STEM Learning
I thought it would be good to share my experiences of STEM Learning. Along with PSQM, they and their staff have been so inspirational to me on my ‘Science Lead’ learning journey.
In the Beginning
Initially, and as a new Science co-ordinator, I was encouraged to undertake the STEM Learning 9 day ‘Developing the Experienced Primary Science Lead’ course. This took place over three 3-day sessions and was funded through an Enthuse bursary due to the fact that the school where I work is in a low socio-economic area. It was such an awesome experience. The STEM Centre is a wonderful place, full of enthusiastic and encouraging staff including Tanya Shields, Sarah Dagnell and Karen Bruynee. The way the course was delivered was so interesting and engaging. There were loads of ‘hands-on’ activities to get involved in- which really helped me to remember the value of hands-on learning. I also learned more about assessment, enquiry types, different science topics, strategies for leading a subject and outdoor learning. I also made some really great friends due to the fact that we revisited and met up again two additional times. The facilities are lovely and I was totally inspired. I was able to fetch so much knowledge back to school and along with undertaking PSQM, I started to learn the Science Lead ‘ropes’. I wrote an article about my first year as Science Lead for the STEM Education magazine which I was really proud about- Develop Your Primary Leadership (see link below)
STEM Ambassadors
STEM Ambassadors are such a brilliant way of accessing professionals and experts to bring STEM learning into school. We were so lucky to secure the loan of space debris samples from the STFC and made a whole week of space activities. David Bannister, a STEM Ambassador, came into school with Helen Sharman’s father, John. He talked to all of the UKS2 pupils. The children were utterly transfixed as he discussed how it felt for himself and Helen when she went into space. It was such a valuable experience for all of us, not just the pupils. He shared insights into Helen’s experiences which were fascinating. The children were equally inspired when we were lucky enough to be visited by STEM Ambassador Stephen Platten, who is in the RAF and works as an engineer. He could have been answering questions from the children for hours!
STEM Network meetings
These are invaluable. These take place periodically and I attend them in Hull. They are so important in linking teachers and Science educational staff with STEM Ambassadors and professionals in industry. They can provide vital links to utilise so to develop learning in these areas for pupils.
Additional courses
Myself and a colleague also attended a ‘Teaching Engineering in the Primary Classroom’ two day course which was insightful and really gave us confidence to start to weave engineering into our lessons at school. Something which I am now really passionate about.
I subsequently took part in the Facilitator Development course with Linda Needham which was brilliant. It really helped me to learn about facilitating learning, the importance of reflection and the theory behind the STEM evaluation toolkit which is fascinating. I am so proud to now be a STEM Associate Facilitator which enables me to deliver training on their behalf.
STEM Enthuse Outstanding STEM Teacher
I was so proud to be a finalist of the STEM Enthuse Awards in 2018, winning ‘Enthuse Award for Excellence in STEM Teaching- Primary’ for the North of England. I was thrilled to attend the final at the Royal Society in London. It was an awesome event and far beyond anything I had expected to achieve.
STEM Enthuse Partnership
My school is currently with Fran Dainty as part of a STEM Enthuse Partnership, along with a team of schools in Bridlington. Funding for this was from ORSTED. We have been gathering data and monitoring the effect of STEM CPD on attainment in girls in our schools. It is great to work in a group of schools and this has enables our Y3/4 pupils to visit Y8 to get a flavour of Science at the local secondary school. We have also welcomed peers and past pupils back to our school to share Year 3 and Y4 science experiences our pupils are currently experiencing. The children and staff found that so interesting, engaging and informative. We have had an increased amount of Science CPD including ASE/Geography Critical thinking training which was really brilliant.
As part of my recent Masters in Education, I undertook a literary review and subsequent research project about Science Careers information at Primary and was fascinated to read, as part of that, about the positive effect on Science learning that STEM Enthuse Partnerships have (see below links).
The STEM Learning website is packed full of valuable ideas and resources. I would highly recommend visiting for a huge range of activities and ideas. The MOOCS- provided by FutureLearn- are such a great way to access CPD. I was lucky enough to feature in ‘The Science of Learning’ and thoroughly enjoyed undertaking the course also. Additional courses I have started (but am yet to finish) include Build a Maker Space for Young People and Teaching Primary Science- Chemistry.
Looking forward
Just as Lockdown hit this year, we were hoping to launch a STEM East Coast network which has not taken place. I hope that due to the surge in online technology and CPD, this will take place in the future. I am also thrilled to be delivering some sessions for the STEM Centre in the new year including 'Careers Education at Primary' which is another of my passions-
something I feel is vital for our adults of the future.
Thanks for reading and see you soon,
Kate
futurelearn.com
https://www.stem.org.uk/employers/enthuse-partnerships
External Evaluation of the Enthuse Partnerships Programme (EPP)
Centre for the Use of Research and Evidence in Education (CUREE) 2017
Develop Your Science Leadership, April 2019
http://magazines.stem.org.uk/stem-learning-magazine-primary-12.html
stem.org uk
I found one successful example of this truth through this blog. I am going to use such information now.
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