Trust Projects

Stirling University - Partnership in Primary Science (Innovative Project)

University of Stirling, Institute of Education Partnership in Primary Science

This project uses the theme of 'toys' to support the teaching of science and the integration of the use of ICT in the classroom. It involves nine schools around Stirling, working with teacher fellows and staff from Stirling Council, managed and co-ordinated by staff in the Institute of Education at the University of Stirling. An innovative aspect of the project is the involvement of local scientists linked with the schools and working with teachers to help develop subject knowledge.

Aims

Overall, the Partnership in Primary Science Project aims to:

• encourage children's learning in science
• illustrate exemplary classroom practices and strategies involving the use of ICT to develop scientific understanding
• provide teachers with skills to select and use ICT confidently
• encourage them to use ICT to support effective teaching and assessment based on an understanding of the pedagogical issues involved
• develop communities of practice that help support teachers in classrooms.

The project consists of a series of one-day programmes rotating around the participating schools which will not only involve project team members and project teachers, but will be extended to local industry. Materials generated through these days will be used and evaluated and will eventually be compiled into a resource package to be made available to local schools and on-line. In order to keep schools in contact with one another, a WebCT site will be set up to which all those participating will have access to get information, and exchange ideas and good practice.

Over the first year of the project, teachers will have worked with nine different scientists, developed their effective use of ICT and generated curriculum materials which others will be able to use. They will also have become part of a community of practice which will include primary, secondary and tertiary teachers, scientists, local authority staff and pupils.

Programme

June 2002 The PIPS Project started in September 2001and aimed to promote a model of CPD that involved the setting up of a community, promoting ownership of the change process and developing pedagogical content knowledge by:

* developing skills in using ICT
* refreshing their understandings of science concepts
* adding to their understandings of teaching and learning strategies.

Through the involvement of scientists, educators and teachers working together face to face once a month and online during the interim period.

So far we can report the following:

* participant teachers have gained a lot more confidence in using ICT in Primary science activities. They have worked with scientists and other teachers to plan and evaluate the use of the activities they developed. Some teachers have raised the profile of the project by sharing their ideas with prominent guests to the school. The participant teachers have produced schemes of work that have been tried in their classes for a variety of topics
* the pupils have enjoyed the experience and there is significant evidence to suggest that pupils' interest in science has increased significantly. They enjoyed using dataloggers, PowerPoint and spreadsheets and have enjoyed the various approaches to science. There is also significant evidence to show that pupils have achieved standards beyond the 5-14 guideline levels
* the visits to schools to hold the PIPS project days has resulted in the scientists working effectively with a host of pupils, as well as teachers viewing at first hand how other schools deploy available science and ICT resources
* several teachers have reported that colleagues wished to be involved in the project and would have greatly appreciated an opportunity to be part of the PIPS team.

Teachers working on this project have reported that:

"The PIPS project was a very worthwhile working party set up to devise a programme of study for science for teachers which would incorporate the use of ICT. In my opinion it was a valuable experience and I feel very fortunate to have been involved."

"It has been a superb way of bringing experienced staff with various levels of science and ICT together to plan science lessons and investigate if these lessons work. Staff sharing knowledge and experience as well as the support from experts has produced a resource with a wealth of material which the teaching staff of Scotland can access and use in a practical way."

"It's a project that has increased the importance and input of science and computing in my classroom and in school. It has encouraged collaboration with varying professionals to produce an excellent resource that can be assessed by others to help promote science and computing skills."

Non-participant teachers/schools can benefit from this project in many ways, for example:

* teacher resource materials will be available on CDROM. This will include video excerpts of teachers explaining what they did, activity outlines for a range of science topics and levels, and examples of pupils work
* a case study was also included in the ASE Primary CDROM
* the PIPS teachers have shared their working knowledge with others through CPD in school and within the authority
* the scientists are considering working with other schools on a similar basis.

Additional

Videos to follow

Contact

Susan Rodrigues, Senior Lecturer s.g.a.rodrigues@stir.ac.uk