YE_STEM Equity Compass

 Hi All,

 


Another blog about another subject I feel so passionately about… that links to engagement by all pupils in STEM learning at primary school which is vital to help ensure we have a fully qualified and broad-based workforce to meet the future needs of our evolving planet. IT is developing rapidly and the population is rising whilst resources are dwindling. It is so important for the future and for our pupils that we nurture rounded individuals with key skills to cope with these and other such issues. 

 

I learned such a lot during whilst undertaking my Masters in Education throughout 2020/21.  Such pursuits entail challenging stereotypes and engaging our children in relevant, hands-on, problem-solving activities which can support them to develop key ‘habits of mind’ and skills required in their lives going forward- contributing towards enhancing potential future happiness and fulfilment. It is vital that we appropriately facilitate our kids learning and opportunities for them to achieve self-actualisation (as theorised by Maslow) as opposed to just summative testing and mainly undertaking academic work. Providing the chance for our children to develop their social and cultural capital, so they fell that Science/STEM learning is for them, is absolutely vital. At Burlington Juniors we have just undertaken reaccreditation of the Careers Mark which is such a valued part of our pupils learning journey. We also work to support positive mental health and well-being, development of core motor/making skills and creativity/community. We must ensure that they learn in an equitable way so that they grow up with values and an understanding relating to sharing, being kind, being understanding themselves and not selfish, greedy or thoughtless about others.

 

Our current environmental and economic climate really needs addressing/supporting and an adoption of a more cyclical economy- where resources are reused and taken only when actually needed and people care for each other- is essential; not continually being driven to take and have more, more, more ‘things’ at the expense of others (a linear economy).

 

I am and have been (for many years) so interested and impressed with the work of Professor Louise Archer and subsequently the YE_STEM ‘Equity Compass’. I am a huge fan of Louise who I have followed avidly (initially through Masters study) including her work with Aspires and the Science Capital Teaching Approach. This is so important. 

 

Youth Equity + STEM (YE_STEM) is based at University College London (UCL) and is built on STEM participation and social justice. This is such a powerful, inspiring and engaging concept: the ‘Equity Compass’ striking me as encompassing everything we have just discussed. Find out more through these links to clips, webinars and websites. They are highly recommended and showcase key concepts in making positive change to our education system and the thought processes of children all over the world.


 

Engaging Young people with STEM- A Science Capital Approach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqT40OUSwm8

 

STEM Participation and Social Justice Research

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/departments-and-centres/departments/education-practice-and-society/stem-participation-social-justice-research

 

Interdisciplinary approached to seeking Equity in STEM

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2021/jun/interdisciplinary-approaches-seeking-equity-stem-rftrw-s10e02

 

(DR Spela Godec UCL podcast)

 

https://yestem.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/EQUITY-COMPASS-YESTEM-INSIGHT.pdf

(Website for more information)

 

 

 

 

IOE Team making STEM Participation more equitable awarded the Royal Society Athena Prize (August 2022). 

 

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/news/2022/aug/ioe-team-making-stem-participation-more-equitable-awarded-royal-societys-athena-prize

 

 

I hope you enjoy listening and learning from these.

Thank you.

Kate

 

 

 

@SpelaGodec

@YESTEM_UK

@ASPIRESscience

@UCL


 

Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50, 370–396.

 

In https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/supporting-learning-primary/0/steps/58666


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