ASE Annual Conference 2018

Join this workshop and learn how to get involved in a revolutionary, challenging and exciting project on Science Education at KS2 and KS3.

Think Universe! All is one is a short but essential foundation course on the nature of the world and the origins of everything, including ourselves.
Science content
The science content is necessarily wide, but very simple and presented at a coherent and accessible level.
In the first few lessons, pupils embark in an adventure of discovery that starts at the world around us, then explores smaller and smaller components to reach finally the smallest things imaginable: the fundamental building blocks of the Universe. Next, pupils assemble a cosmic timeline, where major milestones such as the Big Bang, the formation of atoms, molecules, stars, planets, living environments and humanity find their places. The timeline is the backbone of the course and also provides a historical sequence from physics to chemistry and finally, biology. The diverse topics in all lessons are closely linked to each other in a coherent and continuous experience.
Teaching methodology
It is a structured questioning method called Question Line, where thinking is at the core of the learning process (Question Line is part of the PhD research by one of us - Shirin Sheikh-Bahai - at the UCL Institute of Education). How are the questioning, thinking and learning connected to each other? What is the relevance of misconceptions? How to make knowledge and ability gaps vanish between pupils coming from a diversity of backgrounds? There is plenty of practical work using optical microscopes, building plasticine models of atomic structure, polystyrene models of simple molecules, developing a physical timeline of the Universe, and so forth.
Training for teachers, science coordinators and science leaders

Both science content and methodology require specific training, which can be done in three twilight teacher masterclasses (adaptable format). One of the main aims of this training is to de-mystify the apparent complexity and difficulty of the science content, by understanding that it is to be kept at a basic conceptual level well away from the higher levels of conventional courses in particle physics, astronomy, biochemistry or evolutionary biology. A science background is not required. Our masterclasses empower teachers and leave them confident for a successful classroom delivery with the additional possibility of becoming teacher trainers themselves.
Getting involved
In this workshop we will present a broad view of the entire project and most important, we will describe how to get involved and trained on science content, Question Line methodology, use of the dedicated teaching equipment and materials and even how to become ambassadors as part of a future nationwide expansion.