SSERC Bulletin 269 Complete

Impulse experiments using Electrolycra

This is an inexpensive, simple method of getting a force/time graph and comparing impulse with change in momentum.

End-product inhibition of the enzyme phosphatase – revisited

The SQA Course Specifications for Higher Biology and Higher Human Biology each suggest, as a context for the study of metabolic pathways, a learning activity where students might, “Carry out experiments based on end-product inhibition using phosphatase and phenolphthalein phosphate”.

Free STEM teaching resources from the University of Edinburgh

The School of GeoSciences, in collaboration with the Open Educational Resources (OER) Service, at the University of Edinburgh have released a series of free STEM teaching resources for school teachers and educators. The resources, which can be downloaded free of charge from TES Resources, are accompanied by Curriculum for Excellence learning objectives and outcomes, and are designed to be easily re-used and adapted for different classroom scenarios and curriculum levels.

SSERC professional learning courses

Our professional development courses range from twilight events, day-courses through to residential meetings lasting up to 6 days in total. Our curriculum coverage spans both primary and secondary sectors and we offer events for teachers as part of their career long professional learning, newly qualified teachers and technicians. Many of our events receive funding from the ENTHUSE Bursary scheme or the Scottish Government.

2020: year of the Young STEM Leader

“2020 will be the year of the young STEM Leader” Alastair MacGregor, Chief Executive of SSERC

Virtual Reality in the School of Education at University of Glasgow

When we wrote in Bulletin 260 on the control measures for using virtual reality in the classroom, we admitted that we did not have much experience of the technology ourselves and wondered if our safety advice was draconian. Since then, we have worked with Gabriella Rodolico of Glasgow University who used our guidance and found it to be entirely appropriate. We thought that Gabriella’s findings on the pedagogical aspects of VR would be of interest to many teachers of STEM subjects.

Safety in Microbiology Level 3 training

Safety in Microbiology – A Code of Practice for Scottish Schools and Colleges (SSERC 2018), the most recent edition of which was issued to schools in December 2018, contains guidance on the safe handling of micro-organisms for local authority and SSERC member schools and colleges. In most cases, local authority, or independent school/college, employers have adopted the Code of Practice to meet the requirements of the COSHH Regulations and of other related health and safety legislation.

Capacitor safety

‘What is the maximum capacitance allowable for a capacitor that will be used by students?’ A query like this one was emailed to our helpline and, as is often the way of these questions, there turned out to be more to it than initially seemed to be the case.

A new edition of Safeguards in the School Laboratory

At its Annual Conference in Reading, ASE launched the 12th edition of Safeguards in the School Laboratory. This familiar title was written by members of the ASE’s Health & Safety Group and is intended for all those involved in 11-19 science education. It will be particularly useful for newly qualified and trainee teachers, new technicians and for those seeking promotion to, or newly-appointed as, heads of department, senior technicians, etc. Having said that, one experienced former head of department, who joined the Group shortly before the revision started, was astonished at how much he hadn’t known!

Health & Safety Update

Our latest updates on health & safety.