TY Science: a project to develop, evaluate and revise

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TY Science a project to develop, evaluate and
revise science teaching materials for Transition
Year

• Peter E. Childs

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The Irish education system

• At second level there are two state examinations
  and the science curricula are centrally-prescribed
  .
• There is a Transition Year Option (TYO) between
  the two cycles.
• Uptake figures
• Age 12-15 Junior Certificate 90
• Age 15/16 Transition Year Option 50
• Age 15/16-17/18 Leaving Certificate 80

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The Irish Education System
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TYO An opportunity for curriculum development

• The only place in the system with freedom to
  innovate is the Transition Year Option, between
  junior and senior cycle.
• TYO is optional depends on the school and on
  the students.
• TYO is broadly specified, it is not examined, and
  teachers have freedom to devise or choose their
  own science curriculum.

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Using TYO to promote science

• There is a big fall-off in science enrolment
  between junior and senior cycles.
• There is no formal science curriculum for TYO and
  very few teaching resources.
• Many teachers default to teaching from the LC
  courses.

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TY Science project at UL

• The TY Science project aims to provide teachers
  with interesting, context-based materials for
  TYO.
• The overall aim is to make science more
  interesting, in order to encourage more students
  to take LC science subjects.

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Science teacher training at UL

• The University of Limerick trains science
  teachers in a four year concurrent programme,
  with two in-school periods of teaching practice.
• In year 4, students spend 10 weeks teaching
  science in a second level school they often
  teach TYO students and usually have to devise
  their own materials.

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The genesis of TY Science

• In 2002-3 two students being supervised were
  encouraged to develop new materials for their TYO
  students Forensic Science (Sindy Meleady) and
  Cosmetic Science (Audrey OGrady).
• It was decided to develop these materials further
  with the students as part of a TY Science
  project.
• The aim of the project was to provide new
  context-based teaching resources for science
  teachers.

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Project development (1)

• In addition a 3rd student (Maria Sheehan)
  developed another module in The Science of Sport
  for her Final Year Project (FYP) during the
  summer vacation of 2003 and tried this out during
  the 2003-4 school year.

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Project development (2)

• In 2006-7 modules were also developed in Science
  and Survival (Rebecca Moran) and Environmental
  Science (Sarah Hayes)
• In 2008-9 new modules were developed and trialled
  in Science and Medicine (Karen Murphy), Space
  Science Technology (Walter Mahony), Issues in
  Science (Ciara Hayes), Food Science (Anne
  ODwyer), Science and Cleaning (Maeve Liston).

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Guiding principles in the modules

• The TY Science modules were designed to
• Build on the previous Junior Science course,
• Develop practical and laboratory skills,
• Develop the scientific method and related skills,
• Develop IT and communication skills,
• Involve hands-on activities and active learning,
• Be related to everyday contexts with an STS
  focus,
• Be interdisciplinary involving aspects of
  Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

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Methodology of curriculum development

• TY Science modules were
• Developed by 4th. Year science education students
  for their FYPs.
• Piloted in a number of schools by the student,
  other 4th. Year students and by experienced
  teachers.
• Evaluated through teachers diaries and pre- and
  post-module student and post-module teacher
  questionnaires.
• Revised in the light of the feedback from 2. and
  3. by the student teachers.
• Made available to schools at low cost as a
  teaching package.

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Structure of the modules

• Designed to cover 8/9 weeks work.
• Module consists of a series of 8/9 units.
• Each unit consists of 1 double lesson, 1 single
  lesson and an optional extension single lesson.
• Each unit is related to the overall theme but can
  be taught independently.
• Emphasis on active learning and practical work.
• Provided as a photocopiable Students Guide and
  Teachers Guide.

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Module themes

• Completed and available to teachers
• Forensic Science (2004) Sindy Meleady
• Cosmetic Science (2004) Audrey OGrady
• The Science of Sport (2004) Maria Sheehan
• Science of Survival (2007) Rebecca Moran
• Environmental Science (2007) Sarah Hayes
• (date of publication)

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New module themes

• Revised and printed
• Issues in Science (2009) Ciara Hayes
• Science and Medicine (2009) Karen Murphy
• Food Science (2009) Anne ODwyer
• Under revision 2008-9
• Space Science Technology (Walter Mahony)
• Under development 2009-10
• Science of Cleaning (Maeve Liston)

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Success of the project

• Results from Sarah Hayes study showed that
• 100 of teachers find the teachers guide helpful
• Over 90 of teachers who responded felt that the
  students enjoyed using the modules and found them
  easy to use.
• Teachers noted that the modules met their needs
  because they
• help introduce life skills
• have a good mix of student active work and
  practical's
• the resources needed for practical work are
  cheap and easy to get
• students are interested and want to complete the
  modules

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Numbers of modules sold (12/08)

• Forensic Science 95
• Cosmetic Science 71
• The Science of Sport 81 100
• ( two large GAA orders)
• Science of Survival 41
• Environmental Science 63

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Conclusion - General

• The development of TY Science modules by trainee
  science teachers has been very successful.
• The modules have been well received by teachers
  and are widely used. (gt 500 distributed to date
  of the first 5 titles.) The project has used the
  energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas of trainee
  teachers and has involved them in curriculum
  development.
• It has also been valuable for the students own
  personal and professional development.

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Transition Year Science no longer a wasted
opportunity

• These modules
• Have involved student teachers in an innovative
  curriculum development project.
• Meet teachers needs for suitable TY Science
  materials.
• Satisfy the TY Science guidelines.
• Provide a relevant experience of all the sciences
  to encourage the uptake of the Leaving
  Certificate Sciences.

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• These modules are a life-saver, I dont know
  what Id do without them!
• (A Science Teacher, March 2009)

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New modules 2009

• Three modules have been revised and are
  available
• Science and Medicine (Karen Murphy)
• Food Science (Anne ODwyer)
• Issues in Science (Ciara Hayes)
• These new modules will now be described.

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TY Science

• Introduction to the module on
• Science and Medicine
• By Karen Murphy

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Science and Medicine

• Aims
• Promote pupils interest in areas of Science that
  they have not encountered before.
• Encourage pupils to enjoy Science and discuss
  issues relevant to their interests.
• Give pupils an understanding of the relevance of
  Science topics in everyday life.
• To help pupils see the importance of Science in
  the field of medicine.

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List of units

• Unit 1 Action of antibiotics
• Unit 2 Antiseptics
• Unit 3 Blocking sensations - anaesthetics
• Unit 4 Antacids
• Unit 5 Analgesics Pain
• Unit 6 Importance of medicines
• Unit 7 Science Technology in Medicine
• Unit 8 Why not take the alternative route?

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Themes

• Initially the module looks at important classes
  of drugs used in medicine
• Antiseptics
• Anaesthetics
• Antacids
• Antibiotics
• Analgesics

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Themes

• It then goes on to look at
• the synthesis and production of drugs, using
  aspirin as an example
• the use of technology in medicine X-rays, CT
  scans, radiogaphy
• and finally a look at alternative medicine.

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Structure of each unit (1)

• Each unit contains an introductory single lesson,
  a double lesson and an optional further single
  lesson.
• e.g.
• Unit 1 Action of antibiotics
• Lesson 1. Antibiotics
• Lesson 2. The Superbug
• Lesson 3. A look further

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Structure of each unit (2)

• Each unit develops the ideas and has a series of
  pupil activities and experiments.
• e.g. In unit 1 pupils look at the history of
  antibiotics, discuss resistance to antibiotics,
  how antibiotics are made industrially and make
  yoghurt as an illustration of fermentation in
  the optional lesson they are asked to research
  and make presentations on different aspects of
  antibiotics.

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TY Science materials

• 8 modules are currently available
• Forensic Science
• Cosmetic Science
• Science of Sport
• Science of Survival
• Environmental Science
• (includes a PowerPoint presentation and UV
  beads)
• Science and Medicine
• Food Science
• Issues in Science

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Availability of TY Science modules

• Modules costs 10 each plus pp.
• Each module contains a students handbook and a
  teachers handbook, but extra students guides
  can be bought separately (_at_ 5 each).
• Contact peter.childs_at_ul.ie for more details and
  an order form.