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.
Getting used to variable and how/what to change in science investigations.
"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).
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
Lots of this is fairly low level / aimed at KS3. Would like some higher level/more challenging tasks.
How did it work out?
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 :)
New ideas for teachers - get out of rut :)
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