A STEM Ambassador's involvement can engage and enthuse both students and teachers. If you are interested in asking a STEM Ambassador to assist you can make your request here. We’ve created brief guides to encourage both STEM Ambassadors and educators to use the self-service. 

• Mentoring student projects through Microsoft Teams, Skype and similar secure platforms. 

• Invite a STEM Ambassador to virtually visit a STEM Club or class session. This will be undertaken with the usual safeguarding measures that apply to all STEM Ambassador engagements.

• Video careers interviews and Mock Interviews 

• Teacher webinars to ‘meet the STEM Ambassadors’

• Assistance with developing practical activities 

• Live video tours of a workplace with a STEM Ambassador

Virtual CREST Awards at Ysgol Nantgwyn

When teacher Alicia Davies of Ysgol Nantgwyn - a 3 to 16 school in the Rhondda Valley - was faced with providing STEM provision for her pupils during Lockdown she turned to the CREST Awards for inspiration. Pupils from years 4 to 8 worked on a CREST Discovery project related to COVID-19. Alicia was interviewed about her experience of running the project by the British Science Association for a blog post.

Here are some quotes from the interview and you can find it in full here. “... it was really important to me to use this time as a way to do something meaningful, relevant and engaging, alongside allowing the children to work towards a tangible achievement that they could look back upon and feel proud about - CREST provided that! ... I really enjoyed organising it. I started off by looking at the resources available on the CREST website to see what the end goal should be, and I ended up adapting the ‘Stop the Spread’ package to be about airborne diseases instead of waterborne diseases (for obvious reasons!)... CREST provided a framework for me to work from
when adapting my practice to remote teaching. By having a skills focus with an open ended challenge, it meant that all pupils were able to adapt their work in whichever ways they had available to them at home. This was really important as access to resources is obviously a huge potential limitation for kids who are at home... The children really engaged with it as a goal to work towards, and the feedback from them and parents has been so positive. Lots of children have stated that it was their favourite part of the lockdown resources provided by the school, so I think that is definitely a good sign!... I would absolutely recommend the CREST Awards. It is engaging, relevant and flexible - very straightforward and overall a very positive experience!”

Stop the Spread is one of many CREST Discovery resources, all of which can be found in the CREST Resource Library. If you have any questions about running a CREST activity, virtually or at school, contact Llinos

Online STEM resources

If you're looking for useful online resources to enrich your STEM teaching then take a look at our new and improved Resources pages. We have done the hard work for you and listed over 100 different links to great educational online material.

We have listed them - with brief descriptions - under topic headings to make it even easier to find something that will suit your needs. We have a page of Online Science Resources; ranging from General Science, which covers a broad range, to specific resources on Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Space, Energy and more. On our Other Online Resources page we have listed Careers, Maths, Technology & Engineering and Coding & Computing resources. They are all labelled as suitable for Primary, Secondary or both. If you know of a great resource that we haven't included, please let us know by contacting Llinos.

How do we do this? Through working with our partners, organising events in schools and encouraging learners to think about their future. We have equipment that will support and provide learners with opportunities to try out new skills.

Workshops - We are currently working towards creating workshops to enhance the learner experience and
compliment the use of the HAG kit. Our vision is to tailor these experiences to individual learners and partners' needs.

ISEiW Ambassador Programme - We are currently working on introducing an Ambassador programme to provide role models for learners. Ambassadors will be instrumental in encouraging young people to consider different future pathways. They will support ‘Have A Go’ events and workshops with both employers and in education.

IOP Wales Welsh Physics Teachers Conference Brecon 2020 ONLINE Monday 5th to Saturday 10th October

For all teachers of Physics... 

A fabulous free week of presentations and workshops for teachers, technicians and PGCE students with opportunities to network with colleagues online.

We will offer workshops between 16:00 and 20:00 each evening Monday – Friday, as well as a full programme on Wednesday (09:00 – 20:00) and Saturday morning (09:00 – 13:00) with a choice of workshops, shows and presentations.

Please join us for a full week of workshops and inspiring lectures which include ‘Movement, Measurement and the Laws of Motion‘ – Prof Huw Summers (Swansea University); ‘New Worlds‘ – Prof Mike Edmunds (Cardiff University) and ‘The Planet of Pollution‘ – Prof Averil MacDonald OBE (Southampton University).

Workshops will include Earth in Space; Lego Physics; Sunglasses, Violins and Electrons; Physics with Balloons – and the Annual (virtual) Quiz from Zeera‘s!

Technicians are also welcome to attend a full day of workshops on Wednesday 7th October as well as engage with other events during the week

The full programme can be viewed here  or on Talk Physics (www.talkphysics.org)  and registration is here.

Making the most of your STEM Club. 24 September, 4 - 5pm online

Join us for top tips for STEM Clubs at school or online

STEM Clubs are a great way to provide young people with the chance to explore aspects of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) in less formal settings. They aim to enrich, rather than deliver, the curriculum. Clubs are an important outlet to ignite new interest or raise attainment in STEM subjects through more imaginative and inventive teaching methods.

Join us to discuss how this can be done during this challenging time. If you have some tried and tested ideas that you would like to share with others then you will be welcome to do so!

Please register here. The first 16 schools that register will receive 12 ThermoFisher STEM Credible Kits. (16 kits available)

We have secured 200 STEM Credible Kit’s that consist of the items above and would like to calibrate with our local schools are involved in STEM programs. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions we would like to donate the STEM credible kits to local schools who are starting to set up STEM groups or completing STEM activities to support our local schools and your students.
If you are interested in receiving some STEM Credible kits from the Newport Site, then register to attend the STEM Clubs workshop above or contact enquiries@see-science.co.uk  

ASE Secondary TeachMeet. Tuesday 22 September 6.30pm - I’ve tried this and ..

Bring ideas that have been tried or tested or ideas that you are thinking of using in the classroom to this informal teachmeet.

ASE TeachMeets are an informal, fun and inspiring way for teachers to share ideas with one another. People come to share or just to listen. Those who want to share a resource, a teaching approach or any great idea to help teachers and their students do a short presentation. Five minutes is a typical length and using a PowerPoint and providing materials are entirely optional.

Come along and meet like-minded colleagues and be inspired! Book here.

Meet the STEM Ambassador Hub for Secondary Teachers. 16 September 4-5pm and  30 September, 12.15 - 1.15pm online

An opportunity for Secondary teachers to learn more about the STEM Ambassador programme in Wales and how we can support schools at this time.

The STEM Ambassador Hub supports the teaching of STEM in schools across Wales. This is an opportunity to meet the Hub staff and to hear directly from STEM Ambassadors how they engage with schools both face to face and, more recently, virtually. 
Please register here. for Sept 16 and  register here for Sept 30th.

CREST Awards in Wales Teacher Surgery. 6 October, 3.45 - 4.45pm online

A chance for Primary and Secondary teachers in Wales to ask questions on any aspect of the CREST Awards.

CREST is a scheme that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers through project work. There is a vast choice of CREST projects and activities for all ages and abilities.

Maybe you're interested in running CREST activities but not sure where to start, or maybe you have done the activities but are not sure how to submit for the Awards? Join this session and we'll inspire and guide you through the process.

The CREST Awards are FREE in Wales so don't miss out!

Please register here.

Technician Events in Wales

IOP - Welsh Physics Teachers Conference 
Technicians are also welcome to attend a full day of workshops on Wednesday 7th October as well as engage with other events during the week.

The full programme can be downloaded here: (https://www.see-science.co.uk/downloads/IoP-Physics-Teacher-Conference-2020_en.pdf) or viewed on Talk Physics (www.talkphysics.org) and registration is here. 
 

ASE TechMeet. Friday 25 September 1.30pm - Looking forward to Autumn 2020

Bring ideas that have been tried or tested, ideas that you are thinking of using in the lab or ask questions at this informal techmeet

ASE TechMeets are an informal, fun and inspiring way for technicians to share ideas with one another. People come to share or just to listen. Those who want to share a resource, a teaching approach or any great idea to help teachers and their students do a short presentation. Five minutes is a typical length and using a PowerPoint and providing materials are entirely optional.

Come along to this online event and meet like-minded colleagues and be inspired!

Please book here.

FIRST® LEGO® League

The FIRST LEGO League Explore and FIRST LEGO League Discover programmes have both been adapted as home editions so that parents can deliver the programmes with their children at home.

We’ve also enabled over 150 schools that remain open for key worker children to deliver both programmes with free class packs and sets. Both of these initiatives have been very popular, so to support parents with home learning and schools running the programme we have created session video tutorials to follow along with during their session time.

Registration is now open for 2020-2021 FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge season.
Get your team together and think about the ways we can get people moving! Details here.

Royal Society of Chemistry Funding for Chemistry Clubs

The funds are targeted at activities run at schools/ colleges outside the normal science timetable which may be focused on generating interest in chemistry in all ability levels or which may provide opportunities to stretch and challenge the already able and motivated.  

Applications from existing chemistry clubs looking to expand/ enhance activities would be welcome as would those from colleagues interested in starting a club.  

An application would need to indicate how the longevity of the proposal was ensured and how best practice and experience from it might be shared within and between other (perhaps feeder) schools.  

The application will be made by a teacher at a primary or secondary school for sums up to £1000. Details here.