Outdoor Science Working Group Seminars
Getting Practical is supporting the Outdoor Science work of the ASE and it's Outdoor Science Working Group. This group is working as part of the Real World Learning Partnership. The Partnership was founded in 2003 to influence decision makers, support teachers and increase participation in out-of-classroom learning. members include the Field Studies Council, RSPB, Royal Geographical Society, Geographical Association and the National Trust.
Initial teacher education seminar - 30th March 2010, University of Birmingham
A group of around 30 science education specialists including teachers and initial teacher training tutors attended the seminar with a focus on supporting the training of teachers and those early on in their career.
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Speakers from a variety of organisations shared their thoughts on specific aspects of Outdoor Science throughout the day. Those presenting included:
Jenny Lewis (University of Leeds) - The 'Out Of Classroom' experience of Science: Biology trainees at Leeds See the presentation slides
Indira Banner (Bradford LA) - School expectations of NQT science teachers with respect to out of classroom activity in science
John Booth (Birmingham LA - Science Advisor) - Expectations of NQT science teachers with respect to out of classroom activity in science.
Melissa Glakin (King's College London) - Science beyond the classroom
Peter Burrows - Chemistry out of the classroom
Chris King (Keele University) - An earth science perspective
A range of questions were addressed during the seminar tackling topics such as:
1. What knowledge, pedagogy and skills does a teacher need when training and early on in their career to support the practice of out of classroom science?
2. How do we identify and build on existing good practice in terms of learning
science outside the classroom?
3. What changes in curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, training and supporting
resources are needed to enable teachers of STEM subjects to work together
beyond the classroom?
4. What can we learn from research, in the UK and elsewhere, about effective
teaching beyond the classroom and how can we implement transferable solutions
into mainstream STEM education?
A range of resources were also discussed at the seminar:
From King's College London and the FSC and AZSTT:
Border Crossings Project
Project background and website resources are available
From the FSC:
London Outdoor Science
From the FSC:
Schools in the Park
