This site has been constructed by science tutors to share and support our work with science teachers in training, both primary and secondary. It is part of a wider project sponsored by the TDA (Subject Support Network - SRN), to support all tutors new to teacher training.
To view the site or to download files there is no requirement to log on, however, if you wish to take part in the discussion area (Forum) you must register in the right hand column and then log on.
The menu buttons above take you to the main sections of the site where you can see examples of current practice in science teacher education. There is support on how to run sessions with trainee teachers and downloads of material you may wish to share with them.
All material and all documents appearing as downloads in this website can be freely copied and amended if used for educational purposes. They must not be used for commercial gain. The author(s) and web source www.scitutors.org.uk should be acknowledged whether used as they stand or whether adapted in any way. Use of this site implies acceptance of this agreement.
These are often covered in ITT courses at a general cross-curriculum level, either by professional studies tutors centrally, or by 'training managers' in school. However most of these issues need to be covered by science tutors to look at the specific requirements relating to teaching science. Again much of this will be covered in school by the 'subject mentor' or class teacher, but there is plenty, too, that can be usefully covered in central sessions by the science tutor.
The Professional Issues tab above leads to support material and ideas for running sessions that can be used with trainee teachers.
Within each unit you will find links to other support materials, such as the National Strategies for science. You will also find that issues are related generically across the ages ranges, but where issues apply to a limited range of Key stages (or to the foundation stage) this will be indicated.
All of us, trainees and tutors alike, will have our weak areas of subject knowledge and primary trainees may have little beyond their 'C' in GCSE required for entry to teacher training.
This section of the website suggests how trainees' subject knowledge can be strengthened during their teacher training year(s). It also deals with ideas about how to support trainees as they teach the topic and provides suggestions for running sessions.
The Knowledge tab above leads you to a range of resources to support subject understanding appropriate for each key stage, either helping trainees with their personal understanding or giving them ideas for teaching the topic.
The General ideas (K0) section provides background ideas regarding the nature of science learning and some critical issues regarding the engagement of students and teachers in this learning.
The science component is only a part of the full ITT provision and so many or most of these issues will be decided on a whole-course level. This is particularly so with primary courses. However there are implications for science tutors in the way courses are structured, and this section explores some of these.
This section provides information about research in science education. It helps in getting your own research started both in terms of higher degrees and sources of funding, and gives advice on helping students with their research.
A new section has recently been added where researchers in science education relate their own personal stories of how they becaome involved and they give advice to new-comers.
Please use the Forum to make comments and suggestions on how we can improve the site, and to offer material that we can include. We hope that this will become a place where you will find it useful to discuss issues and share ideas with colleagues.
The 2010 ATSE Summer Conference took place at MMU Cheshire, Crewe, from Tuesday 24th to Thursday 26th August. The theme of this year's Conference was ‘Broadening Horizons in Science Education' and the cost was £200 per delegate.
| List of talks and synopses |
 | Conference draft programme |
Evaluation of the conference by the new tutors who attended this year and previous years can be read in the SciTutors forum on www.scitutors.org.uk (to read and participate in the forum, you need to register/log in)
There are free places for new science education tutors. Funding is available (to cover conference costs and accommodation, but NOT travel to the conference), to new appointees from the past year who have not been to an ATSE Conference previously.
Places are limited - please contact Alan Goodwin at alangoodwinuk@yahoo.co.uk as soon as possible, together with details of institution, appointment and date. If you have new tutors joining you, please encourage them to attend!
Evaluation of the conference by the new tutors who attended last year at Cumbria, and previous years, can be read in the forum (you need to register/log-in to read and participate in the forum):
A new chat section has been added to the forum. Click 'View topic' to receive an email when someone responds to your comments.
We have added a link to the revamped Hubble telescope in the section on The Earth and Beyond to celebrate the completion of the upgraded telescope.
The site has been redesigned to make it much more flexible in use and, although it may not look much different from the outside it has become much simpler to edit and add material. Hopefully users of the site will be prepared to let editors know of errors they find and suggest additional content or references or resources. A particularly powerful way of sharing your ideas and supporting others is to supply additional 'download materials' that you have prepared or that are used on your courses. (Please ensure that there are no copyright issues to be resolved). Please contact Alan Goodwin (alangoodwinuk@yahoo.co.uk) or Keith Ross (keithaross@googlemail.com) with any constructive comments and/or suggestions you may have.
Education Subject Centre: advancing learning and teaching in education. (ESCalate): Valuable and professionally relevant material is also here: http://escalate.ac.uk/3662 although this site does not have a specific science education focus.
