CPD Introduction
The aim of this Continuing Professional Development Unit (PDU) is to help teachers use DiPS approaches in primary classrooms. We want pupils to be better at discussing and arguing about scientific issues, ideas and findings. There has been a National Strategy, to improve standards of literacy including speaking and listening skills, but not much has been done in science lessons. We worked with 36 schools in Hull. Most of the schools had been involved in improving general speaking and listening skills in the TALK project. In the first year of DiPS, a teacher with responsibility for science worked with another teacher in the school committed to using speaking and listening as a learning tool. These teachers worked with tutors and advisory teachers from the University of York on a CPD programme and devised and tried out small group discussion activities to develop pupils' scientific vocabulary and thinking and communication skills. Although the focus of our project was in science, outcomes have benefited the whole curriculum.