September 2019 was the start of the school year, as well as the start of yet another year of University for myself! This will be my 8th…
I am training to be a teacher of science (particularly biology) in secondary schools on a PGCE (post-graduate certificate of education) course at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU).
In a cohort of roughly 140 student teachers, we are lectured on subjects like the history of education, child development, how children learn, health and safety, safeguarding, and lesson planning and observation. We regularly divide into our subject groups and while with my 50 other fellow scientists (30 biologists, 15 chemists, and 5 physicists) we discuss how to teach science, the national curricula, and whether practical classes are important to science education.
Aspects of teaching to have stuck with me particularly thus far include linking science to professions – and epistemic insight – and initiative aiming to forge links between subjects to answer the big questions from multiple subject viewpoints.
To hone my teaching skills and learn useful practices I have started following a number of established teaching blogs. These include:
Thoughts on chemistry and education;
Reading for Learning;
Newton’s Laws of Learning;
Mr T’s Blog: Keeping it simple!;
The Fruits Are Sweet and;
BUNSEN BLUE.
