Workshop 1
 Contents
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Section C Transformations: content
Activity
C2 Energy and change |
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Aims
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To compare different ways in which the content of
the ‘Energy and Change’ innovation may be transformed by teachers.
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To explore factors related to the content of the
innovation which may influence the transformations.
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To consider these issues in the light of your own
teaching experience.
Background
The project ‘Energy and Change’ attempts to innovate
in a number of different ways. Its most fundamental aim is to introduce
ideas to explain ‘why things change’. These ideas are related to the Second
Law of Thermodynamics. In order to support this it introduces a novel abstract
picture language to help pupils to understand these ideas, as well as ways
of talking about them using terms that are not part of existing school
science. How do teachers see these ideas and how do they relate to existing
work? How can these activities be integrated into schemes of work? The
following stories address these questions.
[N.B. These stories are based
on research into the work of teachers implementing this innovation. Though
they are not based on particular individuals, they do focus on issues that
were identified in the research.]
What to do
1. It is best to do this activity in a group
of two or three. Before you start discussion, however, work individually
and read through each of the stories on page 2.
For each story, decide whether you are:
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broadly sympathetic to the position outlined in the
story (S)
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broadly unsympathetic to the position outlined in
the story (U)
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neither (N)
Write the appropriate letter next to each story.
2. Discuss each story in turn within the
group. It may be useful to think about the following:
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What is the key idea of the story?
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Are there points that the teacher makes that we all
agree with?
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Are there points that the teacher makes that we all
disagree with? If so, is this because we disagree in principle or because
we think the teacher has said something factually incorrect? Or because
they say something which may apply in their own situation but not in yours?
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What are the issues where we do not reach a consensus?
What are the reasons for this?
3. After discussion, work individually again
and look back over all of the stories. Pick out a few key sentences, which
you agree with and think address the most important ideas for you. Underline
them. Pick out a few sentences that you disagree with strongly. Underline
them in a different colour or style. (Make a note of what the colours/styles
mean so that you can work it out later.) You will be returning to these
sheets in a later session. |
