Teachers

Teachers

How a text-only Chat helped a student with selective mutism communicate with adults

The text-based Chats on Iā€™m an Engineer and Iā€™m a Scientist can work particularly well for students for whom face-to-face communication is inaccessible. This was demonstrated when Daniel, a child with selective mutism, entered Vicky Heslopā€™s classroom.

In a recent article for Tes magazine, Vicky says that Daniel ā€œwould talk through his friends, who would ask questions on his behalfā€ but was unable to communicate with adults and teachers. Vicky, a teacher at Westbury Junior School in Wiltshire, explains that it was a ā€œhuge challenge for me to understand Danielā€™s inner world, his interests and passions.ā€ Continue reading →

Posted on July 18, 2022 by modjosie in Teachers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on How a text-only Chat helped a student with selective mutism communicate with adults

Removing barriers to communication for students with additional learning needs

Jo works at a large comprehensive school in South Wales in the Autism Spectrum Condition Unit. She explains, ā€œWe used Iā€™m a Scientist as a social skills lesson. Yes, thereā€™s interest in science, but really it was so they could talk to the scientists without any pre-judgement.ā€

The text-only format of Iā€™m a Scientist meant that the key focus was on the questions students were asking, and not on the students themselves. ā€œThe scientists didnā€™t know the students were on the spectrum, and the conversation flowed.ā€ Continue reading →

Posted on July 27, 2021 by modjosie in Teachers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Removing barriers to communication for students with additional learning needs

Taking the whole-school approach to Iā€™m a Scientist

ā€œMy colleagues were buzzing. They were watching conversations unfold, and seeing individual studentsā€™ interests that they hadnā€™t seen before. Itā€™s a great way to get to know students in a different light. ā€ ā€” Jon Hale, Head of Biology at Beaulieu Convent School

When PHSE plans were scuppered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jon Hale chose to bring I’m a Scientist to an entire school… at the same time. Continue reading →

Posted on July 15, 2021 by modjosie in Teachers | Tagged , | Comments Off on Taking the whole-school approach to Iā€™m a Scientist

Extending the I’m a Scientist experience

Photo of Catherine Dixon, teacherā€œ’Raising questionsā€™ appears in the National Curriculum Programmes of Study from KS1, and involving the whole school in Iā€™m a Scientist gave a much wider scope for all children to ask questions and share informationā€¦ it was a chance to encourage enquiry and curiosity throughout the school.ā€ ā€” Catherine Dixon, teacher

Catherine is a teacher at Hodthorpe Primary School in Derbyshire: a small school with just four classes from Nursery to Year 6. ā€œWe pride ourselves on our holistic approach to education and our family atmosphere, everybody knowing each other and sharing experiences,ā€ says Catherine.

Catherine applied to take part in Iā€™m a Scientist with one class of students, but then realised it was a great opportunity to get the whole school discussing STEM subjects and careers. ā€œWe started with a whole school assembly, where we informed the children about the activity and shared the scientistsā€™ profiles and pictures. We discussed their work and explained how the scientists would use the prize money for research projects. The stereotypical image of a scientist as a middle-aged man in a lab coat with wild hair was quickly dispelled!ā€ Continue reading →

Posted on July 30, 2019 by modemily in Teachers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Extending the I’m a Scientist experience

Showing students the ā€˜bigger pictureā€™ at A Level

ā€œIā€™m a Scientist encourages independent thought and shows students the practical applications of their studies. Connecting with real psychologists also helps them decide what theyā€™ll do next year and into the future.ā€ ā€“ Lesley, Head of Psychology at Bay House School

 

Bay House School is a large comprehensive school with mixed attainment. In June 2018, sixth form Psychology students from the school took part in the Society Zone. Head of Psychology Lesley tells us how the activity supported her studentsā€™ progression and taught them the real-life applications of their subject.

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Posted on July 16, 2018 by admin in Teachers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Showing students the ā€˜bigger pictureā€™ at A Level

Showing students the relevance of their learning

ā€œDoing something engaging like this creates a more well-rounded education and my students have now seen real-life applications of curriculum content.ā€ ā€” Lucy, Maths Teacher at Cornelius Vermuyden School, Canvey Island
 
 

Only a small proportion of students at Cornelius Vermuyden School aspire to go to university or move out of the local area, and many donā€™t see the point in what they study in school. Lucy tells us how their involvement in Iā€™m an Engineer helped them see the importance of maths and broaden their horizons.

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Posted on July 13, 2018 by admin in School, Teachers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Showing students the relevance of their learning

Changing attitudes across a whole year group

ā€œOrganising the event for the whole of year 8 meant that everyone could enjoy the benefitsā€ – Polly, Science teacher at Willows High School, Cardiff

Willows High School, a mixed comprehensive school in a challenging quarter of Cardiff, took part in the Iā€™m a Scientist activity in March 2018 with two classes. The school participated again in June 2018, this time with a whole year group. Polly tells us how having an entire year involved helped increase aspirations across the school and showed students that doing well in school has a far-reaching impact.

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Posted on July 12, 2018 by admin in School, Teachers | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Changing attitudes across a whole year group

Engaging disengaged students with I’m a Scientist

Some students donā€™t like science lessons. Maybe they donā€™t see the point, maybe they donā€™t think theyā€™re good at science, maybe they used to love science but have been put off by the stress and pressure of exams. Whatever the reason these students donā€™t engage, here are 3 ways Iā€™m a Scientist can help.

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Posted on May 25, 2018 by in School, Science Engagement, Teachers | Tagged , | Comments Off on Engaging disengaged students with I’m a Scientist

Increasing studentsā€™ confidence with Iā€™m a Scientist

ā€œMany of our students lack confidence in their academic ability so they were buzzing when they realised they can hold their own in a conversation with intelligent, educated people and this helped them realise they are all scientists too!ā€ – Julia Anderson, FE College Biology Lecturer

This general further education college is split across 3 sites in a large, post-industrial, non-university town. Students at the college took part in the Iā€™m a Scientist Immune System and Genes Zones in March 2018. Julia tells us how meaningful engagement with the scientists increased her students’ confidence. Continue reading →

Posted on May 14, 2018 by admin in Evaluation, School, Teachers, Widening Participation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Increasing studentsā€™ confidence with Iā€™m a Scientist

Using Iā€™m a Scientist to increase participation in higher education

ā€œTraditionally, not many of our students go on to university. Iā€™m a Scientist helps by allowing students to relate to scientists and helping them see the value of studying at a higher level.ā€

– Mark McNally, Science Teacher

A mixed 2-19 academy, where over two thirds of the school population are students from disadvantaged backgrounds, took part in I’m a Scientist in March 2018. Mark tells us how the activity helped interest his students in science careers and consider higher education.

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Posted on May 2, 2018 by admin in Evaluation, science_capital, Teachers, Widening Participation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Using Iā€™m a Scientist to increase participation in higher education

Providing STEM opportunities for distant schools

Baltasound_Junior_High_School_in_the_snow_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1725784ā€œAs we are a remote rural community we do not have a huge variety of careers on our doorstep but these events help to bring them closer to pupils. More students should be getting these funded opportunities across the UK.ā€

– Emily Tulloch, Science teacher on the island of Unst.

The most northerly school in the UK is located in one of our most distant areas in the Shetland Isles. Emily tells us how Iā€™m a Scientist allowed her remote students to explore a range of STEM careers and increased motivation to learn science. Continue reading →

Posted on April 6, 2018 by admin in Evaluation, science_capital, Teachers, Widening Participation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Providing STEM opportunities for distant schools

Broadening horizons for students in a deprived area

ā€œIt was a really easy project to engage with for both children and teachers; it only took me about 30 minutes to prepare for all 3 lessons. I was pleasantly surprised with just how excited students were to get responses from serious adults about their work and the adultsā€™ interests.ā€ – Vicky Heslop, Year 6 teacher

A junior school that meets our widening participation criteria took part in the Climate Zone of Iā€™m a Scientist for the first time in March 2018 with their three Year 6 classes. The activity broadened student aspirations, improved enquiry skills and challenged their perceptions of scientists.

Continue reading →

Posted on March 27, 2018 by admin in Evaluation, Teachers, Widening Participation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Broadening horizons for students in a deprived area

How does Iā€™m a Scientist change studentsā€™ perceptions of science?

We’ve just runĀ I’mĀ a ScientistĀ in Ireland and are curious to know how our event actually affects studentsā€™ attitudes towards science. In order to do this, we included a short and compulsory pre-event survey in the formĀ students used to register. We then asked students to fill in the exact same survey on their profile page after the event. When we matched the data from the two surveys, 92 students (7% of 1,247 students that participated inĀ I’mĀ a Scientist) had filled in both surveys. Importantly, data from the total number of students that filled in the pre-event survey very closely correlates with the pre-event data of this 92 student sample. We were very happy to find out that studentsā€™ interest in science and science related careers is clearly increased after taking part in I’mĀ a Scientist. ThisĀ is what we have learnt: The amount of students that say they love science doubled after taking part in … Continue reading →

Posted on December 19, 2013 by modangela in Evaluation, Event News, IAS Event, Science Education, Science Engagement, Teachers | Tagged , | Comments Off on How does Iā€™m a Scientist change studentsā€™ perceptions of science?

What criteria do students judge scientists on?

Weā€™re always evaluating the online STEM enrichment activity,Ā Iā€™m a Scientist,Ā to explore its impact and how it can be improved.Ā Check out latest evaluation posts. When students take part inĀ I’m a ScientistĀ they get to vote for their favourite scientist to win Ā£500 to spend on communicating more science. It gives them ownership of the project and they decide who gets, in effect, a small grant for public engagement. But what are students’ votes based on? This is howĀ 855 students (or groups of students) have ranked certain criteria fromĀ most to least important when considering how to vote for scientists, between January 2012 and November 2013. The results come from a Drag & Drop ranking activity in the first lesson plan “You’re the Judges” that teachers run to introduce their students toĀ I’m a Scientist. The top ranked criteria are all linked to health or the scientific method. This is reflected in the number of … Continue reading →

Posted on November 8, 2013 by admin in Evaluation, IAS Event, Teachers | Tagged | Comments Off on What criteria do students judge scientists on?

Mugs gone out to teachers

Just to let you all know that now that schools are back, we’ve posted out I’m a Scientist mugs to all the teachers who took part in the pilot event. They are just a little thank you for your support and the effort you put in to make the event a success. We really couldn’t have done it without you. Hope you like them! Feel free to liven up the blog by sending us photos of yourselves with your mugs:-) Here in the office we’re busy getting ready for ‘I’m a Councillor, Get me out of Here!’, which will be in October, for Local Democracy Week. I’m a Councillor is the event I’m a Scientist is based on, and we’ve been running it for five years now. If any of you know Citizenship or Politics teachers who might be interested in the event, then point them in the direction of … Continue reading →

Posted on September 1, 2008 by admin in Teachers | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mugs gone out to teachers

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