How Science Works

1. Data, evidence, theories and explanations 2. Practical and enquiry skills

4. Applications and implications of science

Argument!

3. Communication skills

What is Science?What do Scientists do?

Why is Science changing?

How is science changing? What is our understanding of HSW?

What is the Progression in Scientific enquiry skills?

Talking about HSW, moving our understanding forward

Joint planning in pairs or 3s? (PDR) Application

Some example lesson plans and resources

Next steps

Session outlineOutcomes- What I’m Looking For

You will know you have been successful if you have :-

discussed what science is and developed understanding of How Science Works.

have looked at and discussed progression in Sci enquiry skills

have developed a departmental understanding of How Science Works and have started to jointly plan a lesson

Outcomes- What I’m Looking For

You will know you have been successful if you have :-

discussed what science is and developed understanding of How Science Works.

have looked at and discussed progression in Scientific enquiry skills

have developed a departmental understanding of How Science works and have started to jointly plan a lesson

What is Science? What do scientists do?

Watch / listen to the starter. What do you think?

Agree as a pair.(Think, pair, share).

Why is KS4 (and 3) Science

changing?

The school science curriculum has two jobs to do.

Access to basic scientific literacy

The first stages of a training in science

for all for a minority

There is an inherent tension between these aims.

The key issue (Beyond 2000)- or what do we teach Science for?

2

Comments on existing GCSE science

‘… recent research would suggest that pupils’ experience is structured by a curriculum that is dominated by content requiring their teachers to “frogmarch them across the scientific landscape”. The pedagogy commonly used by such a curriculum is heavily reliant on transmission and one-way communication of information, and lacks a variety of teaching approaches.’

Assessment of Science Learning 14–19, A report prepared by King’s College London, © Royal Society , 2004

4

Comments on existing GCSE science

‘Although certain features such as the opportunity to engage in empirical enquiry do appeal, other elements such as the crammed and content-laden nature of the curriculum, the lack of opportunities for discussion, the considerable repetition of subject matter, and the overuse of copying have led to the voicing of many well-articulated complaints. In many cases the outcome has been the formation of negative attitudes towards one or more of the sciences.’

Assessment of Science Learning 14–19, A report prepared by King’s College London, © Royal Society , 20045

What do pupils want to learn

about in science?

1.Explosive Chemicals1.Explosive Chemicals2.How it feels to be 2.How it feels to be weightless in spaceweightless in space3.How the atomic bomb 3.How the atomic bomb functionsfunctions4.Biological and Chemical 4.Biological and Chemical Weapons and what they do to Weapons and what they do to the human bodythe human body5.Black holes, supernovae 5.Black holes, supernovae and other spectacular objects and other spectacular objects in spacein space

1.Why we dream when we are 1.Why we dream when we are sleeping and what the dreams sleeping and what the dreams may meanmay mean2.Cancer, what we know and 2.Cancer, what we know and how we can treat ithow we can treat it3.How best to perform first-aid 3.How best to perform first-aid and use basic medical and use basic medical equipmentequipment4.How to exercise to keep the 4.How to exercise to keep the body fit and strongbody fit and strong5.Sexually transmitted 5.Sexually transmitted diseases and how to be diseases and how to be protected against them.protected against them.

“How science works”

More than “just scientific enquiry” Emphasises the role of evidence and how

scientists work

Highlights benefits, drawbacks and risks and cost of scientific developments

Implies a context of contemporary science

Offers the possibility of real progression from KS3

Will require different approaches to teaching and learning to those currently prevalent in KS4

Content as context – The relationship between “how science works and the content

In pairs

Find the set of cards which have the statements from the PoS for KS4 How Science Works.

Match each card statement with appropriate statement(s) from the KS3 PoS for Scientific Enquiry . Place each card in the most sensible position on the handout

You have 5 minutes

How Science Works

1. Data, evidence, theories and explanations 2. Practical and enquiry skills

4. Applications and implications of science

Argument!

3. Communication skills

In pairs plan a lesson to for the HSW area given.

Try this out before next session.

Be prepared to feed back

You have 20 mins

What are the next steps?As individuals,

As a department?As an LA?

……from what you from what you heardheard?? ……from what you from what you

did?did?

…from what you from what you saw?saw?

Our question is?Our question is?

What have What have you you learntlearnt….….