How can Science and Technology activities be made engaging and relevant in Primary Education?


Emily Vaughan

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How can science and technology activities be made engaging and relevant in primary education?

Technology and science are an important part of growing up when in primary school. Welsh Gov, (2012) states that ‘science isn’t just a school subject, in one form or another; it is continually changing and improving the way that we live our lives. It makes and sustains our modern society and will help us to understand and solve the big question that our world faces.’
The two are different as science involves acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation, as technology applies scientific knowledge in practice. Both are very hands on and this why children would enjoy working with these topics they are hands on and can make outdoor learning also interesting activities out of them.

BBC News of Wales, (2016) has shown that ‘more women are needed in science jobs as a critical shortage if hampering Wales’s future economic growth.’ This was stated by a report in 2016, welsh government are seeking ways to apply more women into stem roles which are the jobs are known to be men doing these such as science, technology but also engineering. From the research I have been exploring it has been found a shortfall of 600 stem academic roles could be filled by having more women in relevant careers. Standing over the UK, extra female scientists could be worth two billion to the economy, from the research the report was released on International Women’s Day. When finding this research a few girls was found to study stem subjects at post 16 level and the STEM report suggested recruiting more women into the workface as graduates through apprenticeships and other routes. It was also found through my research women with a stem degree were less likely to pursue a career in their area of expertise than men. The recommendations included:

·        Teachers with more science skills to enthuse pupils
·        Stronger links between education and business
·        Access to female role models
·        Challenging gender stereotypes
·        Removing the gender gap

Over half a million job openings in science, research, engineering and technology over the next six years will need to be filled to replace growing number of retiring workers. According to EDF Energy ‘an additional 142,000 new STEM related jobs will also be created, leading to concerns that there are not enough candidates to fill the shortfall. Jobs of the future research by the Social Market Foundation, commissioned for EDF Energy’s Pretty Curious campaign, analysed Government data and examined trends in the growth of science, research, technology jobs and engineering.

Donaldson (2015) states how science and technology are closely linked and how each depends upon the other, Donaldson also states how science involves acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation and technology applies this scientific knowledge in practical ways.  Gresnight et al, (2014) As a teacher it’s important they understand how the subjects are linked and that there are more benefits in teaching them together than separately and having an integrated curriculum is seen as a positive for increasing the attention on technology and science in primary education. Donaldson’s ‘Successful Futures’ show the ability to create this curriculum to become a reality as well as being able to incoprate STEM as to aid in children’s development and their understanding in science and technology for the future. 

On the 9th February 2018 a trip to Techniquest was held, on this trip we were exploring how science trips like this were important for children and towards their education in school but also how the STEM report could be incorporated within the curriculum. When visiting techniquest I noticed a lot that their aim as a team was to embed science in Welsh culture through the engagement of children and to provide a range of equipment but also the services to schools and teachers to complement formal education provisions in Wales. This provides children the opportunity to be able to visit a science building to show them the true meanings of scientific research and how it is set up but also what they can learn and be there for the enjoyment and education in STEM. Techniqiest is known to be important for many primary schools and there are many places like this that offer their services for children.



When being on my placement, I was able to see that the children were learning many topics but in a play scheme as I visited a nursery for my placement. The children’s main activity for two days was learning about volcanoes and how they worked and how to make one them. Throughout the morning, the children were using different materials such as newspaper, balloons that the staff supervised them with, glue and paint to be able to paint them the colour of a volcano when dried and finished. In my placement the children have one iPad to each room so I sat them all together and we researched and fund images of different volcanoes and were able to discuss this as a group and I to explain what are activity was going to be about. Throughout this activity the children were using their science and technology skills with the support off me and the staff members for them to complete their activity.
Finally, within primary education it is always important to create a curriculum that is engaging for the children with science and technology so they are able to engage and be stuck in.    


References:
BBC News Wales (2016) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35747420. Accessed: 10th April 2018

Donaldson, G. (2015). Successful Futures: Independent Review of Curriculum and Assessment Arrangements in Wales. Welsh Assembly Government. Crown

Gresnnigt, R., Taconis, R., van Keulen, H., Gravemeijer, K., and Baartman, L. (2014). Promoting science and technology in primary education: a review of integrated curricula, Studies in Science Education, 50:1, pp. 47-84, DOI: 10.1080/03 057267.2013.877694
Science Museum Group (2017). Why is STEM important for Society?, Available at: https://transformingpractice.sciencemuseum.org.uk/why-is-stem-important-for-society/ (Accessed: March 2018).

Techniquest (no date). About us, Available at: https://www.techniquest.org/about-us/ (Accessed: March 2018).
Wilson, R (2017) https://www.recruitment-international.co.uk/blog/2017/08/uk-risks-stem-labour-shortage-of-half-a-million-by-2023-research-reveals. Accessed: 10th April 2018


Comments

  1. Ellena Barnett21 April 2018 at 01:34

    An interesting post about the importance of science and technology within the classroom. Within your post you have discussed a report published by the Welsh Government on ‘seeking ways to get more women into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) roles’ (BBC, 2016) and how this report was published on the 8th March 2016 which is International Women’s Day, a day as stated by the United Nations (no date) to reflect on the progress that has been made, a time to call for change and to ‘celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities’. How significant do you feel it was for the Welsh Government to release this report on this specific day, and do you believe that it will empower any other women to choose a career in STEM?

    References:

    BBC. (2016) ‘Critical shortage’ of women in science jobs, report finds. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35747420 (Accessed: 21st April 2018)

    United Nations. (no date) International Women’s Day 8 March. Available at: http://www.un.org/en/events/womensday/ (Accessed: 21st April 2018)

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