Primary STEM Challenge Week - March 2010

Over 50 primary schools took part in the annual Primary STEM Challenge at a number of venues in the SELB Board area over a four day period. This year’s Challenge was the construction of an operational windmill capable of rotating into the wind, using the range of materials provided.

A big thank you to all the teachers and schools for the tremendous effort and enthusiasm they showed, and especially to those schools who acted as hosts for the competition.

Well done to all the pupils who took part and worked so enthusiastically to produce a wide range of innovative designs.

Congratulations to the winners of the SELB heats as follows:
The Armstrong Primary School, Armagh
St Mary’s Primary School, Banbridge
Roan St Patrick’s Primary School, Dungannon
Richmount Primary School, Portadown
Our Lady’s Primary School, Tullysaran

These schools now go forward to represent the SELB and compete in the final on Monday 21st June at W5, Belfast.

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ASE Annual Conference 2010

This year’s ASE Annual Conference was held amid the snow and ice of a chilly Nottingham from the 5th-9th January. The University of Nottingham campus hosted a wide ranging programme of continuing professional development with a large choice of events across all student age ranges and aspects of science education.

With so much choice it was hard to decide between the host of worthy workshops and events, and difficult choices had to be made. For every venue attended there were at least two others you would have gone to if you only had time. But whatever the choices made you always come away from the conference with the batteries charged, full of enthusiasm and a host of new ideas and a potential shopping list as long as your arm from the visiting exhibitors.

The social programme included “What Robin Hood Never Knew Or The Science of Archery” in which Mark Stretton, an acclaimed expert, distinguished between fact and fiction and explained the science behind longbows. In addition there was some simple dance tuition and demonstration from professional dancers in “Strictly Come Dancing” and of course the Association Dinner in the East Midlands Conference Centre.

For further information on The Association for Science Education
Address : ASE, College Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9AA
Tel: 01707 283000
Web site: http://www.ase.org.uk/
NI Regional Representative :Dr. Caroline Greer
Email: caroline.greer@yahoo.co.uk
NI Field Officer : Mr. Colin Press
Email : colinpress@ase.org.uk

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2010 International Year of Biodiversity

The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It includes the whole of the natural world and is essential for sustaining the natural living systems that provide us with food, fuel, health, wealth, and other vital services. Biodiversity enriches our lives in so many ways, that we often take it for granted. It has shaped our culture, our traditions and societies. It is the basis of economy and trade, it provides services essential to human well-being such as climate control, pollination, flood protection, and so many others. If the current loss of biodiversity continues, we will not only be poorer, in every sense of the word, but our very existence will be threatened.

We have the power to protect or destroy our biodiversity. Currently, our activities are destroying biodiversity at alarming rates. These losses are irreversible and damage the life support systems we rely on. But we can prevent them.
We need to reflect on our achievements to safeguard biodiversity and focus on the urgent challenges ahead.

Now is the time to act.
This year is your chance to learn more about the rich tapestry of life around you, discover why it’s important for a healthy environment and get involved in monitoring and conserving your local wildlife.
We will be running a programme of events throughout 2010 to celebrate and promote International Year of Biodiversity. Stay up to date with upcoming events and ways to become involved here and at biodiversityni.com

Text and image taken for the NI Environment Agency website :
http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/biodiversity/international_year_of_biodiversity.htm

Newry & Mounre District Local Biodiversity Action Plan:
http://www.newryandmourne.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity_action_plan.pdf

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Bursaries for Teacher Professional Development

The General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) has just announced a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Bursary funding programme available during 2010-11. The funding will be made available to individual teachers wishing to undertake professional activities relating to the NI Curriculum. The closing date for applications is Monday 1st March 2010.

The programme has been running successfully for five years and as with previous bursary programmes an emphasis is being placed on teacher professional development relating to improvement in teaching and learning for pupils. The Registrar of GTCNI, Eddie McArdle commented: “The bursary offers the opportunity for teachers to gain professional experiences that are not otherwise immediately available to them. All of the previous participants have spoken enthusiastically about the ‘professional space’ afforded by the bursary and testified the benefits of the experience, not only through confidence gained while undertaking the projects, but to the pupils too”.The range of previous bursary projects have included the development of skills in new ICT applications and software, skills in using interactive whiteboards and expertise in e-learning. The application form and notes are available for download from the GTCNI website http://www.gtcni.org.uk/index.cfm/page/Home/area/information. The closing date for applications is Monday 1st March 2010 and the activity period runs from 5th April 2010 – 1st March 2011

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IOP Workshop in Sacred Heart Grammar School Newry

This workshop was presented by Sue McGrath – the Northern Ireland Co-ordinator for the Institute of Physics and was hosted by the science department of the Sacred Heart Grammar School on October 21st 09.


Sue describes the workshop as an opportunity to: “Build your very own compressed air rocket launcher (projectable launcher). Ideal for science investigators and a ‘wow’ with children of all ages, including adult age children” The launcher was made from plumbing parts and the rockets, made from paper and tape, are easy and cheap to make in class.

Amongst other things you can change the weighting, position of fins, number of fins, shape and size on nosecone on the projectile and the pressure and angle of firing can be changed on the launcher. Participants get to take the complete launcher back to school. Great for lessons, science clubs and open days. suemcgrath@btinternet.com


See more pictures:

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Attending the National Science Learning Centre (NSLC)

Time spent on a residential course at the National Science Learning Centre in York is a career defining experience for many of the teachers, teaching assistants, technicians and lecturers who visit the Centre. However, NSLC understand that it can still be difficult for schools and colleges to find the budget to allow you extended periods of time away from your pupils. This year they’re delighted to announce the launch of ENTHUSE Awards, to be made available by the trustees of the ENTHUSE Charitable Trust.

The ENTHUSE Award is designed to cover your course fees, supply cover for the duration of the course, travel, accommodation in our high quality residential facilities and all your meals and refreshments during your stay. It will also include a small amount of money to help you implement your ideas once you arrive back in the classroom.

For further information please feel free to contact any member of the SELB Science Team.

The NSLC website https://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/
gives the following advice:

Who can apply?
Any teacher, teaching assistant, technician or lecturer from a school or college in the UK can apply for an ENTHUSE Award. How do I apply? Shortly after you have applied for a place on a course you will be sent an e-mail containing a link to an electronic Impact identifier and ENTHUSE Award Application Form. Simply complete these forms before the start of the course to apply for your Award. You MUST apply for a place on a course before you submit your application for an ENTHUSE Award. To apply for the course of your choice visit our courses and events page.

How much is it worth?
The value of the ENTHUSE Award varies per course and is given in the fees section on the course pages. How much do the courses cost? Costs vary per course and are detailed in the fees section on each individual course page. When will my school or college get the money? These Awards will be paid direct to your school or college following satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the ENTHUSE Award, which include completion of the course and submission of an action plan. The action plan will need to have been discussed with your line manager and show how you will ensure that the Continuing Professional Development has an impact in your school or college. Your line manager may be contacted by your course leader to discuss your action plan. See terms & conditions below.

What can my school or college use the money for?
Your ENTHUSE Award can be used to cover course fees, supply cover, travel, accommodation or to fund your ideas for improving the teaching of science. How many ENTHUSE Awards can teachers at my school or college apply for? Teachers from the same school or college are eligible to apply for a maximum of two ENTHUSE Awards on any one course. If your school or college wishes to send more than two members of staff on one course then the additional applicants will be held on a waiting list. If the course has not reached capacity one month prior to the course start date the additional applicants will also be eligible to apply for an ENTHUSE Award. However, teachers from the same school or college can apply for as many places as they wish on separate courses.

When do I find out if I've been awarded one? We will process your ENTHUSE Award within ten working days of your application. Who can I contact with any queries or problems I'm having with the ENTHUSE Award process? If you need help completing your form one of our team will be happy to assist - simply call 01904 328 300.

Terms & Conditions: There are certain criteria in place that must be fulfilled in order for your school or college to receive the full payment of the ENTHUSE Award:
You must be employed by a school.
The National Science Learning Centre must have received full payment of fees.
You must complete and submit an action plan to the course leader at the end of the course.
The National Science Learning Centre will evaluate the impact of courses in schools and colleges including an audit of how the ENTHUSE Award has been used. You and your school or college must be willing to participate in this exercise.
If so requested, your school or college will provide confirmation of the amount of out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with your attendance on the course (including course fees, subsistence, travel and supply cover).
You must complete the full course.
However:
Should participants not be able to complete attendance of the full course, suitable reasons on compassionate grounds such as a family bereavement or serious illness will be taken into account by the trustees of the ENTHUSE Charitable Trust in determining whether full payment of the ENTHUSE Award is approved.
Partial payment may be approved by the Centre when there has been incomplete attendance of course due to mild illness, family circumstances or pregnancy.
In the case of family bereavement, illness, family circumstances or pregnancy, schools are encouraged to send a substitute person who has, where possible, been briefed by the original participant. If no substitute is available, schools will be able to transfer their booking and ENTHUSE Award on to the same course in the following year or to another course during the same year. If the school does not transfer the booking to another date on, or before the date of the course then the ENTHUSE Award will not be given and the school or college will be liable for the full fees, if it has not already paid them.

ENTHUSE Awards will not be paid when:
The participant fails to attend the second residential period or complete the course without providing a suitable reason*
The participant has absented themselves from sessions without providing a suitable reason*
The participant has left the course early without offering a suitable reason*
The school does not release the participant because of events, such as an Ofsted inspection, that are part of normal school business.
*A suitable reason would include compassionate grounds such as a family bereavement or serious illness. If any participant fails to meet the criteria to receive their full ENTHUSE Award the school will be notified immediately.

Who is providing the money to the ENTHUSE Charitable Trust to enable it to fund the ENTHUSE Awards? The money is being provided by the Department for Children,Schools and Families, AstraZeneca, AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust, BAE Systems, BP, General Electric Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline, Rolls‑Royce, Vodafone and Vodafone Group Foundation.

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CLEAPSS Course in St Patrick's High School Keady

SELB science technicians attended a Practical Skills & Techniques in Chemistry course on Friday 2nd October 2009. Mr Bob Worley from CLEAPSS was the course presenter and the event was hosted by St Patrick's High School.

See photos below:

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