation and connections. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis.

TEDWomen 2013 will continue TED’s multi-year conversation about women’s work and lives, present and future. A powerful conversation was started at TEDWomen in 2010 and continued through the next two years as TEDxWomen in New York, LA and Washington, D.C. The spark: How are women and girls reshaping the future? From the developing world, where a small loan to a young woman can transform a village, to the West, where generations of educated women are transforming entire industries, women are change agents, inventors, idea champions.

The success stories of all women, regardless of age, are lauded and applauded. The success of Brittany Wenger is just one to read and view on line.

“With Science, the more you know the more you wonder.”(Brittany Wenger)

Links:

http:/tedxwomen.org/speakers/brittany-wenger

http://tedxwomen.org/

TEDxWomen on Facebook

@TEDxWomen on Twitter #TEDxWomen 

July 22, 2013
by I. Menzies
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Forth Replacement Crossing – education centre now available for bookings

The Forth Replacement Crossing Contact and Education Centre is now open and taking bookings for school groups to find out about the construction of the new bridge across the Firth of Forth – recently named ‘The Queensferry Crossing’.

Visit the Centre to find out more about the project, view the works and get involved in engineering and construction related activities.

The Centre can provide customised sessions related to school topic areas including maths, geography, science and technology and the visits can be linked to Curriculum for Excellence.

Did you know?

■ Multiple bookings can be made by each school for groups of 12 or more

■ Visits are tailored to your needs

■ School groups of all ages are welcomed

■ The centre provides amazing views of the bridges

The Centre provides a fantastic opportunity for people of all ages to view the works and find out more about the largest engineering project in Scotland in a generation.

To find out more and make a school booking:

– visit website : www.forthreplacementcrossing.info

– email : frcenquiries@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk

– phone: 0800 078 6910

May 27, 2013
by I. Menzies
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Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award for STEM 2013

Leaders Award for STEM and Scottish Engineering are challenging primary and secondary school learners in Scotland to consider what they would do if they were an engineer. Learners are being asked to research engineering and interview practicing engineers to illustrate and annotate their interpretation of the statement “If I could be an engineer in Scotland, what would I do?”

This award is a great opportunity to engage both primary and secondary school learners with real engineers who will convey the importance of STEM in their daily working lives. Schools will be able to develop relationships with industry, both local and worldwide, giving children and young people a unique perspective of the diversity of engineering professions and their significance in the wider world.

Register your school via the website and state that you are participating in the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award.

May 27, 2013
by I. Menzies
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Developing progression in science – Perth High School Local Management Group

Over a year and half ago the 16 schools in Perth High School Local Management Group (LMG) decided to work collaboratively to develop learning and teaching in science. The aim of their partnership working was to:

Support primary/secondary transition
Provide a progressive, cohesive science experience for all learners
Build staff partnerships and understanding across primary and secondary
Build staff confidence in teaching science
Promote science as being exciting and fun
Promote interdisciplinary learning
Support eco work and careers education.

In the first phase of development, six primary and two secondary practitioners worked together with Education Scotland’s Sciences Development Officer to produce three sets of rich tasks from Early to Second Level which focussed on the themes of energy and forces, biodiversity and materials. The positive response to these resources persuaded the LMG to invest further in the programme and led to a practitioner from each of the primary schools and secondary school being allocated time to work together to produce a comprehensive science programme comprising further rich tasks from Early to Second Level as well as a skills progression framework, a science glossary and teachers’ guide. The science programme that has been produced also incorporates a number of the learning journeys from STEM Central.

An LMG engagement event in March was used to roll out the suite of meaningful and useable support materials to all practitioners across the 16 schools. These materials will be used to support learning and teaching in sciences from the start of the next academic session. The LMG also report other positive benefits from the collaboration including the development of leadership capacity and growth in confidence amongst practitioners with regards to the sciences. The LMG will continue to network and share their practice between the schools involved and across their education authority. In the coming months they also hope to publish their resources for others to use. Watch this space for further details.

February 18, 2013
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Are you using STEM Central?

Increasingly, practitioners are sharing with us ways in which they are using the contexts, materials and learning journeys available through STEM Central. These include:

planning for learning and teaching with children and young people;

using the format as the basis for planning for progressions in sciences, and a framework for writing further journeys and contexts as part of cluster collaborations;

using the learning journeys as a model for planning in technologies;

using the learning journeys as the basis for professional dialogue to develop shared understanding of standards;

using the videos about careers in engineering to inspire learners.

However you are using STEM Central, we (and your colleagues!) would love to hear from you. Why not use this blog to share your thinking, ways in which you have used or adapted the contexts, or new ideas to improve the learning journeys?

Whether you are teaching sciences, technologies or mathematics, have an interest in engineering as a context for learning, or are involved in STEM through initiatives or clubs, don’t forget you can join our online STEM Professional Learning Community (Glow login required).

February 15, 2013
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Electric Car Charging Points Plan for Scotland

Something topical in last week’s news, if you’re working with the Electric Transport context from STEM Central. Charging points for electric cars are to be installed across Scotland’s road network, so that you will never be more than 50 miles from a charging point.

Will this be enough? Our previous post on motorists’ “range anxiety” may be of interest.

Will this help us progress to our low carbon future? Considering where our energy comes from is a theme for learning within the “Energy Security” advice, guidance and exemplification published last year.

Further learning journeys for electric transport, for early to second level, will be published later on in 2013.

February 13, 2013
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Planning for learning and teaching around the Commonwealth Games: The Maths of Medals @DundeeSciLearn

With last night’s session on cycling sciences and technologies fully booked, and primary and secondary practitioners working together with the Dundee Science Centre team, and School of Education at University of Dundee to share innovative practice, and challenge thinking on learning and teaching, I thought it might be worth blogging to say we’ve a few places remaining on next week’s one!

The Maths of Medals: Is it the winning or the taking part that counts? The maths behind sporting competition for second and third level

Wednesday 19 February 2014 1615 – 1830

Who topped the 2012 London Olympic Medal table? Can we predict which nation will perform the best in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow? How on earth is international trampolining, high board diving or equestrian scored?

Data, analysis and ideas of chance and uncertainty come together as we consider this engaging context for mathematics and its impact on the world, past, present and future.

Recommended for: Practitioners planning for learning and teaching at second and third level in mathematics

This event will be held at Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN. This event will be held at Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, DD1 4HN. A number of charitable trust funded places are available. If you are interested, please contact us on learning@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk. The session runs from 1630 – 1830 with arrival for registration and refreshments from 1615.

February 8, 2013
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Water Security, Food Security…and beans on toast?

STEM Central’s water context is being extended to incorporate learning journeys for early to second level, and we are currently in process of developing our new context for the broad general education “Food Security”. Can’t wait? Why not take a look at this Beans on Toast activitiy from The James Hutton Institute (www.hutton.ac.uk). Just how much water goes into making a simple meal like beans on toast?

As the world’s population continues to grow the issues of food, water and energy security are becoming more and more important. By examining the amount of water required to make the food we eat every day you can discover just how vital access to safe and secure water supplies is.

First of all the different components of the meal were weighed before being dried in an oven at 70^°C so their dried weight could be measured. This showed the water content of beans and toast to be 60%.

However the water content of the meal itself is just a small proportion of the water required to grow or produce all the different ingredients in the meal and the second part of the activity looks at the many different stages of the production process that need water.

Suggestions and further information on how to conduct your own beans on toast project can be found on the Living Field website http://livingfield.hutton.ac.uk/people/beansontoast . The original beans on toast project was funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW) www.crew.ac.uk and conducted by student Sarah Doherty, who was supported by artist Jean Duncan during her visits to schools.

February 8, 2013
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Comments Off on Hope Beyond Hype: a story of stem cells from discovery to therapy

Hope Beyond Hype: a story of stem cells from discovery to therapy

If you are looking for an introduction to stem cell science, research and issues for use with secondary age learners, or for your own learning, the Hope Beyond Hype graphic story may be of use. It can be viewed in a variety of formats, making it flexible and accessible, or can be ordered in print. The people who produced it, EuroStemCell, a group formed in March 2010 to unite more than 90 stem cell and regenerative medicine research facilities across Europe, are interested to hear from young people using the resource.

If you do make use of the resource, whether you are a young person or a practitioner, why not share your thoughts by commenting on this post?