In August 2016, on the back of the BBC’s gift of a BBC micro:bit to schools for every S1 student, every Design and Technology department in Scotland was sent a Kitronik Inventor’s Kit for the BBC micro:bit courtesy of SSERC. This kit is a great way to get started with programming and hardware interaction. This Inventor’s Kit contains everything needed to complete 10 experiments including using LEDs, motors, LDRs and capacitors.
“Is it true that Cabomba has been banned from schools?”
Until recently SSERC recommended the use of Cabomba caroliniana for use in simple photosynthesis experiments. However, in 2016 Cabomba, along with various other plant species, was placed on the EU list of invasive alien species. As current stocks are used up it will become increasingly difficult to source Cabomba and ultimately it will be an offence to keep, or supply it.
However, at SSERC we have identified another aquarium oxygenator, also non-native which, to date, is still available to buy. Egeria najas performs just as well as Cabomba in these simple classroom photosynthesis experiments.
SSERC professional development courses
An update on the courses SSERC is offering over the next few months.
An introduction to one of the next generation of dynamics cards for use in physics: the Smart Cart from Pasco
Hydrogen peroxide and immobilised yeast
This article offers a thought-provoking and, as we hope to show here, a fun approach to measuring catalase levels in yeast.
The new SSERC Technology team arrives.
Health and Safety
In light of the whole DNPH farrago, a look at the safe storage and monitoring of chemicals in schools.
The use of caffeine on human subjects
A warning about using caffeine on human subjects in biology investigations.
