The Association of Science Education (ASE)

 In recent days, I have been reflecting on becoming part of the Association of Science Education (ASE) community over the last few years and also the amazing positives of 2020- which have come in sharp contrast to the unprecedented year in which we have all been living through a pandemic. Thank you to Hannah Russell and all at the ASE for being such a wonderfully supportive and encouraging organisation which is just awesome! 

I was introduced to the ASE by Bryony Turford @priscigeeks in 2017 when undertaking PQSM with my school- as PSQM participants, we were issued with a free Conference pass in the PSQM package.

 

ASE Conference 2018- Liverpool

This was my first ASE conference. I was inspired during sessions such as those from Alex Sinclair and Amy Strachan. There was an international delegation and it was a fascinating and extremely motivational environment. I also attended sessions by Dr Lynne Bianchi- about her book Smart Pickings- and Bryony Turford, Sarah Earle and Jane Turner. These were experts that I had heard of nationally and I felt truly honoured to be in a room, listening to them and learning. It was a brilliant introduction to being a Science Lead and an opportunity to hear experts in their field and make some initial contacts.

ASE Conference 2019-Birmingham 

Fast forward a year and I was really excited to get to Birmingham. I met Katrina Paull, a wonderful teacher who has become a friend. I had a great day exploring the conference and sharing professional ideas and experiences. Sessions included a brilliant Practical Action workshop amongst others along with a great workshop by Leigh Hoath and Alex Sinclair. I attended the Teach Meet and Explorify lunch and felt that I would love to be more involved in a presenting role next time perhaps. A highlight was listening to the Alice Roberts lecture and very excitingly, meeting Alice later in the afternoon. I also got some advice about and purchased microscopes from the marquee for our junior school before I left! It was a great experience yet again. I have always been blown away by the warmth, enthusiasm and generosity of everyone in the Science Education community- they really are a wonderful group of people.


ASE Conference 2020-Reading

I eagerly yet nervously applied to present my session and was so excited to be chosen. It took place on the International Day and was about the Research project I had undertaken as part of my Masters in Education. It had a focus on STEM Careers information at Primary level and its benefits on engagement, attainment and enjoyment of STEM subjects. I was so proud to share my findings and had some brilliant feedback- the whole experience was so rewarding. I loved it! I attended the Teach Meet with my new colleague, Farmer Tom, which was brilliant. Everyone was so enthused by the great work he is doing with Leaf. I also presented again in the afternoon regarding online engagement in wider opportunities for pupils in STEM. Again, it was a brilliant experience- I loved the chance to present and share the things I am now very passionate about. We even had a live FarmerTime link up which was great.




Dr Lynne Bianchi- Keynote speech, 2020. Reading. Absolutely inspirational


Matthew Newbury, OFSTED lead inspector for Science


The ASE Northern Conference 

This took place in Sheffield later in the year and was a real bonus. Yet again, it was an engaging, inspiring and enthusing experience. Being from Yorkshire, I was so happy to get more engaged in Science in my region. My wonderful Yorkshire PSQM colleagues were involved so it was a pleasure to join in. Also, I was able to listen to sessions from Leigh Hoath and Geoff Mackey (BASF) and Carol Davenport (NUSTEM) which were really relevant to my work and studies. 


Primary Science Journal Editorial Board. 

I am so proud to also be part of the PSJ Editorial Board. Thank you Leigh Hoath, Jane Hanrott and the team, for considering me for the position! I absolutely love being able to contribute with articles and ideas as well as yet again, to work with wonderful colleagues such as Kate Redhead and Dave Allen. (See ASE website)

 

ASE Primary Committee

I applied to be on the Primary Committee last year and was delighted when I was chosen. I love being part of this team. It is an excellent chance to be part of the ASE, get to know new and interesting colleagues and make some brilliant friends. Also, to access some great opportunities as a Science Lead.  I have really enjoyed making the trip down to the University of Hertfordshire to ASE HQ. During lockdown, the ASE Coronavirus Hub Resources were created and launched in response to the real need of schools, parents and pupils. I am so proud that the team I am affiliated with produced such an amazing set of resources. A huge well done to Lucy Wood, Dave Church, Nicola Beverley, Kulvinder Johal and all of those involved. These resources have been so successful and helpful. The children in our school have benefited hugely as I know have many others around the country. This was an amazing undertaking and a fantastic, free resource provided by the ASE. I have also been proud and very happy to be part of the team to edit the Primary Science Handbook which I believe is currently being edited.



ASE Chartered Science Teacher- CSciTeach

During the summer I was accredited as an ASE Chartered Science Teacher- the ASE being a licensed body of the Science Council. It was fantastic to be recognised for all the hard work and dedication to my role as a primary science teacher and Science Lead. was over the moon to receive the accreditation and will continue to strive to be worthy of this honour. Thank you so much.

Further opportunities and resources.

I, as have many, have taken part in numerous ASE Webinars, one of which shared details of how to apply to be a Chartered Science Teacher and I would strongly urge people to take a look- you may also feel able to apply and be successful in this.

 

I have enjoyed the various ASE webinars including that of Sir John Holman webinars, Science catch up at KS2- delivered by Liz Lawrence- as well as training on how to deliver training more efficiently during lockdown from Rob Butler.

 

ASE Futures

I am now an ASE Futures member- it is great to be involved with the Yorkshire element again- including Linda and Richard Needham, Joy Parvin, Angharad Pass and Terry Kirk. This is such an enjoyable element of my ASE experience. The Festive Teach Meet in December was a wonderful ASE community event full of brilliant colleagues and friends that have really helped to make living with Covid-19 much more bearable. 



ASE Conference- Online 2021

I am delighted to have been asked to take part in the Brenda Keogh Lecture at this years conference, which is taking place online next week- Friday 8th January. I will be taking part with Helen Spring and Farmer Tom. I would like to thank Nicola Beverley, Naomi Hiscock and the Primary Committee for the invitation. The session is about Outdoor Learning and is going to be brilliant. I am also involved with the Great Science Share for Schools session with Dr Lynne Bianchi. I’m really looking forward to the Curiosity Box social and to seeing my colleague Julia Baxter appear on the expert panel regarding the ASE Coronavirus Hub resources. She is a fantastic teacher and friend so am looking forward to that.


Coming up next year

I am looking forward to hosting the ASE Chat on Twitter in the New Year and also delivering some Explorify training sessions in collaboration with the ASE later in the year. I am hoping to write an article for ASEs ‘Education in Science’, relating to careers education at primary- linking to transition into secondary school. This is an increasingly developing topic and builds Science Capital.

 

I am excited to have an interview with Dr Lynne Bianchi in the Primary Science Journal ‘Great Science Share for Schools’ Special Edition. In addition, I hope to have an article published in the Journal of Emergent Science later in the year.

 

To get your conference ticket- 

https://www.ase.org.uk/events/ase-annual-conference-2021-online-in-january


For further details on the ASE Coronavirus Hub resources visit their website-

https://www.ase.org.uk/ase-coronavirus-hub


I am looking forward to developing within the ASE community and to meeting with my colleagues and friends online soon- and also in person again at some point soon. 

#ASECommunity

 

Thanks for reading

.                                                           

 

 

 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Strong Science Deep Dive- OFSTED

Image
Our recent OFSTED Inspection September 2021 GOOD   Science-Strong   Since I joined our school, our team have been working to get to OFSTED recognised ‘good’. We were due an inspection anytime when Covid19 hit. During lockdown we had an online inspection and subsequently, when we started this academic year in September, we knew a visit was imminent.   OFSTED arrived and as part of their visit we had a Science ‘deep dive’ in the third week of the Autumn term.    I thought I would share some of the key points raised so to give an insight for colleagues/ fellow Science Leads at you head towards inspections in your own educational settings!    I was asked to provide vital documents to the inspectors by 9am on the day, including-   Action plan  (we are currently undertaking Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) Outreach so this was full of ongoing actions) Progression document - ours highlights vocabulary, misconceptions, whether the lesson is chemis...
Read more

Continuing with my STEM Learning journey

Image
Hi Again All, It's great to be back blogging after a very busy time: being Head of Year 4 over the last two years, undertaking a NPQLT, taking part in our Ogden Trust Partnership in Bridlington, being a PSQM Hub Lead within our wonderful Yorkshire and the Humber team, being a member of the ASE Primary Science Committee and also moving house, supporting my girls, partner, family and four-legged boy. Having worked at Burlington Junior School in Bridlington for the last eight years, I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to work at STEM Learning, such a highly revered educational organisation,  over this coming academic year- as a secondee. It was great that I was able to secure our 'Careers Mark' accreditation at school for the third time (years 5/6) before I left and handed that responsibility to my colleague Maxine. It was also brilliant to hand over Science/STEM to my fantastic colleague Jo- who I know is ready to be Science Lead and will do a fantastic job. I ha...
Read more

STEM Learning

Image
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...
Read more