Dialogue in Science CPD for KS3 and KS4 science teachers
Throughout 2010
2-3 hours
Venue: If you can muster 20-25 science teacher, we will come to you!
The course:
This course combines methods of philosophical enquiry with scientific stimuli to enable teachers to create and sustain a dialogue with their classes. We emphasise the importance of enquiry and questioning skills, imaginative and meaningful dialogue, and careful reasoning and reflection. We aims to improve pupils’ abilities to think creatively, critically, and collaboratively through facilitated discussion.
Our workshop will model classroom practice through the presentation of a science stimulus - a reading, an activity, a multimedia presentation etc . Participants will then be encouraged to collaborate in formulating specific questions arising from these issues, and then to democratically select a single question for the whole group to explore through structured dialogue aided by the facilitator.
How does it translate to the classroom?
- it improves listening, speaking and thinking through co-operative inquiry.
- it gets participants asking questions, thinking in concepts, reasoning well.
- it develops critical, creative and collaborative thinking.
- it nurtures social and teamwork skills, builds community, improves behaviour
- it generates reflection on learning styles and processes, promotes meta-cognition.
Resources and suggested lesson plans will be provided.
The cost
The Biochemical Society will cover the full cost of the course and refreshments however we will need to ask for a returnable £100 cheque payable to 'The Biochemical Society' from the organizer to book the event (this will not be cashed and will be returned upon registration)
We appreciate the difficulties involved with arranging cover and with trying to fit in with the schools' programme of events and we would aim to be as flexible as possible with dates. We would be happy to run your event as a twighlight or even in the holidays if required. We would require a room without tables or where tables can be moved to the sides. We would also need a data projector with audio and ideally an internet connection but this is not essential. If you are interested hosting a free course, please contact jane.thomson at biochemistry.org with your preferred time/date/location so we can book you onto our calendar of events which currently runs between now and December 2010.