Archive
March 25, 2010 - 2:10 pm
Bloodhound SSC is a unique engineering adventure.
The mission: to build a car capable of travelling at over 1000mph and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Science made simple are taking the project on the road, in this brand new interactive science show.
What are the challenges in building a vehicle that travels faster then a speeding bullet? See rocket tests, the effect of drag and the fastest mathematician on earth.
Audience: The show is suitable for years 5-8.
Duration: 45-50 minutes
We will need the venue to provide:
• Drinking water for the presenter
• Access to power sockets
• Screen to project onto
• Two long tables
• Room that can be darkened
As part of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car project, Science Made Simple are running an interactive science show in schools for Years 5 to 8. They are described on the flier attached.
Due to a significant amount of funding, these are being offered at £75/day at 3 sessions/day, hosted at a secondary school with a clause that at least one of the 3 sessions is available to primary feeder schools NOTE: These shows would normally be charged to a school at £575/day.
Each show can take up to 200 students but numbers depend on the venue used at the school.
Interested schools should contact:
James Piercy
Science Made Simple Ltd
Tel 07709968590
Bookings tel 02920 876 884
james@sciencemadesimple.co.uk
www.sciencemadesimple.co.uk
March 17, 2010 - 1:29 pm
Teacher Internships Summer 2010 with the Royal Meteorological Society
At the beginning of 2009 the Society launched their Teaching Fellow Scheme. For 2010 this has been renamed as the Teaching Internship scheme and the invitation for applications is now open.
The Royal Meteorological Society is looking to appoint 2 Teacher Fellows to work with the Society in the summer of 2010 to develop teaching resources in weather and climate and to enhance the provision of material on their new educational website www.metlink.org
The key tasks of the Fellows over the summer period would be to:
- Identify which of the ideas (from the list attached) best suits their interests and produce resources which are linked to this area of the curriculum specifically. These resources are usually teaching notes and explanations with at least two lessons worth of material. It is envisaged 4 days would be needed to produce these resources.
- Spend a day with a relevant subject specialist, identified by the Society to enhance the production of these materials
Fellows will be awarded £500, 6 months membership of the Society + expenses. All materials developed will be made freely available via the Royal Meteorological Society educational website MetLink www.metlink.org
If you are an interested teacher with at least one year’s classroom experience you should send their application to Rachael Fordham at education@rmets.org by the end of April 2010. This should include:
- a chosen topic area, with clear curriculum links, that they would like to focus on, demonstrating awareness of what resources already exist in the area (if any)
- a brief CV including details of qualifications, experience and current position
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact Rachael Fordham directly at education@rmets.org or by telephone 0118 956 8500.
- 1:22 pm
Special Industry Awards Launched for the Primary Secondary and Advanced Leaders Award for STEM
Primary Engineer is pleased to announce the launch of their new ‘Special Leaders Award’ categories sponsored by key industry organisations. These special STEM awards are designed to actively encourage 5 – 19 year olds to learn more about specific science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers in the wider world. This ‘grass roots’ approach to motivating learners is helping to build students knowledge and confidence around individual subject areas. Pupils become active learners by interviewing professionals who work directly in these industries and continue to support their schools by becoming ‘Leaders for STEM’ to vigorously involve other pupils. Pupils who apply for these Special STEM Leaders Awards also have the opportunity to win a range of unique prizes and industry experiences.
The organizations supporting these special category awards are – The Royal Aeronautical Society, BLOODHOUND SCC, The Institute of Chemical Engineers, Women in Science Engineering and Construction and The Institute of Mechanical Engineers. These notable industry bodies are actively encouraging young learners to become more knowledgeable about specific subjects and how they can lead to interesting and rewarding careers. www.leadersaward.com
These awards are in addition to the original Primary and Secondary Leaders Award. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Susan Scurlock, National Director of Primary Engineer, directly at susan.scurlock@primaryengineer.com (or telephone Susan on 01254 720650 or 07725 269144).
- 9:10 am
What’s on offer
Go4SET offers an excellent opportunity for Key stage 3 students (Year 8/9) to get involved with a real hand’s on STEM related project. By linking a team of 6 students, a teacher, and an engineer from a local organisation, their aim is to raise young people’s awareness, providing them with an insight into the world of Science, Engineering and Technology, as well as providing the ideal opportunity to develop industry links between local companies and your school. The scheme encompasses a Launch Day, to be held on Monday 19th April at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle, which is followed 10 weeks later by a Celebration and Assessment Day, venue tbc, where the students verbally and visually present their project. The projects can be accredited through the British Association CREST awards at the Silver level and have a competition format, and the work contributes towards CPD training for teachers, as recognised by The College of Teachers.
The scheme costs £200 + vat for each team of 6 pupils (£33 per pupil) but any additional team in a school is £100 (£17 per pupil). There is also a cost to the sponsor company so if funding is available to offset this charge through subsidiaries such as Aim Higher or After School Science and Engineering Clubs, or indeed existing links within industry already exist, please let us know. Linking the school and company is a difficult task and is done on a first come first served basis so any help you can give us towards this process makes scheme run smoother.
The next step: Registration is now available for a Spring 2010 start. The next step is to send a registration email, which enables you to resister for the scheme online with minimal fuss. The email will contain your personal code on our systems as well as the code for the school, both of which need to be entered when you link through to the on-line registration process.
If you have any queries about anything above, contact Mark Wood the Head of Education Liaison at EDT (details below)
Mark Wood
T: 0161 278 2496
F: 0161 278 2499
E: m.wood@yini.org.uk
March 15, 2010 - 3:55 pm
Carbon Mixer For Schools
The Carbon Mixer for Schools is a free educational package for North East schools, supported by the local regional development agency One North East (ONE) and the Association of North East Councils (ANEC). The software has been developed by BG&A, Northumbria University’s Centre for Design Research and Narec (New and Renewable Energy Centre).
Teachers from Seaton Burn College have worked closely with the project, to ensure it fits correctly into the curriculum. The software is aimed at Year 9-10 / Key Stage 3-4 pupils with particular relevance to the science and maths curriculum, and incorporates task differentiation for students of all ability levels. The software comes with full lesson plans
The software draws from the existing Carbon Mixer commercial tool used by architects, developers and planners to create a simulated workplace experience for students, who are invited to take on the role of ‘Carbon Consultant’ to a range of demanding clients. As students experiment with renewable and fossil-fuel energy sources to find the perfect balance between energy demand, output, payback and carbon emissions, their clients challenge their choices and provide ongoing feedback via a simulated chat engine.
A roll out of the software will begin with a launch event this March, and several training sessions for teachers from throughout the region.
Information about the Carbon Mixer will be available on the Explore Renewables website (www.explorerenewables.co.uk) from late March onwards. If you require any further information please contact Tom Bradley at Narec on 01670 357 685.
March 4, 2010 - 4:02 pm
All awards are FREE and open to three groups of pupils: Primary (5-11), Secondary (11-16) and Advanced (17-19)
Students become Leaders for STEM in the school or college working with others to support and develop skills in others. To begin the award they are required to forward a formal application for the post of Leader for STEM.
Students can identify careers or occupations they wish to know about and interview people working in that field. They will gather a greater understanding of careers and career paths asking questions relevant to them.
Students can be encouraged to contact professionals directly, arranging the interviews and feedback. Students should research and conduct the interview. A written version is required at all levels above the age of 9 (younger pupils can provide a pod cast or video interview instead of a written version).
Older students may also create a video or pod cast but these must be accompanied by a written version of the interview. Students will recognise this is an excellent way to meet people in fields they are interested in using the experience in interviews and other application process when talking about themselves. Certificates are awarded separately for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at all levels.
For Schools there are opportunities to:
- Engage with VIPs, local industry, parents and past pupils.
- Engage with the STEM Ambassadors programme
- Visiting VIPs to schools can be interviewed
- Interviews can be circulated to local/ national press and also supporting industry
- Students become Leaders for STEM in the school helping others with STEM activities
Special awards are offered throughout the year. Each award has a particular focus, prizes and deadline!
For more information visit www.leadersaward.com
