Trust Projects - Queen's University Belfast

Graduate School of Education - working with St Mary's University College, Belfast and Stranmillis University College, Belfast

The unique aspect of this project is its focus on the involvement of science specialist student teachers who will work alongside science co-ordinators in the planning, delivery and assessment of primary science and technology.

The broad aims of the project are to:

• provide a development programme which will raise the confidence of teachers to teach science and technology

• examine primary school knowledge of science and technology

• increase the confidence and expertise of student teachers

• improve primary knowledge of science and technology pedagogy

• improve pupils' experience and enjoyment of science

• link theory and practice in science teaching.

The project involves forty year 3 and 4 B.Ed science students working with ten primary schools. Having reached this stage in their development these B.Ed students will already be competent classroom practitioners and will have gained a sound working knowledge of the science and technology curriculum at key stages 1 and 2. The project will begin with the initial auditing of knowledge and confidence of teaching primary science to identify science and technology areas for development in each school. This will be followed by team teaching by specialist student teachers and classroom teachers, focused in school science and technology workshops. 

Contact

Dr Colette Murphy email - c.a.murphy@qub.ac.uk