Exploring Physics, Uncovering Choice

Continuing Professional Development Workshop

[workshop leader’s name]

Part 1: Why are you here?

Part 2: What are the barriers?

Part 3: Exploring solutions

Part 4: Action planning

Aims of workshop

• Increase your awareness of physics-based careers

• Identify barriers and opportunities

• Build links between staff/identify roles

• Help students to make better informed choices

Physics provides skills for employability

Students would enjoy andbenefit from the A-level

Physics keeps options open at higher-education

level

Students will want to take physics A-level

BARRIERS

Lack of knowledge ofcareers and employability

Misinformation fromother sources

Lack of knowledge abouthigher-education entry

TimelyAccurate

ConsistentUp-to-date information

Careers & physics staff working

together

Why are you here?

“I’ve come to the Open Day to find out about degree courses. I wish I’d known that lots of degree courses needed particular A-levels”

I took Biology, Chemistry and Physics at A-level and want to do a degree in Physics. I’m sure this will be OK. I’ve just come to find out a bit more about

the courses.

I’m really interested in the environment but I also like designing

things and I’m quite good at Maths and Physics. I’ve come here to get

some ideas.

I’d love to become an astronaut. I know it sounds daft – but I just

love stuff to do with space.

I’ve enjoyed studying Physics at AS but I want to do languages as well.

Surely physics and languages don’t go together?

I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. But now I’m really unhappy about the

advice I got at school. I’m studying Biology, Psychology and Maths.

?

Part 1: Why are you here?

Part 2: What are the barriers?

Part 3: Exploring solutions

Part 4: Action planning

What are the barriers to informing students about physics-based careers?

Snakes = barriers

Ladders = opportunities

Other barriers to students accessing timely, accurate, consistent information?

• Social?

• Cultural?

• Family?

• Education?

Part 1: Why are you here?

Part 2: What are the barriers?

Part 3: Exploring solutions

Part 4: Action planning

“I think that physicists can do pretty much anything. Our training can be applied to almost any activity…”

- Simon Singh

Careers in or from physics?P

HY

SIC

S

Away from physics

Nearby

Still close

A little further P

hD

Le

vel 3

Le

vel 2

De

gre

e

Transferable skills

Ability to model

complex situations Team

Working

Understanding of

technology

Problem solving

Objective thinking

Ability to communicate

complex ideas

Mathematical ability

Analytical skills

Research skills

Evidence-based

decision making

Creative thinking

Ability to evaluate

risk

Printed Institute of Physics career resources

• Explore postcard (for 11-14 year olds)

• Expand leaflet (for 15-16 year olds)

• Experience booklet (for 17-19 year olds)

To order copies e-mail education@iop.org

Online career resources

• Careers section on physics.org: www.physics.org/careers

• Future Morph website for video profiles: www.futuremorph.org

Further career resources and information

• Appendix D: full list of career resources from the Institute of Physics

• Appendix E: general CEG information for subject teachers

• Appendix F: other sources of physics-related careers information

• Appendix G: organising physics placements for your students

Part 1: Why are you here?

Part 2: What are the barriers?

Part 3: Exploring solutions

Part 4: Action planning

Action planning

Individual targets

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Whole-school priorities

1. ?

2. ?

3. ?

Use a timeline:Action 1 Action 2 Action 3

Aims of workshop (revisited)

Have you:

• Increased your awareness of physics-based careers?

• Identified barriers and opportunities?

• Built links between staff?

To be able to help students to make better informed choices…