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for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
| Unit name |
Communicating Science |
| Unit code |
PHYS10001 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
C/4
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
|
| Unit director |
Professor. Heath |
| Open unit status |
Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
School of Physics |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Science |
Description including Unit Aims
Students will undertake three activities with the aim of giving them confidence to present science to a wide audience.
- Delivery of a “tried and tested” activity
- Development and delivery of their own hands-on activity in a small group
- Production of a permanent piece of work (poster, article, web page etc.) presenting a topic of current research.
In each case they will be required to reflect on whether they have achieved the aims through acquiring appropriate feedback.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Design and present an interactive science outreach activity appropriate to a specific target audience
- Work in a small group to deliver an activity
- Acquire and reflect on appropriate feedback
- Prepare a risk assessment
- Present a current scientific research topic to a general audience.
Teaching Information
Workshop sessions on running hand-on activities, child protection, design of evaluation methods. Discussion sessions with supervisor during development of activities and to review activities Practical activities at science exhibitions/in schools.
Assessment Information
To pass the unit students will be required to attend the training sessions, complete a satisfactory risk assessment for their new activity and deliver a minimum of two activity sessions. Formative assessment will be provided on the delivery of the “tried and tested” activity and the report on this activity. The summative assessment mark will consist of
- 2 page reflective report on “tried and tested activity” 2 pages (10%)
- Group mark for delivery of activity (20%)
- Group mark for evaluation strategy (10%)
- 2 page reflective report on activity (20%)
- Written work (30%)
- 1 page rationale for written work (10%)
Reading and References
- Effective Writing, Turk & Kirkman, Spon Press ISBN:0419146601
- The Resourceful Physics Teacher, Gibb, IoP ISBN:0750305189
- Getting the Buggers to Think, Cowley, Continuum, ISBN:0826464688
- Hands on Physics Activities, Cunningham & Herr, Bass ISBN:087628845
- Good Style, Kirkman, Routledge ISBN:0419171908.
