Heads of Science Network ‎Conference (Kent) Event

Programme

‎ 9.30-9.45‎
Welcome, Introduction and aims of the day ‎

9.45 – 10.30‎
Key note speaker: Professor Averil MacDonald
Professor of Science Engagement, University of Reading, ‎Diversity Lead and Impact Lead, ‎SEPnet (South East Physics Network).‎ ‎
"What have sociologists ever done for us?"
How often have you thought that today's students just don't seem to respond to things the ‎way that you did? This talk will explain to you why it's quite natural for the generations to ‎think differently and why you will never understand your children (or students) and why your ‎parents will never understand you"‎ ‎
10.30 – 11.00 Coffee‎ ‎
11.00-12.00‎
Choose from:‎

Professor Averil MacDonald
Unconscious Bias ‎
This workshop will explore your brain’s processing short cuts and why it's important to ‎your ‎teaching to be aware of how your brain's processing impacts on your classroom ‎behaviour, ‎decision making and student assessment. You will become aware of ‎strategies you can use ‎to manage your brain’s short cuts and to improve your ‎engagement with students and ‎colleagues.‎

Dr Janice Griffiths, Director, Mathematics and Science Learning Centre, University of ‎Southampton
Maintaining Curiosity
The 2013 Ofsted report into science education - Maintaining Curiosity - provides clear ‎messages for science departments on what inspectors will look for. With additional ‎clarification and illustrations as provided by the Chief HMI for Science, subject leaders will ‎be able to assess how well their department meets these expectations.‎

‎ 12.00-1.00 Contemporary science on Discovery Park. ‎
What brought you into teaching? For many it was a desire to share the excitement of ‎science with young people. However the demands in schools often mean that experienced ‎teachers lose contact with scientific advances. In this session there is an opportunity to ‎engage with the cutting edge science of a company on Discovery Park. The hope is that you ‎will find the science invigorating but also take away a story to share with students and an ‎enhanced appreciation of career opportunities.‎
Select from:‎
Algaecytes Ltd – Biology based use of algae for food, biofuels and water treatment Pfizer Ltd – Cutting edge chemistry and a link to CSI.‎ Mylan Uk Ltd – The physics of inhaled medicines.‎

‎ 1.00-1.45 Lunch‎

1.45-3pm‎ Changes to A-level science specifications - Overview of key changes and individual sessions ‎with AQA, Edexcel, OCR.‎

3-3.45 pm‎
Sharing good practice – presentations from schools ‎
Homewood School – Zoned Learning Highsted Grammar School – The Tarantula Club Kings School – Young Scientists and the Google Science Prize ‎

3.45-4pm‎ Support networks in Kent. In this session, we will explore how we can set up and ‎sustain ‎networks ‎in Kent to provide support for Heads of Department. Also, funding ‎streams, action ‎research and the Autumn term programme. Input from you will be expected!‎

The day will provide opportunities for Heads of Department to:‎

• Network with peers and help to build a self-supporting network of science leaders ‎ ‎‎(networks will run termly from Autumn 2014 via the hub schools)‎
• Update yourself with the latest on the new curriculum
• Be inspired by engaging with contemporary science on Kent’s research-based campus
• Select workshops on key educational themes
• Explore sources of funding and how to apply

Booking a place to attend
The programme is free to attend as part of funded support from Kent County Council.‎ To book email mslc@soton.ac.uk or call 023 8059 8810023 8059 8810 stating name of the delegate, email address, job title, school and any ‎dietary or accessibility requirements.‎