Access Science Flashmeeting

The final Access Network Flashmeeting of the school year saw five Science teachers meet to discuss the wide range of Science units and courses available at Access level.

Colleagues spoke about the options available at Access 1, including delivering 'stand alone' or 'derived' units. We found out about: delivery of Access units alongside Intermediate 1 and Standard Grade; one colleague's experience of running Access Physics; and links with other areas of the curriculum eg wiring a plug (SVS), growing plants, environment projects (both Managing an Environmental Resources - MER). There was recognition of the difficulties in delivering parts of the Access 3 course without a dedicated Science room and a consideration of the wider choice of activities/experiments in the Access 2 Science course (see these Dundee City Council resources on the LTS site).

Each participant spoke about web/ICT resources which they were using to enhance teaching and learning, as well as enabling pupils to complete NABs. The following were recommended:

• Assessment in the Sciences (SQA)
• SSERC 3-18 Science guide for teachers
• Ohm's Law
• Eyesight
• Human Space Flight
• Aircraft and Space Artifacts
• Physics 2000
• SMART Notebook
• Sound and Light.

Thanks to Sinclair McKenzie, a Science teacher in Thurso, who kindly promoted this event via a couple of Science teacher forums.