Save Science Education

Relaunch of Save Science Education blog

2009-01-29T00:01:00.003Z

I have decided to relaunch this blog as a way of recording my own thoughts on the state of science education over the course of this academic year. So much is happening that it seems important to at least record the erosion of science education as it happens lest we forget how quickly things are changing.

Comments are welcome.

David Perks

The UK's role in fundamental research diminishing

2008-02-13T23:36:00.003Z

Britain pulls the plug on particle physics research. With the STFC confirmation that we are pulling out of the International Linear Collider project which will replace the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, we could be watching the demise of physics in the UK.

This is a sad time for physics and like the demise of supersonic passenger transport, we seem to be watching our ambitions as a nation curtailed in the field of science and technology. The withdrawal form the Gemini telescope project is a blow to astronomers in the UK and leaves astronomy in a perilous position in the near future facing a 25% reduction in post-doc grants.

It is time to fight our corner before fundamental physics research becomes a distant memory.

A bit of good news

2007-10-14T11:29:00.000+01:00

Two bits of news that have left me rather happy, although I don't for one second expect this to be the last we hear on either topic.

1)Tunbridge Wells Homeopathic Hospital to close following withdrawal of NHS funding.

2)The government finally put an end to this "Intellegent Design" nonsence (which was getting to the point of insanity with the Vardy group of schools teaching creationism in science classes.) by issuing the following guidelines...

"Creationism and intelligent design are not part of the science National Curriculum programmes of study and should not be taught as science.....Creationism and intelligent design are sometimes claimed to be scientific theories. This is not the case as they have no underpinning scientific principles, or explanations, and are not accepted by the science community as a whole."

New science A-Level

2007-10-04T21:50:00.000+01:00

Just in case anyone fancies a peek at the A-Level course designed to follow on from the new science GSCE's, allow me to present Science in Society.

2007-09-09T17:59:00.000+01:00

I was asked to reply to the National Science Learning Centres report Now Science Works by Professor John Holman the Director. Here is a link to my less than favourable review of the progress made to deconstruct science education at Key Stage 3

http://www.instituteofideas.com/sciedproject.html

I welcome the chance to debate this as the Key Stage 3 review is a continuation of the same philosophy underlying the new GCSE science courses. Upto now there has been only a smattering of coverage on this issue.

Easy Science is a Poor Formula

2007-09-09T16:10:00.001+01:00

comments on the Times article about easier science exams.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/debate/letters/article2357752.ece

Measles on the rise

2007-08-30T18:58:00.000+01:00

"Health experts are issuing a warning about measles after an unexpectedly high number of cases this summer."

Well just in case anyone is wondering what the effects of a dumbed down science curriculum that favours uninformed debate over peer-reviewed evidence is, we have an "unexpected" rise in measles cases. Colour me surprised.
I'm sorry OCR, but science is not about opinion based debate because not everyone's opinion is equal. There has been enough evidence post-Wakefield to dismiss the initial Lancelet paper as nonsense and to allow doubt about the safety of MMR to creep into the curriculum is irresponsible at best.
We can expect future media scare stories on issues such as MMR and WiFi as long as this kind of "don't worry about the actual evidence, there is no right or wrong answer" style of debate continues. Whatever happened to evidence based science?

Plan for 'easier' science exams

2007-08-29T18:58:00.001+01:00

Exam boards in England are planning to put more simple questions in science papers, the Times reports.
A document seen by the newspaper says that from next year, some papers should consist of 70% "low demand" questions, instead of the current level of 55%.

The document was prepared by the umbrella group of exam boards, the Joint Council for Qualifications.

The organisation denies examiners are being told to make GCSEs easier and says instead, the bar is being raised.

clicky

Physics missing from A-Level top 10

2007-08-20T15:22:00.000+01:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/6950084.stm

That's less than 3.9 percent of A-Level exam entries being for physics.

A few choice snippets from the above article

"The think tank Reform said that on a longer view, since 2000, entries in such key subjects were mostly down - maths by 10% and physics by 14%, for example."

"David Brown of the Institution of Chemical Engineers said the results were encourgaing but masked the growing skills crisis facing science and technology in the UK. "We are confronted by a major shortage of talented scientists and engineers,"

"He rejected the idea that in a subject like maths, in which almost 44% already get A grades - there would inevitably be a need for an even higher, A** grade."

44% A grade in maths? well at least there is further maths to skim off the cream of the crop

My pet peeve though is this quote

"At a joint council news conference, Greg Watson of the OCR exam board said critical thinking encapsulated the sort of skills that were in demand by universities and by employers.

For example, anyone working in science would benefit from being able to evaluate the arguments for and against the MMR vaccine, he said."

I'm guessing Greg Watson has never worked in science; you don't evaluate arguments in science, you evaluate the evidence dammit. I'll be writing more on this in an article I'm hoping to have finished by the end of this week.

Untill then bye and forgive any poor editing/spelling/grammar...you know what happens when you slam a car into reverse on the motorway? Yeah, that's my brain about now.

Summer Teaching Blues

2007-07-28T09:33:00.000+01:00

The BBC have made the astonishing claim that teachers cheat and help pupils too much at coursework Teachers cheating to raise grades. But it is hardly a surprise to find teachers losing the plot a bit when the entire system encourages organised cheating. Since the A-level went modular in 2000, we have had the fiasco of seeing pupils enter the same examination up to three times during the course in order to get a better grade - completely justifiably under the QCA rules. Not satisfied with that the new science GCSEs have gone modular allowing pupils the possibility of sitting the same examination up to four times in two years to achieve a descent grade. So is it a surprise that pupils want to redo their coursework once "Sir" has given it a low mark? The examination boards rules are so lacking in clarity that no-one is sure exactly whether pupils should be allowed to see their work once it has been looked over by a teacher. Under the new GCSE arrangements we are being told to ensure the pupils write up their assignments in around an hour under examination conditions. But they have weeks to prepare if needed and can bring in any information they need. Would it be a surprise if they wrote up the assignment before hand probably with parental help and brought it in to the teacher to go through before the official examination? The worst rows I have had about coursework are with parents disputing poor grades obviously because they did not undestanding the assignment "little Johnny" had to do when they were "helping" him at home. But blaming parental pressure and league tables for the pressure on teachers to bend the rules misses the point. The entire assessment system encourages cheating from the top down. It's just easier to kick a few teachers than to address the mess that is the schools examination system.

Claire Fox News

2007-07-27T13:27:00.000+01:00

Claire Fox News looks at issues surrounding our schools.

Guests are: Robert Whelan, Deputy Director of Civitas, Dave Perks, Education writer and Physics teacher, Michele Ledda, Education writer and English teacher and Dr Shirley Lawes Teacher, Educator and Researcher.

Running time 00:56:14

View programme

Sign the petition

2007-07-01T10:28:00.001+01:00

Sign this petition on the 10 Downing Street website and help create the momentum for change!

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Bring back mathematical rigor into secondary physics education"

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/physicsedu/

Sunday Times Article

2007-07-01T10:08:00.000+01:00

Read this excellent piece in todays Sunday Times

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article2010233.ece

Launch Meeting

2007-07-01T09:54:00.001+01:00

The reaction to the new science curriculum in schools is gaining a head of steam

Do you want to take this discussion further?

Here's your chance to meet like minded individuals and try to work out what we can do in person.

Meeting: How do we save school science education?

Bring your ideas with you and lets start working out where to go next.

Organised by David Perks, author of "What is science education for?" and contributor to "The Corruption of the Curriculum"

7pm Thursday 5th July, Plumbers Arms, 14 Lower Belgrave Street, London near Victoria tube station.

A small donation for hire of the room would help.