New course will help teachers bring creativity and skills to science lessons
Tuesday 2nd July 2019
If you’re a primary school teacher looking to develop creative and challenging science lessons which encourage children to use critical thinking skills, look no further. We’ve just launched the latest round of training days for our Thinking, Doing, Talking Science (TDTS) CPD programme which equips teachers with strategies and activity ideas that can translate immediately into classroom practice without the need for extra expense and excessive planning.
Thinking, Doing, Talking Science (TDTS) is an evidence-based, interactive four-day CPD programme for primary teachers. The 4 days are spread across the academic year, giving teachers time to implement strategies with their classes, to build on their existing best practice, and to share their learning and experiences with other teachers on the course.
TDTS facilitates teachers to enable their pupils to think and talk about scientific concepts through dedicated discussion time, introduces a wide range of strategies for creative investigations and problem solving and encourages the focusing of pupils’ recording so that is there is always time for practical science. The course will take place at our new Science Oxford Centre in Headington, Oxford, a science education centre which is founded on the TDTS ethos, so attendees also get to have a look around the Exploration Zone, workshop and woodland on site.
Bridget Holligan, Science Oxford’s Director of Education & Engagement and TDTS project lead, says, “There is a clear framework that ties together the project strategies and this is embedded in sound educational theory. Our ideas are not all new but pull together a range of good practice in primary science education, in a way that has been shown to be highly effective. “
She adds, “In partnership with Oxford Brookes University, and with funding from the Education Endowment Foundation, we’ve been trialling the TDTS programme in over 200 schools across the country over the past four years and the teachers involved have found it an invaluable tool to delivering better science teaching – as well as enjoyable of course!”
All of the TDTS strategies support progression in ‘working scientifically’ and on each day of the CPD course, the strategies are exemplified through a particular curriculum content area (e.g. Materials, Forces, Earth and Space, Light and Sound and Habitats & Adaptation).
TDTS is currently continuing with support from The Oxford Trust, who have subsidised this course.
Dates for the latest course are:
25thNovember 2019
27thJanuary 2020
23rdMarch 2020
18th May 2020
It’s also extremely good value for money – £400 + VAT per teacher for all 4 days, including all hard copy and electronic resources as well as refreshments and lunch each day. Plus there’s the opportunity to meet other teachers in a relaxed, informal setting.
If you would like to book on to the upcoming courses, go to https://scienceoxford.com/events/thinking-doing-talking-science-4-day-programme/
For more information about TDTS and the impact of the training on pupils, please visit https://tdts.org.uk
