STEM TI Day 2: Initial Discussion

Initial Discussions

New or different:

• STEM resources as starters/plenary in Maths/DT/highlighting in lessons. KS3 theme day, land speed record. Stand alone lessons - STEM activity.
• Planning time - progression, cross-subject.
• Teacher excitement, learning, independence.
• Ideas from NRICH incorporated into new Y7,8 SoW.
• Science - Bloodhound SSC activity - 2 lessons.
• Stand alone lessons in maths.
• Intending to run an extra-curricular competition to design a water-rocket, leading onto a national competition.
• Summer weather more conducive to outdoor tasks.
• Helicopters worked well with lower set. Made pupils feel good about being in maths lesson.
• Getting used to variable and how/what to change in science investigations.
• "All in a jumble" worked well with A level.
• Open-ended tasks - good to get pupils thinking rather than just answering.
• Big Qs about STEM, big key problems.
• Going to use STEM club for activities. Maybe link STEM club to CREST. STEM club gives students the chance to see the value of failure and perseverance.
• Continue with enrichment days. 
• Use STEM clubs as 6th form recruitment.
• We want options for extra-curricular projects of varying lengths, eg. some for 'enrichment days', some for hour-long workshops, some for lunch-time or after-school clubs, etc.
• New - after school club (Y7/8).
• Linking sceicne with DT in "additional learning day" - 1 day per 2 weeks (time tabled).
• Ongoing STEM leadership qualification, curriculum leader 
• Engineering competition leading to CREST award.
• STEM ambassadors and business partners.
• Outreach for local universities
• National STEM centre (York University) - projects and funding, STEMNET.
• Pilot Y7 two week STEM project - all lessons taught around a theme (15 lessons) including planning for all STEM faculties. 'Green houses'
• Y7 transition project involving many school departments, STEM + English + Humanities
• STEM careers
• stemNRICH activities - Robots, didn't require extra efforts, kids engaged, equipment in school/available, STEM in club to show argument for inclusion in hte curriculum. Y7 full range of abilities.
• Smoothies - cross-curricular project - Maths/Science/DT, 1.5 days off timetable with 30 kids at a time (?) = whole of KS3 and 4
• Y6 feeder cross-curricular STEM days
• Outdoor classroom, giving STEM a real life context
• Chocolate day, whole day, looking at melting points

Levels of engagement:

• Level 4 theme day, upcoming theme day KS3
• Y6/7 transition day - STEM themed - 'cereal bar', helicopter (team teaching), Baked Alaska - Level 3
• Level 3 difficult due to timetable.
• Lots of this is fairly low level / aimed at KS3. Would like some higher level/more challenging tasks.

How did it work out?

• Levels 1 and 2 easy to introduce, Level 4 in themed workshop.
• Helicopter - mixed results due to mixed attitude of students. Should have prepared the class before the lesson. Weaker students disengaged.
• Place your order - units matching task, altered the measurements used to suit class. Worked well.
• Need for SLT/HoD support.
• Level 2 at the minute - wanted to be at level 4.
• Label 'STEM' can be a problem, getting people on board :(
• Time of year, other responsibilities :(
• Links between subjects :)
• Interest of students :)
• New ideas for teachers - get out of rut :)
• Recognition from senior management of STEM :(
• Relate STEM activities to curriculum.
• Include maths properly - not just costing, etc!
• Benefits to school/teachers - raise awareness and links to areas, enjoyment, introducing new activities, different approaches
• DT - practical application of certain skills - making links :)
• Resources/time/timetables :(
• Staff - encouragement :(
• KS4 - exams, revision session, no extra time :(
• Support from SLT, recognising STEM benefits :(
• Difficulty matching student groups across subjects in the timetable, some groups set, others not set :(
• Difficulty finding a topic to include all 3 subjects at a suitably challenging and engaging level :(
• Timings with pressure from 'regular curriculum' :(
• Space available - classes too large for the room :(
• Split site. 6th form is a mile away. Y11 and 12 don't see each often - [Relativity] would build bridges between them for when Y11 go into 6th form. Large intake into Y12 from other schools. Y11 get to know them too! :)
• Curriculum too busy at the moment :( - maybe Sept 2012.
• Doing it in lessons will not be possible due to science alternating topics (necessary for equipment/technicians, etc) and different setting, etc :(
• Timetabling :(
• Departmental budgets :(
• Staff engagement :(
• Results - fear of them slipping :(
• Publicising benefits to results
• Making it sound fun to pupils!
• Transfer from one lesson to another - have a set of results ready, or catch-up time in between
• Cut down project time to make it manageable