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Initial Discussions
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- STEM resources as starters/plenary in Maths/DT/highlighting in lessons. KS3 theme day, land speed record. Stand alone lessons - STEM activity.
- Planning time - progression, cross-subject.
- Teacher excitement, learning, independence.
- Ideas from NRICH incorporated into new Y7,8 SoW.
- Science - Bloodhound SSC activity - 2 lessons.
- Stand alone lessons in maths.
- Intending to run an extra-curricular competition to design a water-rocket, leading onto a national competition.
- Summer weather more conducive to outdoor tasks.
- Helicopters worked well with lower set. Made pupils feel good about being in maths lesson.
- "All in a jumble" worked well with A level.
- Open-ended tasks - good to get pupils thinking rather than just answering.
- Big Qs about STEM, big key problems.
- Going to use STEM club for activities. Maybe link STEM club to CREST. STEM club gives students the chance to see the value of failure and perseverance.
- Continue with enrichment days.
- Use STEM clubs as 6th form recruitment.
- We want options for extra-curricular projects of varying lengths, eg. some for 'enrichment days', some for hour-long workshops, some for lunch-time or after-school clubs, etc.
- New - after school club (Y7/8).
- Linking sceicne with DT in "additional learning day" - 1 day per 2 weeks (time tabled).
- Ongoing STEM leadership qualification, curriculum leader
- Engineering competition leading to CREST award.
- Outreach for local universities
- National STEM centre (York University) - projects and funding, STEMNET.
- Pilot Y7 two week STEM project - all lessons taught around a theme (15 lessons) including planning for all STEM faculties. 'Green houses'
- Y7 transition project involving many school departments, STEM + English + Humanities
- STEM careers
- stemNRICH activities - Robots, didn't require extra efforts, kids engaged, equipment in school/available, STEM in club to show argument for inclusion in hte curriculum. Y7 full range of abilities.
- Smoothies - cross-curricular project - Maths/Science/DT, 1.5 days off timetable with 30 kids at a time (?) = whole of KS3 and 4
- Y6 feeder cross-curricular STEM days
- Outdoor classroom, giving STEM a real life context
- Chocolate day, whole day, looking at melting points
Levels of engagement:
- Level 4 theme day, upcoming theme day KS3
- Y6/7 transition day - STEM themed - 'cereal bar', helicopter (team teaching), Baked Alaska - Level 3
- Level 3 difficult due to timetable.
- Lots of this is fairly low level / aimed at KS3. Would like some higher level/more challenging tasks.
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- Levels 1 and 2 easy to introduce, Level 4 in themed workshop.
- Helicopter - mixed results due to mixed attitude of students. Should have prepared the class before the lesson. Weaker students disengaged.
- Place your order - units matching task, altered the measurements used to suit class. Worked well.
- Need for SLT/HoD support.
- Level 2 at the minute - wanted to be at level 4.
- Label 'STEM' can be a problem, getting people on board :(
- Time of year, other responsibilities :(
- Links between subjects :)
- Interest of students :)
- Recognition from senior management of STEM :(
- Relate STEM activities to curriculum.
- Include maths properly - not just costing, etc!
- Benefits to school/teachers - raise awareness and links to areas, enjoyment, introducing new activities, different approaches
- DT - practical application of certain skills - making links :)
- Resources/time/timetables :(
- Staff - encouragement :(
- KS4 - exams, revision session, no extra time :(
- Support from SLT, recognising STEM benefits :(
- Difficulty matching student groups across subjects in the timetable, some groups set, others not set :(
- Difficulty finding a topic to include all 3 subjects at a suitably challenging and engaging level :(
- Timings with pressure from 'regular curriculum' :(
- Space available - classes too large for the room :(
- Split site. 6th form is a mile away. Y11 and 12 don't see each often - [Relativity] would build bridges between them for when Y11 go into 6th form. Large intake into Y12 from other schools. Y11 get to know them too! :)
- Curriculum too busy at the moment :( - maybe Sept 2012.
- Doing it in lessons will not be possible due to science alternating topics (necessary for equipment/technicians, etc) and different setting, etc :(
- Timetabling :(
- Departmental budgets :(
- Staff engagement :(
- Results - fear of them slipping :(
- Publicising benefits to results
- Making it sound fun to pupils!
- Transfer from one lesson to another - have a set of results ready, or catch-up time in between
- Cut down project time to make it manageable