Research Project Presentation: Teaching Project Lisette Voûte

Teaching Project 1.Research – Investigating the Current English School System 2.Observation – Observing Teaching Styles & Comparison between Two Year 12 Classes 3.Teaching - Becoming the Teacher 4.New A-Level Chemistry Criteria - Researching the Changes, Ideology for the Changes & Whether it is a Success 5.Teachers Resource Pack - A Teachers Resource on Green Chemistry for the new A-Level Specifications

Aims TO PROMOTE CHEMISTRY IN SCHOOLS This was done by: Discovering todays requirements for teaching styles and students learning needs Encouraging pupils to study chemistry or a science subject further Investigating the changes to the QCA A-Level Chemistry Criteria, the ideology for the changes and whether the new criteria is a success Creating a teachers resource pack to develop their teaching and the pupils interest

Motive In the last 10 years: The Percentage of UCAS Chemistry Applicants has declined to 0.15% from 0.20% 30 UK Universities have closed down their Chemistry departments

Introduction Comprehensive co-educational, non-denominational secondary school in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire 1700 Students –350 Sixth Form Students Opened in 1965 Sixth Form on a Separate Site A-Level Points GCSE59% of pupils obtained 5 passes GCSE Science63% of pupils obtained 2 or more passes A-Level97% pass rate A-Level45% achieving A and B

Research In order to: Ensure full preparedness and that lessons given were effective Effectively observe and compare different teaching styles within the school Maximise the value and utility of the Teachers Pack through incorporating a range of teaching styles

Research School system - what is required at Primary & Secondary Level The National Curriculum –Introduced in 1988 through the Education Reform Act –Requires pupils to pass 4 key stages –Aims to make pupils become Successful Learners, Confident Individuals and Responsible Citizens Current GCSE Science Specifications & Assessment Structure Teaching Styles and Types of Learning Howard Gardner formulated a list of seven intelligences Mike Hughes suggested there were three main types of learner: –Visual - Learn best by seeing –Auditory – Learn best by hearing –Physical – Learn best by doing Teaching Resources Outreach Events –Demonstrator in Year 10/11 Organic Chemistry Practical: Extracting Caffeine from Tea Leaves –Primary School Lecture: Fizz, Foam and Flubber

Observation First 2 Weeks 8 Lessons a week 5 Different Teachers (one French Lesson) 16 Hours Throughout the Year: Teaching Styles Year 12 Classes Comparison –One teacher was mostly auditory and some visual –One teacher was an equal mixture of physical, auditory and visual

Teaching 14 Weeks 6 Classes 4 Teachers Years 11, 12 and Hours/5040 Minutes Lessons Magic Show Lunchtime Lecture on Chemistry at University Remedial Classes

New A-Level Chemistry QCA Criteria Researched Changes Made Philosophy Behind the Changes Whether the new Criteria is a success Why Schools Chose their Specification

New A-Level Chemistry QCA Criteria Researched Changes Made Philosophy Behind the Changes Whether the new Criteria is a success Why Schools Chose their Specification

New A-Level Chemistry QCA Criteria Methodology Meeting at old school Masters Students Questionnaire Inset Day –Interview Teachers in Chemistry Department Interviewed Colin Chambers, AQA Chief & Chair Examiner Questionnaires

Key Results These results are preliminary

Ideology for the Changes AQA Chief Examiner Interview: Trying to increase the link between the course and real world contexts –So pupils know what questions to ask when faced with real world issues and understand them better –Get them to have an educated vote Introduction of concepts relevant to current social and political issues e.g. environmental/green chemistry To better discriminate between candidates

Ideology for the Changes

Green Chemistry Teachers Pack Developed a resource on a new topic in the A-Level Specifications Went through each of the specifications (OCR A and B, AQA and Edexcel) and found what was knowledge was required of the candidates in terms of anything to do with green chemistry. Background information on the subjects for teachers' knowledge Lesson plans on the different topics Resources & References

Further Work Website CHEEP or PEEP to include information on green chemistry and recycling Expand teaching styles comparison Expand questionnaire to more counties Repeat research on whether the new specifications are a success after a year of teaching and examination results

Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people for their support, effort and contribution to my project: Tim Harrison and Dr. Smith Rachel Hopwood and the Staff at The Castle School Colin Chambers, AQA Chief Examiner & Chairman Dr. David Read, University of Southampton Fellow UAS Students for their support