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2008-01-25 (Vol 5, No 1)

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National Value of Science Education Conference: first steps and initial reflections

Introduction
The National Value of Science Education Conference was an opportunity to explore the areas where practitioners believed that additional research would bring about a clearer view of action which could impact on students, teachers and the wider public. The delegates tackled issues regarding the science curriculum, teacher development, public engagement and the importance of strategic links - the emerging issues are summarised below.

Curriculum
Science education is for all students, not just those who want to become scientists. A key issue identified was the need to look into ways to support teachers to inspire all young people about science and research how the science curriculum can meet the needs of all young people. A review of curricula across different countries was suggested by delegates as a possible step forward.

Teacher education and development
The recruitment and retention of high quality teachers were identified as key points needing action. This is particularly true of the challenge of keeping teachers motivated and interested in developing their skills and knowledge.

Initial teacher training/education (ITT/ITE) needs to be thought of as the beginning of a continuum of professional development ?research looking at effective practice in this area and of improving professional development uptake and impact would be useful .

Technology is changing constantly and teacher training needs to keep teachers up-to-date with technologies that will help them in the classroom. Research is needed to find out how best to use such technologies and how it can be used to support continuing professional development (CPD).

Public engagement
The informal education sector present at the conference expressed a view that they want to have a clearer, more objective understanding of what people know, feel and want regarding science. Further, they wished to use this to test whether their activities match up to the young people’s needs. They also want to catalogue what is happening in the informal sector and to encourage networking and coordination.

Attitudes and opportunities
Conference delegates heard from a number of colleagues about matters related to young people’s (increasingly) negative views of science education and scientific careers in developed countries. They did so whilst gaining an insight into some views which point towards the value of a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education having value beyond the realms of ‘STEM?careers. The Wellcome Trust will be initiating a triennial longitudinal study to get better data on knowledge, understanding and attitudes to biomedical science of young people. The Trust will share the outcomes of this work and ensure that wherever possible international comparisons can be made.

Getting the message out to governments and other organisations
There was a great desire from delegates that governments and other organisations should be informed about the discussions that took place in York. Specifically UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), ICASE (International Council for Associations of Science Education), IOSTE (International Organisation for Science and Technology Education) and ICSU (International Council for Science) were mentioned.

Following the conference, a number of key activities are being taken forward:

?information presented at the conference has been made available on the National Science Learning Centre portal and delegates are continuing to augment this source of intelligence;
?a conference report, in the style of a personal reflection, is being prepared and will be sent to delegates and interested parties by the end of 2007;
?revised background papers about the educational systems of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries are also being made available; and
?by March 2008 the Wellcome Trust will contact delegates to find out what they have done since the conference.

For further information please contact:

Dr Simon Gallacher
Head of Education
Wellcome Trust
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK
T +44 (0) 20 7611 8843
F +44 (0) 20 7611 8269
E: s.gallacher@wellcome.ac.uk

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National Science.doc
National Value of Science Education.pdf

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