Archive

CREST assessment training

CREST is a UCAS-endorsed and easy-to-run STEM enrichment scheme. It allows 11-19yr olds to link their personal passions with curriculum-based learning through creative projects. CREST is run by the British Science Association, accredits over 20 other national schemes and offers tangible benefits to both students and teachers. UCAS endorses the inclusion of CREST Awards in students’ personal statements. Find out more at: www.britishscienceassociation.org/crest

STEM Outreach organises a CREST assessment training for volunteers who would like to judge CREST projects in the future. New as well as more experienced individuals are more than welcome to attend the session. We will learn how to assess Bronze, Silver and Gold CREST projects and how to talk to students about their findings. The training will be delivered by Colin Wilkinson. Details of the training session are below:

Date: Wednesday 31st August 2011
Time: 5-7pm
Venue: 616 Parsons Building, Newcastle College, Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SA

All welcome!

STEM Ambassadors training

Did you know that we have over 20,000 STEM Ambassadors in the UK???

STEM Ambassadors programme is a UK-wide scheme for STEM professionals and people with interest in STEM. Volunteers are CRB checked, inducted and insured and they deliver minimum 1 STEM-related activity in schools every 12 months. STEM Ambassadors represent small and large companies, universities and other organisations. Interested in becoming a STEM Ambassador?

If yes, you will need to follow the 3 steps listed below:

1. register on the STEMNET website: https://db.stemnet.org.uk/register.cfm

2. complete online CRB application

3. attend induction session and ID check

Details of the next induction for our new STEM Ambassadors from Tyne & Wear and Northumberland are below:
Date: Wednesday 31st August 2011
Time: 3-5pm
Venue: 615 Parsons Building, Newcastle College, Scotswood Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SA

To register your interest please contact STEM Outreach office via email ambassadors@ncl-coll.ac.uk or call: 0191 200 4453.

All welcome!

Grants for schools! Offered by Education Endowment Foundation

Education Endowment Foundation grants – open for applications

The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to raising the educational attainment of disadvantaged pupils in Primary and Secondary schools in England, and is funded by a £125m grant from the Department for Education. The EEF’s vision is to break the link between family background and educational achievement, ensuring that pupils from all backgrounds have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and make the most of their talents.

Grants start from £50,000 and should reach at least 100 students, in one or multiple schools. The support offered by the EEF will depend on assessment of the needs of the host organisation and the scale and nature of the project. As well as a financial grant, an organisation might also be offered capacity-building support and other advice and expertise – for example, around targeting or scale-up.

Deadlines for applications are:
- 03 October 2011
- 2 December 2011
- 30 March 2012

For full information on the EEFb go to: http://educationendowmentfoundation.com

Source: SchoolsNorthEast Newsletter, 19/07/2011

The WISE Excellence Award

The Award is open to women who are working in the early stages of their SET (science, engineering, technology and construction) career. She must have demonstrated a high level of commitment to her chosen profession and to the promotion of science, engineering and construction to girls and young women. The winner will receive a cheque for £1,000 and an engraved plaque. The deadline for submission of applications is 5pm on Friday 16 September. The Award Ceremony will be held on 19 October 2011 at The Institute of Engineering and Technology, in central London.
More details: http://www.theukrc.org/news-and-events/wise-annual-awards-2011

Source: www.theukrc.org

The Big Bang North East 2011 – winners announced!

The Big Bang North East 2011 took place last Tuesday at New Colege Durham. Hundreds of happy and science-focused students attended the event. And prize winners list is… below. Congratulations to all! Well done!

Young Engineer for Britain Competition

 CREST Awards Competition

 Nominations to the National Science and Engineering Competition

 STEM Clubs Prizes

 Young Enterprise Prize

Winners:

Sarah James, Sarah Latimer and Daniel Huddart from Emmanuel College for their project Deaf Alarm

Society of Biology Prize

ICT for Education – conference in Newcastle

The ICT for Education national conference programme reaches Newcastle on Friday 23 September, 7:45am to 2:15pm, and attendance is FREE for all delegates.

Drawing on both regional and national ICT expertise, the conference schedule has been designed to meet the issues of both teachers and schools, and includes a vendor exhibition showcasing solutions to meet your ICT needs. The line-up of speakers is headlined by learning consultant Tim Rylands who will deliver two presentations. The first will start at 8:15am and give you innovative ideas on how to model teaching that includes ICT and focuses on quality learning, while the second will start at 1:00pm and will include whirlwind tour of over 60 web tools, mostly free, in just 60 minutes!

To register please visit: http://www.ictforeducation.co.uk/events/ict-live-newcastle-23092011/

Source: Schools North East Newsletter, 13/07/2011

Star in your own careers interviews!

Student competition to plan and star in your own careers interviews!

Do you love media and communication? Are you interested in healthcare and medical science? Would you like to be a scientific journalist one day? Well here is your chance…

Future Morph (www.futuremorph.org) is asking you to develop your own interview where you will plan a set of 10 questions to ask your choice of healthcare or medical science staff. This competition is open to all students aged 11-16 years and the winning interview will be included in our new ‘Beyond Medicine’ section on the Future Morph website.
‘Beyond Medicine’ will target young people considering studying medicine and will highlight the range and variety of job roles within the field of medicine, taking them beyond the idea of being a doctor. There are so many branches of medicine available but often young people are unaware of the options available to them. Students may want to combine their science and engineering skills as a medical engineer designing the next artificial limb, they may want to help babies overcome jaundice using medical physics, or they may want to work towards finding a cure for disease in a clinical trials setting, to name but a few.

Here is what you need to do….
1. Tell us who you would interview, e.g. medical physicist, paramedic, midwife, biomedical scientist – make it an interesting profession and remember they don’t have to work in a hospital as long as their job is in the field of health/medical science.
2. Let us know why you choose your interviewee – is it a job that you know a lot about or are you interested to find out more? Do you know someone in that profession? Have you done some research and come up with the most bizarre medical-related job you can find?
3. Location of the interview, e.g. hospital department, ambulance, community centre.
4. Tell us your 10 interview questions – try to keep your questions short and clear. Think about the story you are trying to create. Remember these questions should try to find out as much about the interviewees jobs as possible and should be things that young people want to know about the different careers selected.

The winning student will be given the chance to ask their questions directly to their chosen interviewee and be filmed at their school. Their interview will then be uploaded onto the Future Morph website.
Closing date for entries is 7th October 2011. We would like to carry out the interviews in Sept/Oct 2011 at the start of the Autumn term. Please send all entries to me at the address below, either by post or e-mail.

Best wishes,
Holly Margerison
Careers from Science Manager
h.margerison@sciencecouncil.org
Future Morph, The Science Council, 32-36 Loman Street, Southwark, London, SE1 0EH.

Evaluation of STEM Ambassadors programme and STEMNET

STEMNET published online the Summary overview of the Evaluation of STEMNET’s programmes 2009-10. The summary includes evaluation of:

The key messages are:

The evidence gathered during the evaluation activities demonstrates that STEMNET’s services are of a high quality, and that they are leading to a range of positive outcomes for both teachers and pupils. Notably, involvement in STEM Clubs and/or interactions with STEM Ambassadors is increasing pupils’ interest in STEM, as well as developing their knowledge of the subjects, practical skills and generic transferable skills (e.g. team-working, problem-solving) which are of key importance to their future employability. There is also some evidence that involvement in STEM Clubs and interaction with STEM Ambassadors can increase progression to STEM subjects. In relation to STEM Ambassadors, the evaluation suggests that more ongoing and sustained contact with STEM Ambassadors could lead to even greater impacts for pupils.

Source: Summary of the NfER evaluation of STEMNET’s services on pupils and teachers, July 2010, p. 1

To read the full Summary please visit: STEMNET’s website

Engineering diploma consultation

Schoolzone are looking for people involved in engineering diploma who could share their knowledge and thoughts with them. Please read below the messages for engineers (STEM Ambassadors) and teachers.

If interested, please visit the links provided to get more information.

Engineers

Research organisation, Schoolzone are looking for engineers to give feedback via telephone on a new engineering diploma being proposed by one of the major awarding bodies. They are offering £75 to take part: you would need to read through the proposal outline (c. 30 minutes) and the interview will last for a maximum of 45 minutes. This is an opportunity to shape a future qualification to your own needs. If you would like to take part, please complete the short form at: http://www.schoolzone.co.uk/surveys/2011/EligibilityEng2/Default.asp

Teachers

Research organisation, Schoolzone are looking for teachers to give feedback via telephone on a new engineering diploma being proposed by one of the major awarding bodies. They are offering £75 to take part: you would need to read through the proposal outline (c. 30 minutes) and the interview will last for a maximum of 45 minutes. This is an opportunity to shape a future qualification to your own needs. If you would like to take part, please complete the short form at: http://www.schoolzone.co.uk/surveys/2011/EligibilityEng/Default.asp

North East Women (NEW) Leaders conference

The North East Women Leaders conference is a day of inspiration, information and motivation for 500 young women aged 16 to 18 from North East schools. Leading women from business, cultural arts, public service, academia, and science will share their experiences and offer advice on how to achieve ambitions, make the most of your talents and break through the glass ceiling. Students will also be challenged to focus on their futures using their creativity and enterprise in hands on workshops led by our region’s rising stars and future leaders.

Date: Monday 12 September 2011
Time: 10:00am to 3:30pm
Venue: Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University

Please note that places cost £5 per student to cover lunch and administration. Speakers will include Claire Byers (Deputy Director, Baltic), Sarah Davies (founder of Crafters Companion, the Santander Small to Medium Business of the Year) and Sue Sim (Chief Constable, Northumbria Police).

There is no limit to the number of places per school but overall numbers are strictly limited, therefore we cannot guarantee that you will receive all the places you request. To book places please email a.morris@schoolsnortheast.com or call (0191) 280 5037 with contact details and the number of students you would like to bring.

Source: Schools North East Newsletter (5/07/2011)