jennie bullock conf_10
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PPHYSICS HYSICS OOUTREACH UTREACH GGROUPROUP
Dr Lynn MoranPresenters: Jennie Bullock & David Miller
What is the Physics Outreach Group?What is the Physics Outreach Group?
• Background (Set up to encourage students to be more interested in science and physics in particular)
• Aims• Method – How it is run• What we do• Benefits/Difficulties for– Department– Schools– Students
What is the Physics Outreach Group?What is the Physics Outreach Group?
• Group of students & graduates
• Supported by 1 academic
• Design & develop workshops & presentations
• Deliver these in schools & on campus
BackgroundBackground
• BSc projects in schools
• Requests from schools for follow-up activities
• Requests from Educational Opportunities
• Golden Handshake for new Physics Teachers
How we got started?How we got started?
Before 2009• Recruit volunteers on an ad-hoc basis
Summer 2009• Regular group of volunteers emerges
New Academic Year• Group set up– Posters & e-mail
AimsAims
• Quality outreach to schools
• Skills development for students
• Develop a resource for the department– Experienced students– Tested materials & workshops
• Long-term: to increase the uptake of Physics
Weekly ActivitiesWeekly Activities
• Meet twice weekly usually lunch time– Discuss new ideas & plans– Create new workshops– Participate in communications workshops– Practice in front of an audience
• Non-credit bearing
What We Do – On CampusWhat We Do – On Campus
Educational Opportunities - Taster sessions- Science Olympics
AS-level taster days/work exp/Nuffield students
Science Week events in conjunction with the SchoolsLab in the Chemistry Department
What We Do – In SchoolsWhat We Do – In Schools
Yr7-10: Photons in the Classroom
AS-level:
Festivals:
The Electromagnetic
Spectrum
National Schools
Observatory
What can you do with a Physics Degree?
Why Science?
Design & DevelopmentDesign & Development
• Principles of good practice
• Findings from commissioned research– Science is boring– Science is difficult– Science is irrelevant in their lives– No jobs in physics– What is Physics?
Tackling the IssuesTackling the Issues
• Science is stimulating & fun(props & interactivity)
• Science is challenging & important(new technologies & improving the quality of life)
• Science is all around in every part of their lives
• There is a huge variety of jobs available to those with a degree in physics
Tackling the ImageTackling the Image
• Pairs of students
• Build a relationship over 3 visits
• Each design a section of the workshop
• Slick design of slides
• Good quality props
Example (Displays - 3D)Example (Displays - 3D)
Example (Displays - 3D)Example (Displays - 3D)
Evaluation of 3DEvaluation of 3D
• Theory of 3D images was well received
SchoolsSchools
• Target schools with low record of university attendance
• Grammar & independent schools tend to approach us
Workshop AstroEM
SpectrumScience is Cool AS-level
Number of Classes
20 7 15 9
Visits Per Class 3 3 1 1Average Class Size
30 25 30 15
Total Students 600 175 450 133
October 2009 – June 2010:
EvaluationEvaluation
• A-level: Increased number of students continuing from AS physics to A2 from 68% to 80%
• 97% of evaluation forms from Electromagnetic Spectrum Workshop gave positive feedback
“Most interesting physics lesson ever. Brilliant!”
“Really enjoyed the session, changed my view on Physics”
“It was made fun and enjoyable. Physics is a fun thing to me now”
“It showed us how exciting physics can be”
“We couldn’t live without physics!”
Benefits to the DepartmentBenefits to the Department
• Can offer a range of outreach activities
• Can agree to more requests for University visits
• Potential recruitment – some evidence
• Resource
Benefits to the SchoolsBenefits to the Schools
• Trained students can visit the classes more than once
• Students are closer in age, particularly relevant for GCSE & AS-level students
• Teachers better prepared to use National Schools Observatory software
• More on offer both on and off campus
• Resources available online
Benefits to the StudentsBenefits to the Students
• Increased confidence
• Experience (for CV/PGCE application)
• Opportunity to see if they would enjoy teaching
• More enthusiasm for subject
• Difficulty: time pressure on students
Member & GraduatesMember & Graduates
Final year students • 2 first choice of PhD place• 5 first choice of PGCE place
Members Total Male Female IntYr 1 2 1 1 1Yr 2 5 3 2 1Yr 3 5 3 2 1
Yr 3 (of 4) 1 0 1 Yr 4 2 1 1
Graduates 3 2 1
Graduates:• 2 first choice PGCE place
Dr Lynn Moran nominated by students and received:Careers and Employability Award: ‘Outstanding Contribution to Employability’
Future PlansFuture Plans
Revision Residential (Easter)
Master Classes (Summer)
Ogden Trust sponsored residentialOgden Trust Science Officer for Physics & Chemistry (Dr Shane Lo Fan)SchoolsLab in Chemistry (Dr Helen Aspinall)Science Enhancement Programme
Activity GroupActivity Group
• New Activity Group recognised by the Guild of Students
• Freshers’ Week events in the Department along with PhySoc and AstroSoc/Freshers Fair
• Bid for funding for science communications events/social events
The Physics Outreach Group are:The Physics Outreach Group are: