Science Learning Centres

Science Learning Centres

=Origins=

In 2001, the [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200102/ldselect/ldsctech/47/4702.htm/ House of Lords Science & Technology Select Committee Report] identified an urgent need for subject specific Continuing Professional Development for Science Teachers. In response to this and numerous other calls for action, the Department for Education and Skills and the Wellcome Trust invested £51 million in the creation of the national network of Science Learning Centres. After a competitive tendering process the first Science Learning Centre opened its doors in October 2004. Today the Centres are more than just a location for training courses, they are rapidly becoming the focus for all science education activity in the UK.

Continuing professional development

Science Learning Centres run courses that provide continuing professional development for "anyone" involved in the teaching of science, from those working with reception aged children to post 16 students, including primary and secondary teachers, technicians, teaching assistants and FE lecturers.

The aim of all Science Learning Centres is to reconnect teachers with the frontiers of their subject and the latest techniques for teaching it. Teachers who attend courses are given the opportunity to renew and extend their teaching skills by mixing with and learning from colleagues who face similar challenges to their own, and have access to the UK’s leading experts in science educational research.

Centres

There are 10 Science Learning Centres around the country. One to serve each of the nine English government regions and a National Science Learning Centre (based in the University of York) which provides training for anyone from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Each Centre is run by a consortium of organisations, which vary from local councils and professional bodies to universities, schools, science centres and industry partners.

* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=2 The National Science Learning Centre] , located in York

* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=3 Science Learning Centre East of England] , located in Hertfordshire
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=4 Science Learning Centre East Midlands] , located in Leicester
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=5 Science Learning Centre London]
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=6 Science Learning Centre North East] , located in Durham
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=7 Science Learning Centre North West] , located in Manchester
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=8 Science Learning Centre South East] , located in Southampton
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=9 Science Learning Centre South West] , located in Bristol
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=10 Science Learning Centre West Midlands] , located in Keele
* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/WebPortal.aspx?page=11 Science Learning Centre Yorkshire & the Humber] , located in Sheffield

Courses

The courses offered at the regional Centres usually feature one day’s training at the Centre, together with ongoing support through classroom exercises and online materials. The National Science Learning Centre, based at the University of York, offers residential courses for teachers, providing access to the facilities for teachers of two or more days, often spread across more than one term.

Ambitions

The national network of Science Learning Centres has been created with ambitious goals in mind; not least to help British teachers, lecturers, technicians and classroom assistants to lead the world in science education by 2015.

References

*'Science in Schools: Government Responses' Second Report (2001) The House of Lords Science and Learning Select Committee.
*‘Believers, Seekers and Sceptics’ (2005). An extensive survey to find out what teachers think about continuing professional development commissioned by the Wellcome Trust

External links

* [http://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/ Science Learning Centres Website]
* [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldsctech.htm/ Publications by the House of Lords Science and Learning Select Committee]
* [http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/ The Wellcome Trust]
* [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/ The Department for Education and Skills]
* [http://www.york.ac.uk/ The University of York]
* [http://www.nagty.ac.uk National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Science museum — For places named Science Museum or a list of similar buildings, see List of science museums. Demonstration of artificial lightning (in the Museum of Science, Boston) …   Wikipedia

  • Science communication — is the sum of all those processes by which scientific culture and knowledge is incorporated into the common culture. cite journal |last=Bryant |first=C. |authorlink= |year=2003 |month= |title=Does Australia Need a More Effective Policy of Science …   Wikipedia

  • Association for Science Education — The Association for Science Education (ASE) is a professional association in the United Kingdom for teachers of science. It formed in 1963, and currently has 29,692 members.External links* [http://www.ase.org.uk/ Official website] *… …   Wikipedia

  • Science and mathematics from the Renaissance to Descartes — George Molland Early in the nineteenth century John Playfair wrote for the Encyclopaedia Britannica a long article entitled ‘Dissertation; exhibiting a General View of the Progress of Mathematics and Physical Science, since the Revival of Letters …   History of philosophy

  • learning theory — ▪ psychology Introduction       any of the proposals put forth to explain changes in behaviour produced by practice, as opposed to other factors, e.g., physiological development.       A common goal in defining any psychological (psychology)… …   Universalium

  • Science in the Age of Enlightenment — The scientific history of the Age of Enlightenment traces developments in science and technology during the Age of Reason, when Enlightenment ideas and ideals were being disseminated across Europe and North America. Generally, the period spans… …   Wikipedia

  • science, philosophy of — Branch of philosophy that attempts to elucidate the nature of scientific inquiry observational procedures, patterns of argument, methods of representation and calculation, metaphysical presuppositions and evaluate the grounds of their validity… …   Universalium

  • Computer-assisted language learning — (CALL) is succinctly defined in a seminal work by Levy (1997: p. 1) as the search for and study of applications of the computer in language teaching and learning .[1] CALL embraces a wide range of ICT applications and approaches to teaching… …   Wikipedia

  • Glasgow Science Centre — is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall , an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower . The Scottish …   Wikipedia

  • social science — social scientist. 1. the study of society and social behavior. 2. a science or field of study, as history, economics, etc., dealing with an aspect of society or forms of social activity. [1775 85] * * * Any discipline or branch of science that… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”