CPD Forum

Hi Elaine

Here are a few ideas to get started. I hope they're useful.

The Scottish Government's recent STEM strategy outlines a number of actions to support CLD's STEM contributions. http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2017/10/1386/0

There are a few examples of STEM family learning on the National Improvement Hub and we are keen to add more:

https://education.gov.scot/improvement/sacfi9a-pizza-maths-renfrewshire

https://education.gov.scot/improvement/par13-family-learning-science-glasgow-clyde-college

Addressing the gender imbalance in STEM careers is an important aspect of national policy. CLD approaches have an important role to play - eg  YWCA Scotland Gen Up :

http://www.ywcascotland.org/work-with-us/gen-up/

There are lots of opportunities for STEM-reacted activities in outdoor learning - eg evident in SYHA programmes:

https://www.syha.org.uk/groups/school-and-youth-groups.aspx

The Princes Trust had a UK-wide project with the Wellcome Trust called 'STEMulating youth workers' which is worth looking at: 

https://wellcome.ac.uk/sites/default/files/stemulating-youth-workers-wellcome-feb16.pdf

Hello Elaine 

WEA have produced an adult learning resource called Counting on a Greener Scotland  which   explores weather ,climate and climate change and energy and renewables ( with integrated numeracy support )  

We have been developing a new introductory STEM resource called Science for a Successful Scotland ,exploring science related to the following:energy ,life sciences, creative industries, food and drink, and  environment and tourism  The This resource is due to be launched on February 7 th 2018. 

Both these resources are free, based around scqf level  4, ( COGS is credit rated through Napier University and we are aiming to have Science for a Successful Scotland credit rated too)available in hard and online format (via Clyde College VLE)

Learning Link Scotland  and WEA are hosting a focus group  on January 18 th for CLD practitioners to explore ways to incorporate science into  practice 

If you want any further information  on any of the above please get in touch

IKind regards  

Alison

This is the flyer for the Science for a Successful Scotland resource launch 

Hi Elaine

Attached is a copy of the info we submitted for a recent consultation about what our service is doing in terms of STEM and some documents we have developed aimed at young people and local businesses. They might (or might not) be useful!

We have been having family sessions for P1 to P4 using the Crest Awards which have been developed by the British Science Association.  They proved very populate with the families that attended, with both sets of parent/carers attending in a few cases.  We are now looking at developing this to keep the families who have already completed engaged. 

http://www.crestawards.org/

In North Edinburgh, CLD and the local (Muirhouse) Library delivered STEM sessions one afternoon a week for P4-7s from a local primary school (Pirniehall).

The sessions included electric circuits, ocean pollution, rainforest, renewable energy, water, air resistance/gravity, IT, visits to hydro and nuclear power stations etc.

The class would come to the library for the whole afternoon and be split into two groups. Group1 would spend half the afternoon in the main library and the other half in the library community room which was staffed by CLD. Group 2 would do the same activities but in reverse.

The activities were be based around the class teacher’s lesson plan that were shared well in advance. Informal learning staff delivered the sessions and some of the ideas and resources used were different to but complimentary to school approaches.

As a community worker rather than a STEM specialist, I found Tigtag very helpful for resources and ideas.  https://www.tigtagworld.co.uk/

 We ran these sessions every term for the last four years. Feedback from the class teachers was mainly very positive.