Will.i.am has partnered with inventor Dean Kamen and his FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) after school program to encourage and celebrate the engineering and technology prowess of learners. Science and technology have great potential to improve lives around the world. In a recent study, 15-year-olds in the U.S. ranked 26th out of 35 countries in math and science scores. Our aim is to improve that statistic through our support of STEM programs – science, technology, engineering and math, to motivate the next generation of innovators. Click here to visit the website and find out more.
The Ready for Emergencies? Glow meet on Friday 15th June featuring Stewart Borthwick (Strathclyde Emergency Coordination Group), Sally Dempsey (Red Cross) and Paul Hendy (Director of the Scottish Flood Forum) was interesting and thought provoking. It provides an ideal starter for looking ahead to our forthcoming STEM Central context on Rescue Vehicles.
How do we rescue people in the event of major emergencies such as floods? This time last week up to 150 people were rescued from flooding in Wales, some of them by RNLI lifeboats and by rescue helicopter. In our STEM Central Rescue Vehicles context, aimed at second level, we will explore the science of lifeboats and rescue vehicles. The full Ready for Emergencies? resource is available on the Education Scotland website.
Exercise 'Flipper', Carbisdale Castle, Sutherland, Scotland. British Red Cross Emergency Response Training Exercise. Credit Derek Gordon, British Red Cross
By the time the new school year starts in August, you’ll find our newest STEM Central context “Sound” available!
Helping practitioners to understanding learning around the science of sound as it progresses through early to fourth level, these learning journeys incorporate sciences and technologies, with everything from listening walks to the X-factor! So if you’re looking for materials to inspire you, or help you to understand the levels and progression within the broad general education (BGE) check back here, or on the STEM Central website for publication info.
Don’t forget that the Glow Science videos and fantastic mind map tool can provide inspiration and CPD.
Exploring our most recent STEM Central context on Bioengineering which includes a learning journey on Brain Computer Interfacing? In this 2011 TED talk, Todd Kuiken talks about advances in a prosthetic arm that “feels”.
Does brain computer interfacing raise the possibility of a prosthetic which allows communication for those with motor neurone disease, or stroke sufferers?
We’ve been keeping you up to date with this inquiry based science project since last December and we are delighted to confirm that you can find out more by joining us at session N1A at SLF 2012, presented by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor.
This workshop (30 max) is an opportunity for hands-on exploration of the investigative work associated with the Forensic Rookies project, and to explore the use of GLOW and/or web 2.0 technologies to support meaningful partnership between primary and secondary learners. Based around the theme of forensic science, this project incorporates cutting edge research from the University of Dundee’s Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and the University of Northumbria.
The workshop will share the findings of a recent project involving 3 pairs of primary & secondary schools from several different local authorities, and the sustained impact in those local authorities where this project is being rolled out further. Learners and practitioners views and feedback will be shared. This project was supported by funding from AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust and led by Professor Susan Rodrigues and Neil Taylor as part of the suite of ‘Partnerships in Primary Science’ (PIPS) CPD projects.
The workshop will include an opportunity for delegates to have hands on experience of the six investigative tasks, using the kit provided to schools, funded by AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust. There have been a series of videos made using learners and practitioners which will be used within the session, and these will also be available via YouTube after the session for delegates to follow up.
At the end of May, and last December, we blogged about an exciting project “Forensic Rookies” involving primary and secondary schools in West Lothian, Shetland and Perth & Kinross. Collaboration via Glow Wikis and culminating in a Glow meeting in February was the key to success for the learners, in this ASZTT funded project.
Each of the authorities is taking the “Forensic Rookies” project forward with a variety of approaches being used to meet the needs of the learners within each setting.
A series vodcasts with feedback and reflections from learners and practitioners is available on YouTube’s ScienceEdResearch channel. These vodcasts are rich in reflection on why schools got involved and benefits to learners. I had the opportunity yesterday to review some of the learners discussions via Glow and was hugely impressed with learners collaboration and thinking.
An issue discussed when we were working with practitioners recently was around how to meet the needs of a range of learners within an S1 science class, with a range experiences. These vodcasts, discussing an inquiry based approach to learning used with learners in multi-composite classes could provide useful CPD around this.
Thinking about sustainable transport as a context for learning? Along with the world’s fastest electric motorcycle, what about freight ships towed by massive kites to reduce fuel demand? Scope for creative design and practical investigative work with learners in sciences and technologies? The Glow Science Eco-Transport video could provide a useful starter for this learning.
Join us again this year for a fantastic opportunity to explore space travel and meet three NASA guests all in one day. Find out about what they’ve done, ask your own questions, take part in space quizzes and use this unique opportunity to enter the world of space exploration.
The University of Strathclyde’s Scottish Space School runs from 10-15 June for learners in S5. Find out more at the Scottish Space School web page.
The Scottish Space School will also be hosting its annual public lecture on Wednesday 13th June 2012 from 18:30 to 20:00, when the guest speakers will include two astronauts with six space missions between them, and a lead engineer on spacesuit design. If you would like to attend this event please apply for an e-ticket by clicking on to the link: E-ticket application
Did you know Scotland is active in space research? STEM Central’s Exploring Engineering is aimed at learners and practitioners for CPD and includes interviews with Scottish and global engineers, working in Scotland, round the world, and beyond!
June 11, 2012
by User deactivated Comments Off on Taking forward sciences in North Ayrshire
Education Scotland were in North Ayrshire last week, working with practitioners. Over a series of five sessions, we had the chance to meet with, and hear from, practitioners from every school in the local authority, looking at building capacity, professional dialogue and self-evaluation. A cluster based approach was used, as part of North Ayrshire’s Science recently published strategy. Practitioners engaged in discussion, and reported that they valued the chance to share with colleagues to better understanding the full picture of the broad general education. Examples of practice shared included primary 2/3 learners exploring series circuits, and primary 4/5 learners working on rocket design and investigating launch height and angle and the maximum vertical height and range. We’re hoping that practitioners will be willing to share their STEM stories on this blog!
June 11, 2012
by User deactivated Comments Off on Olympic Bioengineering
The Bioengineering learning journeys are focused on third and fourth level, but the ideas and interactives could be translated for work across first and second level. Exploring prosthetic design could incorporate Glow Science videos such as The Movement of Joints, or perhaps the learners might be interested in finding out what we know about Ancient Olympians from the discovery of a 2000 year old skeleton?
Will.i.am has partnered with inventor Dean Kamen and his FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) after school program to encourage and celebrate the engineering and technology prowess of learners. Science and technology have great potential to improve lives around the world. In a recent study, 15-year-olds in the U.S. ranked 26th out of 35 countries in math and science scores. Our aim is to improve that statistic through our support of STEM programs – science, technology, engineering and math, to motivate the next generation of innovators. Click here to visit the website and find out more.
