Everyone who teaches physics, from to PGCE students to technicians to fully seasoned teachers, are being offered a day of training sponsored by The Institute of Physics, Science Learning Centre North East and Durham University.
A range of interactive workshops will provide the opportunity to explore some of the latest development in physics and new resources for teaching physics in the classroom.
There is a choice of four workshops, of which participants will need to select two from the following: “Physics and Toys”, ”ICT in the science classroom”, “Jolting the jaded – do physics” or “Seeing inside the body: practical medical physics activities and resources”. More information can be found here.
The day is being help at the Durham University
on 21 June 2012 from 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Participants can book by ringing Nicola Hall on 0191 370 6200,
or by emailing n.l.hall@durham.ac.uk.
The day is an excellent opportunity and is completely FREE, with lunch and refreshments included. Places must be pre-booked through the Science Learning Centre North East. (Failure to attend without prior notice will incur a £25 administration fee.)
This out-of-the-box poster competition is a simple way to take part in National Science & Engineering Week, either as homework or a class project.
The British Science Association is launching an ideas challenge for 5 – 14 year olds asking them to invent a multi-terrain global racer that uses renewable power.
Pupils will need to invent one method of transportation that can carry themselves and two friends across a range of challenging terrains in their global adventure! The race could last many weeks, so vehicles will need to be large enough to carry supplies.
Racers must be presented in the form of a poster with a drawing of the invention accompanied by an explanation of how it works. Full teacher’s notes will be provided.
Entries will be judged by a panel and the best researched and explained in each category will win a selection of prizes.
Macmillan and Kingfisher Childrens’ Books are generously providing £25 worth of books for each age category. There is also a Nintendo DS up for grabs for each of the younger age categories plus a Nintendo 3DS for the winner of the 11-14 age group. The closing date for all postal entries will be Monday 2nd April 2012.
Here’s a quick run-down of National Science and Engineering Week events open to the public and schools in the North East. Click on the links to view full descriptions of the events
National Science & Engineering Week: Events and activities for everyone, 9–18 March 2012
In 2012, National Science & Engineering Week explores “our world in motion.”
National Science & Engineering Week shines the spotlight each March on how science, technology, engineering and maths relate to our everyday lives and helps to inspire the next generation of scientists with fun and participative activities.
With over 4,500 events and activities attended by 1.7 million people in 2011 and generating over £1m in press coverage, this is the UK’s widest grassroots celebration of all things science and engineering. You can join the celebration by attending an event or taking part in our national activities.
Armstrong the Electrical Wizard
Date(s): 14th March 2012 (11:00) to 14th March 2012 (13:00)
Date(s): 14th March 2010 (14:00) to 14th March 2010 (16:00)
Request for Expressions of Interest in Tendering for IET Faraday programme elements for the period 2012 to 2014
Expressions of Interest to Tender are invited from organisations who would be interested in tendering for individual elements of the IET Faraday programme or for the delivery of all elements. Expressions of Interest are invited from individual companies or consortia.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (The IET) is a world-leading professional members’ organisation for the engineering and technology sectors. The IET Faraday programme is a major part of the Education for Schools and Colleges programme which includes print resources; online, curriculum-linked engineering case studies, engineer profiles and accompanying teaching and learning resources; and, the annual IET Faraday Challenge Day competition.
The elements of the IET Faraday programme that are being offered out to contract are:
IET Faraday Challenge Day competition – an annual competition currently consisting of 45 in-school, contractor-led, engineering-themed competition days for children aged 12 and 13, plus 12 similar events held at university venues for their linked schools. The contractors will be required to:
develop the competition in collaboration with IET staff;
manage and deliver the events at venues across the UK selected by the IET; and,
produce a version of the competition that can be self-delivered by teachers (IET Faraday Challenge Day in a Box) for those schools who have not been selected for the main competition
IET Faraday teaching resources – a collection of web-based engineering case studies that highlight cutting-edge examples of modern engineering and the engineers behind them. These are accompanied by on-line games for students and a range of lesson activities that are linked to the secondary curricular for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales for Science, Maths, D&T, ICT and Engineering Diploma.
Those submitting an Expression of Interest will be sent the Invitation to Tender document and examples of how the IET Faraday resources are presented. Expressions of Interest may be submitted, and we will continue to send out the documents up until the day before the deadline for tender submissions.
The deadline for receipt of the final tender submissions will be 09:00 on 20 December 2012. The tender submissions will be reviewed and short-listing will take place. Those short-listed will be informed by 17:00 on 22 December. They will then be required to undertake a presentation to IET staff and advisors on Thursday 12 or Friday 13 January 2012.
Supporting teaching and learning in colleges
Are you interested in becoming an ementor?
Aims
Ementoring is a flexible way to volunteer and an opportunity for you and your mentee to develop new skills. By sharing your experiences, you can support other people to grow in confidence and explore options for their future. All you need to be a mentor is a willingness to help other people and an online connection. Because ementoring is done online, you can do it at a time and place that suits you.
Who are we looking for?
Mentors can be from all levels, working in an engineering related profession or with an engineering background, and from a variety of ethnic/cultural backgrounds and social classes. Ideally you would have progressed up through the further education route or have knowledge of the further education sector. You will need to be enthusiastic, passionate about Engineering, want to help other people and have a willingness to share your experiences and insights to help encourage young people in further education to remain committed to a career in engineering. It will be helpful, but not essential, if you were an existing STEM Ambassador and have previous experience of working with young people.
What is involved?
Once you have registered and completed your training, the Bright Links engineering team will match you with up to four mentees who will be students in further education colleges who are studying engineering courses at Level 2, Level 3 and possibly Level 4. They will be looking for advice and support around study skills, apprenticeships, engineering careers, applying to university and much more. You will communicate with your mentees through the safe and secure Bright Links ementoring website, which will have its own engineering section dedicated to this Engineering Further Education ementoring project. To be effective you need to be willing to spend between 30 minutes and 1 hour a week supporting your mentees.
Next Steps
Become a mentor: If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a mentor, apply to the Bright Links engineering programme today at www.brightlinksengineering.org
Free STEM Activity days in your school or college
– apply now to host an IET Faraday Challenge Day
The Faraday Challenge Days are one day activities, designed for six teams of six students aged 12-13 years, delivered in your school by the IET.
They give students the opportunity to research, design and build prototype solutions to genuinely tough engineering problems.
There will be 45 Challenge Days this season, starting in September 2011, with the winners
of each event winning prizes for themselves and their school. The top three teams from across the UK get an all expenses paid trip to the National Final in London in June 2012 to compete for a cash prize of up to £1000 for their school.
Two ways to take part
Each host school needs a school hall or large classroom for the day, and six teams of six students to take part (36 students in total).
Schools can either apply to:
enter all six teams from their own school, or
enter one team from their own school, and invite five teams from local schools to join them.
Completely FREE
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is one of the world’s leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. It is through its charitable arm that
we are able to provide the IET Faraday Challenge Days at no charge to UK schools.
As you know, water is a basic requirement for all life, yet water resources are facing increasing demands and competition from users. The UN General Assembly assigned 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. Since 1995 World Water Day has been celebrated across the world, raising the issues related to water. In 2011 there were over 600 World Water Day events being held around the world, one of which was at Kenton School.
Water for the World
Over 100 people from 12 primary schools across Tyne and Wear turned up to support World Water Day and to gain a greater awareness of water scarcity issues. A range of entertaining workshops were on display to get stuck in to; from scientific experiments to mapping water scarcity on Google Maps to throwing cups of water at sixth formers – the latter being very popular! Many thanks are in order for the workshop deliverers including: the Environment Agency, Newcastle University, TDR, Kenton School, Sir Charles Parsons Primary School, WaterAid as well as SCENE Ambassadors from Newcastle College Sixth Form.
Are you an employer or IT professional who wants to use your skills and experience to help inspire the next generation? Get involved with IT education by signing up for e-skills UK’s IT Ambassadors scheme.
Why IT Ambassadors?
Fewer students than ever are choosing to study IT-related degrees at university and the sector is experiencing shortages as a result. IT Ambassadors aims to harness the enthusiasm of people who work in technology to inspire more students to take up rewarding careers in IT.
Who can get involved?
From games designers to business analysts, software developers to project managers, IT professionals at any stage of their careers can become IT Ambassadors.
What will I be doing?
You’ll be supporting IT education and careers activity in schools and colleges across the UK. Ways you can get involved include:
giving a careers talk in schools
hosting visits to your company for students
providing information about your company for a student careers website
providing work experience for students
How IT Ambassadors works
1. Find an activity
Businesses and individuals can explore the e-skills activity pages to find a suitable way to get involved with schools. If you’re an individual volunteer, you can find something that matches your interests, experience and availability. If you’re a company you can find a range of activities designed to suit a variety of business interests.
2. Get advice and guidance
A range of resources to help you engage with schools are available. Everything from templates to case studies and guides are available for download on the e-skills activity pages.
3. Connect with a school
The IT Ambassadors scheme is a partner of the STEM Ambassador programme. You can find a local school to work with through STEMNET’s network of schools. For Tyne and Wear schools contact stempoint@ncl-coll.ac.uk
If you’re planning to work on an individual basis with students in schools you’ll be eligible for a free CRB check as part of the STEM Ambassador programme.
Visit: www.e-skills.com/itambassadors
Start exploring our activity pages to find a way you can get involved with IT Ambassadors.
The Promoting STEM careers in your classroom course is on 17-18th March 2011 at the National science learning Centre in York. The course is designed for teachers of STEM subjects from Key Stage three to Post- 16, careers education and information, advice and guidance practitioners. It will provide opportunities for STEM staff to extend and enhance the work they do already. Tap into a wealth of new resources and support networks to raise awareness about the exciting STEM related careers available to young people. Hear from schools who have successfully integrated STEM careers awareness into their curriculum. Network with experts from industry, engineering, higher education and the Department of Education’s STEM cohesion team and other STEM professionals.
This conference carries an ENTHUSE Award of £751, an easy to apply for bursary available to all teachers, tutors and lecturers from maintained schools or colleges to help cover costs plus a small amount of money to help implement ideas once back in the classroom. For further information about the ENTHUSE Award, please visit www.slcs.ac.uk/enthuseaward
Promoting STEM Careers in your Classroom
Date: 17 – 18 March 2011
Course Cost: £351 +VAT
ENTHUSE Award: £751.00
To book your place on this exciting conference, please phone 01904 328 300 and quote nac10114p or visit www.slcs.ac.uk/national/nac10114p
Electric car racing event – Wednesday 6 July 2011 at Croft Circuit, Darlington
Your school is invited to participate in this exciting Greenpower electric car racing event. Your school still has time to get involved, to design, build and race an electric car.
Greenpower is dedicated to promoting engineering and technology as a career option to students aged 9 to 25 in any form of full or part-time education. This is achieved through unique hands on projects to design, build and race an electric car, with the support of an engineering ambassador.
By taking part in the competition, all participants are given an insight into the real, tangible world of science and engineering. The competition is very popular, which stands as a testament to its unique approach to engineering and its ability to bring together and excite young people from a variety of different areas and backgrounds.
Not only does Greenpower approach the idea of science and engineering from a less mainstream direction than normal lessons or after school clubs, it also encourages creativity and most importantly enthusiasm and cooperation in problem solving invaluable skills for any young person. For the school getting involved will bring the following:
- A project which can be used to enhance the engineering diploma or CREST award or other STEM activities.
- Links with Mechanical, Electrical and Design engineers as mentors.
- National and regional recognition.
- A visit to North east school that has already taken part to share experience.
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers is delighted to offer continued support to Greenpower. Participation in this exciting challenge requires teamwork, engineering skills, commitment and enthusiasm.
If you are willing to give your students a brilliant opportunity to get involved in a project like this and would like to receive more information about how to enter this Websites:
Institution of Mechanical Engineers – http://imeche.org/ Greenpower
If you would like to enter the competition then please contact Julie Harrison on 07899 050767 or email julieharrison@a4e.co.uk.
Please note: pupils will also be able to attend that are not participating in the actual design and build programme. Further details about this will be sent to schools nearer to the time.
NORTH EAST REGION In partnership with IMechE North East
Congratulations are in order for 10 projects from schools in the North East who competed in the regional Big Bang fair in July. They are going forward to compete in the National Science and Engineering competition at the Big Bang fair held at London’s ExceL on 10th – 12th March 2011. Shows including ‘Brainiac Live’, ‘Bang Goes the Theory’ and activities like ‘Amoeba to Zebra’, ‘The Ever Wondered Why Roadshow’, ‘Grow Your Own Body Parts’ and ‘Hydraulics for Frolics’ will be taking place at the event.
For more information on The Big Bang fair, to register your attendance and book tickets please visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk.
Congratulations and the best of luck to the following schools and their projects:
School
Project
Central Newcastle High School
EES Project
Emmanuel College
Automatic Curtain
Emmanuel College
The Nyctolight
Emmanuel College
Frequetherapy
Emmanuel College
Electronic Musical Keyboard
Emmanuel College
Electronic Safety Device for Bike Users to Wear
Newminster Middle School
Which Tattoos Last the Longest
Queen Elizabeth High School
Gun Barrel Movement on a Challenger Tank
Sacred Heart High School
Liver Disease
St Bede’s RC School
Safety First Warning Lights
STEM Outreach would also like to congratulate and wish the best of luck to Corylus Learning’s Colin Wilkinson and Sarah McLusky at Sparks Education who will be co-ordinating the Big Bang North East at New College Durham on 12th July 2011. For more information on next year’s regional Big Bang fair feel free to contact Colin at colin@coryluslearning.com or Sarah at sarah@sparkseducation.co.uk or visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/northeast/
Pearson Publishing is pleased to announce the launch of an exciting resource that promotes STEM in schools.
The ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ enables students to follow the steps that a professional team would take in preparing to race a car.
It prepares students for the F1 in Schools Technology Challenge, a multi-disciplinary contest in which teams of students use computer aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM) software to design, analyse, manufacture, test and then race miniature balsa wood racing cars powered by compressed gas.
Intended to develop students’ interest in, and knowledge of, engineering and design, the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ enables schools to run a cross-curricular project. It is an excellent way to move STEM work from after-school clubs to timetabled classroom activities, and thereby give STEM more prominence in school life.
The resource is provided online, and an annual subscription costs just £295+VAT per school. Discounts are available if several schools purchase together; please contact us for further details. You can also encourage schools in your area to subscribe by sending them the following link to an information site, which is at: http://www.parsonpublishing.co.uk/fscr/
To view a brief demonstration of the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ (Bloodhound SSC), enter the user name ‘demo’ and the password ‘password’ at: http://fscr.pearson.co.uk
This edition of the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’ is for the 9-14 age group and Bloodhound SSC level of the challenge; subsequent editions for the F1 Class level will be available shortly.
To express your interest in editions for the 11-14 or 15-19 age group at the F1 Class level of the challenge, or for any other queries about the ‘F1 in Schools Curriculum Resource’, please email fscr@pearson.co.uk or call 01223 350555.
Do you have a question or issue you would like to explore in your own teaching? Are you interested in applying for some funding to support you in some aspect of teacher enquiry / action research?
The NCETM Regional Project Programme has proved very successful over the last two years in helping people to get started on such projects and supporting them through the process of application, development and final report writing.
See the portal for details of current and previous projects such as the Throckley Primary Lesson Study, Stockton Riverside College Collaborative Mathematics, Garforth Community College Dialogic Teaching or the Durham LA Developing Pedagogy network.
Your regional STEM Champion is looking for case studies and inviting you to apply for Action Research fundingNCETM are looking for case studies to promote effective practice in the region across the STEM subjects (Science, Engineering and Mathematics). Each successful project will qualify for a £500 grant from the regional STEM priority fund.
Your regional STEM Champion is also inviting bids for £1000 from your organisation to support Action Research Projects. Application is through the LSIS funding portal via the LSIS Excellence Gateway.
Other LSIS funding is also available to apply for during October /November. STEM Cascade training – £1000 to create more teaching and learning change agents within the STEM subjects, with a minimum of 10 new change agents being trained. STEM CPD – £1000 to explore one or two STEM subject areas – aimed at those starting to explore improved teaching and learning in STEM. Step Up in STEM – £5000 to explore two or more STEM subject areas e.g. through CPD, curriculum development, action based research – aimed at those with experience of the STEM and / or Teaching and Learning Programme.
Calling all maths subject leaders in the post-16 sector
A final reminder about the first NCETM national online seminar for mathematics subject leaders in the post-16 sector. In the seminar we will: address some of the big issues that post-16 subject leaders face; suggest resources that can support you in the role; give you the chance to hear from other subject leaders and share your experiences and challenges; offer you the opportunity to join a continuing post-16 subject leaders’ network.
Aspiring subject leaders are also very welcome.
All in the comfort of your own home … and with no travelling and no cover costs. Pour yourself a cuppa, pull up a chair, and join in.
The meeting will take place on Wednesday 3 November from 8.00 to 9.00pm. If you are interested in joining one of these meetings and/or would like to know more, please contact Phillipa Marshall. There is a limit of around 20 places and they are going fast, so you are advised to apply early.
The Make a Mint Challenge is a stimulating, two stage competition open to young people aged 14 – 19 from across Newcastle. The competition encourages young people to develop key business skills, gain an innovative approach to problem solving and generate real business solutions for a future world. Each Challenge invites young people to consider the next generation of innovative products and how they meet the needs of a future marketplace.
The Challenge is in 2 stages:
Gateway Stage 22nd September – 20th October 2010
Individuals are challenged to generate ideas, designs and applications for new products meeting the brief provided. Ideas must be exciting, innovative and eye-catching. Entrants work individually and submit entries online.
Challenge Final 16th November 2010
A design and build teamwork stage held at the Spark in the Park Festival at St James Park on 16th November 2010. The Challenge Final includes business rigour, planning, teamwork and budgeting. The overall winner will be the team that best meets the Final Challenge brief in an innovative and practical way.
To enter the Make a Mint Challenge, students must register their details and complete the online Gateway Challenge no later than Wednesday 20th October 2010.
The Challenge is run in conjunction with Newcastle City Council and the Make your Mark campaign and offers the opportunity to take part in a business ideas competition that celebrates and stimulates enterprise skills and talents. The challenge is free to enter and offers the opportunity for individuals to win prizes for themselves and recognition for their schools /youth groups.
Please click on the link below to find out more about the challenge or alternatively download a information pack.
Can your students work as a team, design a community sports venue and overcome engineering problems?
Want them to have fun putting science, engineering, maths and technology to the test? Then it’s time to take on the Create Sport Challenge
What is it?
The Create Sport Challenge is a FREE national competition. It allows 12/13 year old students to work in teams with a built environment professional to complete a challenging project that introduces real-world problems to the classroom.
Why take part?
Your students will:
Get active input and guidance from a working professional
Use their creativity and curriculum knowledge to overcome a range of engineering problems
Become more aware of the world around them and understand the things engineers do every day to solve worldwide and local issues
Develop skills in project management, design & technology, communication, presentation and organisation
What will your students do?
Work together as a team (20 to 30 hours for CREST awards)
Create a design for a community sports venue
Build a model of the venue
Write a detailed report of the different project stages and the problems encountered
Use the competition website and social networking tools to help with the project
What’s the prize?
Teams will be judged regionally and the best will be invited to present their work at a grand final in June 2011 at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London. The prize for 1st place will be £1,000 for the school of the winning team. Prizes for other places include a school visit by an athlete and a trip to a major sporting venue.
Do you teach some young scientists or engineers who deserve recognition? If they are 11-18 with a great project or invention…enter the National Science & Engineering Competition today. There is over £50,000 of prizes, including cash awards and trips abroad – plus the prestige of winning a high profile competition for your school or college and the teachers involved.
The lucky finalists will be invited to showcase their work to around 24,000 students, teachers, journalists and VIPs visiting The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair in London in March 2011. Here your students can mix and compete with the country’s best – and gather tips and advice from working scientists and engineers from all fields in business and research. With plenty of individual and team prizes up for grabs, there are lots of opportunities for all students, and the two winning individuals in the senior category will be crowned the UK Young Scientist of the Year and UK Young Engineer of the Year.
For the first time, NSEC is offering a prize for specialist schools, sponsored by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT). Eligibility is wider than simply schools who have student competitors and it has a separate application process (via SSAT). Any school with a STEM specialism (Maths & Computing, Science, Technology or Engineering) can apply. Details are on the NSEC website:
Part of the Official London 2012 Education Programme
STEM Challenges are a series of competitions which link the curriculum to the inspiring Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Each challenge incorporates a range of activities for schools and once in a lifetime prizes can be won!
“The STEM Challenge students feel privileged to be a part of the competition. This is the best extra-curricular activity I’ve ever been involved with!” ~ Pam Large, Sacred Heart High School.
The STEM Challenges are ten activities designed for KS3 (or equivalent) students and inspired by London 2012. Each Challenge is a competition focusing on a different aspect of either the preparations for London 2012, or the event itself. The Challenges provide a cross-curricular approach to the STEM subjects, which benefits students in their academic work, whilst allowing them to develop skills and values that are essential outside the classroom. The activities have been designed for use in a club environment (e.g. a STEM Club) or during lessons.
The STEM Challenges are managed by STEMNET (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Network) in association with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), and are funded by the Department for Education.
New Challenges are introduced each term and last approximately 6 to 8 weeks. They provide an opportunity for students aged 11-14 to explore, experiment and innovate! Each team is set a task related to London 2010, which gives students the chance to experience a combination of hands-on testing and research.
STEM Ambassadors are a free resource available to support your students and clubs in the Challenges. STEM Ambassadors volunteer their time to help excite young people about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. They have proven to be a vital resource for schools and colleges:
“The pupils valued the comments they received from STEM Ambassadors. It was great for them to have experts who really knew what they were talking about. Pupils were encouraged to discuss their ideas more as they were keen to improve their designs and complete the task to the best of their abilities.” ~ Lucy Rowe, St Mary’s Middle School, Puddletown, Dorset.
“STEMNET, you have solved my problem! We have no budget to pay Science speakers for our school and I’m so pleased to have made contact with you.” ~ Mrs Gaur, Shirley High School, Croydon, London.
STEM Challenges aim to support children and young people across the UK in the development of their leadership, personal, thinking and life skills. In each Challenge, a team of students work together to develop and achieve the seven core values of the Olympic and Paralympic games, these are: excellence, friendship, respect, courage, determination, inspiration and equality. Team work and enthusiasm are essential!
How to get involved in the STEM Challenges
It’s easy to get involved- simply register on the website www.stemchallenges.net The sign-up process is quick and simple- and you can go back to enter as many teams as you like from your school. What’s more, if your school is part of the STEM Clubs Network and you are a club leader- then it’s even easier. Just select your name from the list and you’re done!
We will send you a newsletter with regular updates on the Challenges, including information on forthcoming Challenge launch-dates and deadlines.
“Thank you so much for all your help! I have been really impressed by STEMNET’s advice and your organisation of our Scientists who were first rate and ideal for our purposes.” ~ Rebecca Jones, Science Co-ordinator, The Pointer School, London.
STEM Challenge 1
Challenge: Design an Eco-friendly National Handball Centre.
Winners: Appleton Academy from Wyke, West Yorkshire.
Prize: Trip to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The first STEM Challenge required students to design a National Handball Arena for the 2012 Olympics. The STEM Club at Appleton Academy began the Challenge by testing out different surfaces for the floor of the Handball court. In groups, the members of the STEM Club completed experiments on types of laminate flooring they had constructed and analysed how recorded balls behaved on different surfaces around school.
The successful team, from year nine, then designed a stadium based on a segmented orange. They worked with STEM Ambassador Phil Spencer, a building surveyor and the technology department to prepare scale diagrams and models to show the layout of the main arena.
The winning features of the design include the segmental structure of the sphere-shaped dome, which would allow natural light and ventilation into the arena. The team incorporated the use of eco friendly solar panels to achieve the environmental objective of the challenge. At the presentation event, the judges commended the team for their work and leadership skills.
“Winning the STEM Challenge, a national competition, is the result of a great deal of hard work and commitment by our students, and their excitement and enjoyment of science created by their teachers and the STEM Club.” ~ Dwayne Saxton, Academy Principal.
“It is fantastic that the hard work and skills of our pupils has been recognized nationally. This project has been completed in our after-school club – the pupils’ enthusiasm and willingness to invest their own time reflects the interest they have developed in their lessons.” ~ Barbara Hey, Advanced Specialist Teacher in Science at the Academy and STEM club co-coordinator.
STEM Challenge 2
Challenge: adidas asked students to design a new glove for Olympic and Paralympic Canoeing, Rowing or Sailing.
Winners: Heolddu Comprehensive School, Bargoed.
Prizes: £3,000 worth of STEM Club equipment and the latest in adidas sports clothing.
The second STEM Challenge required students to design a new glove for adidas (Official Sportswear Partner to London 2012) to be used by top Olympic and Paralympic athletes in Canoeing, Rowing or Sailing events. The Challenge was launched by double Olympic Gold medalist James Cracknell.
Students at Heolddu Comprehensive School decided to design a new glove for rowers, who don’t tend to wear gloves as they can cause their hands to sweat, impeding the action of rowing. The pupils relished the opportunity to produce a specially designed glove, which, made with the right materials could allow breathability and make a major contribution to the sport.
Once the team had decided on the most important properties to include in the design of their glove, they used a range of tests, activities and factsheets provided by STEMNET in order to research their design.
Heolddu beat stiff competition from seven other teams from around the country that made it through to the final, where they faced a Dragon’s Den style interview and grilling from the judges, including Olympic gold medallist rower, Tom James.
The students’ design is so inventive it is now being commercially developed by adidas. According to the company, the design was so innovative that it could give our Olympians the winning edge!
“We were thrilled and honoured to win such a prestigious competition!” ~ Owen Griffiths, Science Teacher, Heolddu Comprehensive School.
The Royal Society’s Partnership Grants scheme is now open. You can apply for up to £3000 to work with scientists and engineers on creative investigations that inspire students with the excitement and wonder of cutting-edge science or engineering research.
Funds are available for projects working with students aged between 5-19, as long as the project involves a UK school or college, and a practising scientist or engineer. The next round for applications closes on 5 November 2010. For more details about eligibility criteria and to find out how to apply, go to http://royalsociety.org/partnership.
Things are really hotting up for Big Bang North East! Blue Peter science presenter Steve Mould will be presenting the awards ceremony, featuring regional finalists of the Young Engineer for Britain Competition and CREST Awards. Steve will also be performing some of his favourite experiments in front of a live audience of school pupils from the North East.
See Blue Peter science presenter Steve Mould on YouTube:
Everyone who teaches physics, from to PGCE students to technicians to fully seasoned teachers, are being offered a day of training sponsored by The Institute of Physics, Science Learning Centre North East and Durham University.
STEM Cascade training – £1000 to create more teaching and learning change agents within the STEM subjects, with a minimum of 10 new change agents being trained.