Experts from Shell Education Service and 150 local children take Aberdeen University’s student teachers back to the blackboard to learn how to make science inspiring.
Student teachers in Aberdeen have undergone intensive training from Shell Education Service on how best to teach science to primary school children and then faced the sternest test of all by delivering a series of workshops for 150 local school children.
Having been through the expert Shell Education Service training, fourteen Aberdeen University student teachers then led a series of workshops that involved local children from St Machar Primary School learning about forces and taking part in a series of hands-on investigations encouraging them to explore and question science.
Examples of the investigations included understanding where the energy comes from to power a clockwork radio and discovering more about how circuits work.
The course is in line with the Scottish Executive's 'A Curriculum for Excellence', particularly enabling young people to become successful learners with enthusiasm and motivation to link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations.
Martin Wesley – one of the workshop leaders from the Shell Education Service – said: ‘We know that too many of the scientists of tomorrow are lost at an early age. Indeed it is at primary school when future Nobel prize winners need to be excited and enthralled as to the limitless possibilities of science. Today’s workshops are aimed at engaging children’s curiosity through the excitement and fun of science, helping them to understand the world around them.’
Chris Fraser – Lecturer in Education at Aberdeen University’s School of Education – commented: “We are delighted to be working with Shell Education on this initiative. It gives our students, many of whom do not have a strong background in science, a wonderful opportunity to develop their confidence to teach this subject. It also enables us to work more closely with children and teachers in our partnership schools.”
Louise Johnson – Head of Social Investment at Shell – said: ‘Shell believes that science and engineering must play a leading role in meeting some of the most pressing challenges faced by society, particularly in sustainable energy. So it’s vital today’s children become inspired by science at a very early age and that business, Government and public services work together to encourage young people to take science subjects on to further and higher education. Our workshops are a great way of connecting children with science and reach some 50,000 children a year.’