UK Centre for Materials Education
Working with you to enhance the student experience
Working with you to enhance the student experience
This project aimed to increase awareness of Materials as a discipline and a career choice by providing teachers with a range of accessible resources. The first stages of the project involved a comprehensive survey and review of school curricula for different boards in order to identify elements within the Physics, Chemistry, and D&T courses that could be related to Materials Science and/or Engineering. As part of this pilot study, six local schools were identified to provide examples of different syllabi, and initial meetings were held to determine the requirements of the teachers at the target schools. Resources already available, which the teachers may not have been aware of, were highlighted, and the objective of the project and the desired input from the schools was outlined. Based on the feedback obtained, the next phase of the project involved the production of a resource pack, which was disseminated amongst the teachers. The pack contained resources in a variety of formats, and a significant component was a mechanical testing pack and accompanying CD Rom, designed to be used together to provide a composite testing environment. Demonstration visits, relevant to the courses taught were simultaneously arranged for two schools. Feedback was obtained both informally (through verbal communication), as well as through evaluation sheets. In particular, the sheet enabled the teachers to provide feedback on the contents and pricing of the resource pack, and their applicability to the courses taught.
The feedback obtained was largely positive. Both teachers and students responded well to the resource packs, and agreed that the combination of resource formats proved to be effective in delivering a multi-faceted learning experience. However, one of the biggest benefits of this project was that it brought together teachers from different departments and various school boards in a single forum. In many cases, it was the first time that a discussion had taken place between different departments and boards on the specific subject of Materials.
The project increased awareness of Materials as a subject amongst its target audience, and assisted teachers by identifying resources to help teach Materials related topics. The feedback from the project also made it apparent that more resources were required, particularly with respect to cost-effective, commercially viable sample packs and practical resources. This led to a follow-on project funded by a UKCME Teaching Development Grant see Materials Resource Packs for schools.
