Physics into Schools

Overview

The Physics into Schools module gives students the opportunity to gain experience teaching physics in a school environment and honing the skills necessary to thrive as a teacher or science communicator. It is part of a national scheme to give undergraduates a taste of teaching in schools (www.uas.ac.uk).

You will spend Michaelmas term gaining skills useful for work as a science communicator and gaining experience planning lessons and conveying physical concepts to a visiting primary school audience on campus. In Epiphany term you spend 40 hours on placement in a local primary or secondary school, acting as a teaching assistant and planning and carrying out your own special project.

Previous Projects have included:

• Running lessons on Physics careers
• Running afterschool or lunchtime science clubs
• Running a session in an activity day
• Running revision sessions

Course Aims:

• Develop a range of key skills
• Provide a taste of teaching
• Inspire the next generation of scientists/engineers/mathematicians
• Inspire teachers to convey the excitement of science

Undergraduates Get:

• Opportunity to share their enthusiasm for their subject
• Practical classroom experience
• Development of transferable skills, including:
  • planning and organisation
  • time-management
  • communication and negotiation

School Students Get:

• Opportunity to interact with role models
• Individual attention from people who are passionate about science
• Opportunity to spend time with people who are currently in Higher Education and to:
  • Ask them questions
  • Develop their own ideas for the future

Course Details:

Term 3 of 2nd Year:

• Interview with module leaders.
• DBS checks.

Term 1 of 3rd Year:

• 10 1-hour sessions on transferable skills, public engagement, science communication and preparation for placements.
• Activity Day with a local primary school.
• Identification of placement schools.

Term 2 of 3rd Year:

• 40-hour Placement including classroom observation, teaching support, small group/whole class teaching and Special Project.
• Assessed Presentation

Term 3 of 3rd Year:

• Submission of final written assessments.

Assessment:

There are multiple forms of assessment:

• Project Report: A written report detailing the project you planned and undertook in epiphany term.
• Executive Summary of Reflective Journal: Students are asked to reflect on their own personal development, on their experience of school and the organisation of teaching and on pupils' science learning. You will keep a reflective journal throughout your placement and will use this as a basis for your executive summary.
• A Short presentation: You will give a presentation to a group detailing your school placement and your special project, including what you planned, how you carried it out, and an evaluation of its success.
• Teacher Evaluation: An independent corroboration of progress, including the student's approach, attitude, appreciation of key educational skills and performance in the Project.