October 2009 - Posts
This attachment lists the "Top 3" beneits chosen by delegates at training last week. 32 teachers were asked to brainstorm benefits and then choose, in groups, their top 3. This list was generated from those group responses.
If you are looking for different ways to carry out plenaries, look no further than this TES page. The powerpoint contains over 130 ideas for plenaries suitable for many different contexts. This really is a good one. You'll need to register (free) to download it. It is quite a large file but worth the wait.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6017890&firstLoginPage=Y
Attached is the document (word) which contains the separated threads of the 5 Assessment Focii for science.
Attached is the latest offering sent to HoD etc in Kent. Also attached are the documents referred to in the news update.
Jackie Watson (AST at Walmer Science College, Deal) has kindly shared these assessments with us. They are attched as a zip file. She is trialling them at present and is using them as a way of getting going with APP. Why not have a look and see if they can be adapted (or the ideas used) to support your development of APP in your department?
If you have any ideas to share, please send them to me ( keith.milchem@kent.gov.uk ) and I'll post them here. At this stage we believe teachers should be having a go in a limited way, developing their skills in criterion based assessment and getting familiar with the APP statements. As departments we hope you are thinking about holding some trial agreement meetings so that you all get a feel for the process and start to ensure you have consistency of application accross your departments.
The Kent team will be happy to try to support your implementation of APP. Contact Keith to discuss your needs.
Now is the time to book your place at the Kent Science Conference to be held at the University of Kent. Delegates will hear an opening address on the STEM agenda and then go to laboratories to carry out hands on experiments in the university labs. You will be given full details of the experiments and some apparatus will be made available by the university for schools wishing to borrow it. The choice of workshops and further details are available in the attached flier. The day will end with a choice of workshops supporting you to promote the STEM agenda (especially the "S" of STEM (ie science)). Impact awards are available from the Science Learning Centre to attend this course. Details will be sent to all those signing up. This could be worth £200 to your school so should cover the cost of you attending.
We need more scientists / technologists in the UK. Come to this conference and see what you can do to make this need a reality.
This conference is intended for ANY science teacher and is open to those from beyond our "boundaries"!
The Dartford Grammar School (Boys) Science Faculty is pleased to invite you to the inaugural lecture to celebrate our Science College status, which we received in April.The lecture, entitled: "Putting HIV together - what cell biology tells us about AIDS" will be given by Professor Mark Marsh, director of the Cell Biology Unit, Medical Research Council Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology at University College London.
If you wish to attend the lecture please email Paul McDaid on pmcdaid@dartfordgrammar.kent.sch.uk with the name of your school and the number of tickets required. Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
Future Diary Date - We (Dartford Boys) will be holding a Science Careers Fair on Jan 28th 2010 - Details to follow - Get it in your diary!!
Further details of the lecture are available in the zipped file attached.
Following the recent training on APP the next steps on October 7th I have attached (as a zipped file) a variety of documents and the powerpoint used on the day. We will be getting the ideas from delegates typed up and they will be attached as soon as they are available. The file also contains the latest version of the DCSF spreadsheet to record achievement in the AF's.
I've found this ASE leaflet which explains the changes proposed for primary science. I though you secondary people might like to look at this. (Attached as zip file)
We are organising local meetings for all KCC school science teachers (including Academies) at six venues around Kent. Four have been finalised and 2 more to follow. I have attached (as a zipped file) one example of a flier for these events. The contact name will be different for bookings (see below) but the other details will be the same. Please book up as it helps ensure you get a cup of tea and some biscuits!! We hope to see as many as possible of you at these meetings. Feel free to come to any meeting - even if outside your area (but nearer home perhaps). Dates as follows:-
19.10.09 Gravesend Girls GS 4.00 pm for all NW Kent schools Contact Amy Raggett
21.10.09 St Simon Stock RC School 4.00 pm Maidstone & Malling LLN Contact Rob Comber
3.11.09 Hillview School - 4.00 pm West Kent LLN Contact Amy Raggett
4.11.09 Christchurch School - Ashford 4.00 pm Asford & Shepway LLN Contact Matthew Freeman
I have received the following information about a short, award winning film.
Brighton based film production company Father Films has produced an award winning 13min documentary on the extraordinary story of Venetia Phair, who named the planet Pluto in 1930, aged 11. The film also witnesses Venetia seeing the newly demoted planet for the very first time in 2007, 77 years after she gave Pluto its name. With the 80th anniversary of Pluto's discovery coming up in 2010 and during this International Year of Astronomy (2009), it may be a relevant and timely resource for Science Teachers & Schools of ages 8-12years, within the Kent region.
I have attached further extracts from the full e-mail which gives further information.
Andrew Berry, the Primary Teacher Adviser for science is organising outreach work for primary schools (andrew.berry@kent.gov.uk ) . The science specialist schools have already been asked to offer supoport. If you are thinking of offering some support to your local primary schools (or are already doing so) please let myself and Andrew know. Details of support currently offered can be found by following this link. http://www.kenttrustweb.org.uk/ask8/ask8_primary_science.cfm