Physical Science Enhancement Project

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Physical Science Enhancement Project

• PhySEP A model for subject knowledge,
  understanding and pedagogic support in teaching
  the physical sciences

Funded by the SCIENCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME of
the Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Project directors Roger Lock and Allan Soares
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PhySEP How it came about?
Many teach the Physical Sciences with limited
support and are not strong in this area. Many go
on to be teachers of physical science in schools.
Aim To develop PGCE science teachers
knowledge, understanding and pedagogic skills in
the teaching and learning of physical sciences
through EXTENDED and ENHANCED mentoring.
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Extended Enhanced Mentoring
Enhanced PhySEP mentor Focus on subject
knowledge, understanding topic specific pedagogy
Normal provision A science mentor A weekly
mentor meeting with science mentor A weekly
written lesson appraisal A weekly lesson debrief
Extended A PhySEP mentor A weekly mentor
meeting with PhySEP mentor A weekly written
lesson appraisal A weekly lesson debrief with
PhySEP mentor
At point of need Personalised
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PhySEP 3 part cycle
Tutorial Topic Videoclip1 Videoclip2
Verbal lesson debriefs
Written lesson appraisals
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PhySEP Written lesson Appraisals
On a sheet provide the student with some written
feedback
Categorise the comments
What is the most common comment category?
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PhySEP Subject knowledge, Understanding Pedagogy
Not Class Management
Not generic science teaching skills
Is about topic specific subject knowledge
Ways of reworking the particular topic subject
knowledge to make it more understandable
Analogies
Topic Specific Pedagogy
Illustrations
Resources
Examples
Misconceptions
Explanations
Teaching difficulties
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PhySEP A Chance to Question Us About it
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PhySEP And finally.. Some comparisons
PhySEP
Booster
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No. of students per tutor
15-20
Weekly tutorial Associated WLA/VLD day-day
contact (12 wks)
Trainee experience
Workshop/ Tutorial 6-15 days
Timing of Input
Remote from teaching
Point of need
General
Personalised
Content
Yes
Yes
Subject knowledge
?
Yes significantly
Subject pedagogy
Distant
Direct
Theory/practice link
University based
School based
Location
Trainee/ pupils?
Trainee/pupils/mentor
Beneficiaries