Research Project Presentation Teaching Project Lisette Vote Teaching

Research Project Presentation: Teaching Project Lisette Voûte

Teaching Project 1. Research 2. – Investigating the Current English School System 2. Observation – Observing Teaching Styles & Comparison between Two Year 12 Classes 3. Teaching 4. - Becoming the Teacher 4. New A-Level Chemistry Criteria 5. - Researching the Changes, Ideology for the Changes & Whether it is a Success 5. Teacher’s Resource Pack 6. - A Teacher’s Resource on Green Chemistry for the new A-Level Specifications

Aims TO PROMOTE CHEMISTRY IN SCHOOLS This was done by: • Discovering today’s requirements for teaching styles and students’ learning needs • Encouraging pupils to study chemistry or a science subject further • Investigating the changes to the QCA A-Level Chemistry Criteria, the ideology for the changes and whether the new criteria is a success • Creating a teacher’s resource pack to develop their teaching and the pupils’ interest

Motive In the last 10 years: • The Percentage of UCAS Chemistry Applicants has declined to 0. 15% from 0. 20% • 30 UK Universities have closed down their Chemistry departments

Introduction • Comprehensive co-educational, non-denominational secondary school in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire • 1700 Students – 350 Sixth Form Students • Opened in 1965 • Sixth Form on a Separate Site • 799. 1 A-Level Points GCSE 59% of pupils obtained 5 passes GCSE Science 63% of pupils obtained 2 or more passes A-Level 97% pass rate A-Level 45% achieving A and B

Research In order to: • Ensure full preparedness and that lessons given were effective • Effectively observe and compare different teaching styles within the school • Maximise the value and utility of the Teacher’s Pack through incorporating a range of teaching styles

Research • School system - what is required at Primary & Secondary Level • The National Curriculum – Introduced in 1988 through the Education Reform Act – Requires pupils to pass 4 key stages – Aims to make pupils become “Successful Learners, Confident Individuals and Responsible Citizens” • Current GCSE Science Specifications & Assessment Structure • Teaching Styles and Types of Learning Howard Gardner formulated a list of ‘seven intelligences’ Mike Hughes suggested there were three main types of learner: – Visual - Learn best by seeing – Auditory – Learn best by hearing – Physical – Learn best by doing • Teaching Resources • Outreach Events – Demonstrator in Year 10/11 Organic Chemistry Practical: “Extracting Caffeine from Tea Leaves” – Primary School Lecture: “Fizz, Foam and Flubber”

Observation • • • First 2 Weeks 8 Lessons a week 5 Different Teachers (one French Lesson) 16 Hours Throughout the Year: Teaching Styles Year 12 Classes Comparison – One teacher was mostly auditory and some visual – One teacher was an equal mixture of physical, auditory and visual

Teaching • • • 14 Weeks 6 Classes 4 Teachers Years 11, 12 and 13 84 Hours/5040 Minutes Lessons Magic Show Lunchtime Lecture on Chemistry at University Remedial Classes

New A-Level Chemistry QCA Criteria Researched • Changes Made • Philosophy Behind the Changes • Whether the new Criteria is a success • Why School’s Chose their Specification

New A-Level Chemistry QCA Criteria Researched • Changes Made • Philosophy Behind the Changes • Whether the new Criteria is a success • Why School’s Chose their Specification

New A-Level Chemistry QCA Criteria Methodology • Meeting at old school • Masters Students Questionnaire • Inset Day – Interview Teachers in Chemistry Department • Interviewed Colin Chambers, AQA Chief & Chair Examiner • Questionnaires

Key Results These results are preliminary

Ideology for the Changes AQA Chief Examiner Interview: • Trying to increase the link between the course and real world contexts – So pupils know what questions to ask when faced with ‘real world issues’ and understand them better – “Get them to have an educated vote” • Introduction of concepts relevant to current social and political issues e. g. environmental/green chemistry • To better discriminate between candidates

Ideology for the Changes

Green Chemistry Teacher’s Pack • Developed a resource on a new topic in the A-Level Specifications • Went through each of the specifications (OCR A and B, AQA and Edexcel) and found what was knowledge was required of the candidates in terms of anything to do with green chemistry. • Background information on the subjects for teachers' knowledge • Lesson plans on the different topics • Resources & References

Further Work • Website “CHEEP” or “PEEP” to include information on green chemistry and recycling • Expand teaching styles comparison • Expand questionnaire to more counties • Repeat research on whether the new specifications are a success after a year of teaching and examination results

Acknowledgements I would like to thank the following people for their support, effort and contribution to my project: • Tim Harrison and Dr. Smith • Rachel Hopwood and the Staff at The Castle School • Colin Chambers, AQA Chief Examiner & Chairman • Dr. David Read, University of Southampton • Fellow UAS Students for their support