Science Education Placement: Chemistry (U03862)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : CHE-4-UAS

An extended school placement offering the opportunity for the students to gain first hand experience of science education and communication. The course requires:
- Completion of pre-classroom training materials.
- A literature survey based on aspects of the school Chemistry curriculum.
- An average of 6 hours per week "in school" activities for 15 weeks.
- Research and development of teaching support materials for "in school" work.
- Preparation of a portfolio or report on support materials and classroom experience.
- Preparation and delivery of a presentation on the outcomes of the placement.

The placement may form part of the final Honours curriculum for students on any of the BSc degree programmes in Chemistry.

Entry Requirements

? This course is not available to visting students.

? Pre-requisites : Chemistry 3A (Che-3-A) and Chemistry 3B (CHE-3-B) at a weighted average at or above Grade D at the first attempt, and Chemistry 3P Practical and Transferable Skills (CHE-3-Pract), and Mathematics qualifications of at least 20 credits to level Applicable Mathematics 1 and Mathematical Methods 1; or with the permission of the Head of School.

? Co-requisites : This course may only be undertaken as part of BSc Honours degree courses in Chemistry, Chemistry with Environmental Chemistry, Chemistry with Materials Chemistry, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry or Chemical Physics in lieu of the normal BSc Honours Chemistry or Chemical Physics research project.

? Prohibited combinations : BSc Chemistry Research Project (CHE-4-BScChProj), BSc Chemical Physics Research Project (CHE-4-BScCPProj), MChem Introduction to Research Methods (CHE-4-MChemRM), MChem Research Project (CHE-5-MChemProj), MChemX Research Project (CHE-5-MCheXProj).

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Chemistry, (School of Chemistry, Schedule L)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Full Year (Blocks 1-4)

? Additional Class Information : Approximately 200 hours of student practical and oral and report preparation effort, within times assigned.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course students will have gained substantial experience in the key aspects of teaching chemistry in a school environment and had the opportunity to develope transferable skills in areas such as: public speaking and communication, team working, interpersonal skills in dealing with pupils and colleagues, personal responsibility and conduct, standard teaching methods.

Additionally they shuold be able to: research, prepare and deliver teaching materials based on advanced topics in a manner designed to be accessible to school students and to inspire interest and enthusiasm for the discipline; deliver a formal oral presentation on the context, output and impact of their work suitable for a chemically-literate but non-specialist audience; write a detailed report suitable for use by peers, senior colleagues and others specialists that demonstrates an understanding of the significance of the work undertaken, and critical analysis of the experience.