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Thursday, May 03, 2007
Help for Science Students
An article in the Guardian reports that the Royal Society of Chemistry has announced that many undergraduate chemistry students are receiving extra maths tuition at university because they gave up the subject after GCSE level. British science students have a lower level of mathematical skills than those from China, India, and Japan.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is offering a £500 prize to a person who answers a sample question from Chinese university entrance tests correctly. Click here for the story.
On a related note, recent figures show that almost a fifth of Chinese pupils in English schools are registered as gifted against a tenth of white children. It underlines the dominance of pupils from China and comes days after scientists warned that economic stability was at risk because British students lagged so far behind those from overseas. Alan Smithers, professor of education at Buckingham University, said ‘We know from international studies that Asian children, particularly those from China, Japan and Korea do particularly well. It could be the work ethic or it could be the valuing of education within those cultures.’
Finally on science subjects, a report published by the Council for Industry and Higher Education is calling on the government to consider introducing financial incentives for pupils to continue studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at A level. The STEM Review: The Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths Supply Chain report is available here.
The Royal Society of Chemistry is offering a £500 prize to a person who answers a sample question from Chinese university entrance tests correctly. Click here for the story.
On a related note, recent figures show that almost a fifth of Chinese pupils in English schools are registered as gifted against a tenth of white children. It underlines the dominance of pupils from China and comes days after scientists warned that economic stability was at risk because British students lagged so far behind those from overseas. Alan Smithers, professor of education at Buckingham University, said ‘We know from international studies that Asian children, particularly those from China, Japan and Korea do particularly well. It could be the work ethic or it could be the valuing of education within those cultures.’
Finally on science subjects, a report published by the Council for Industry and Higher Education is calling on the government to consider introducing financial incentives for pupils to continue studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects at A level. The STEM Review: The Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths Supply Chain report is available here.
Increasing Use of Technology
Learning and Teaching Scotland now has a presence on the YouTube website. LTS’s first video posts come from Connected Magazine.
Meanwhile, an article in the Sunday Herald reports that Glasgow Caledonian University are investigating ways of using different online technologies such as MySpace and podcasts to enhance teaching and learning.
An article in the Guardian reports that an English school has attempted to tackle the issue of immigrant children being placed in lower ability classes due to their lack of English by introducing an online assessment programme which aims to assess ability using pictures rather than words.
Finally, art students at university are to stage their degree show in the virtual, online world of Second Life. Goldsmiths students have created digital versions of their art work which their Second Life characters will present in their online world. Click here.
Meanwhile, an article in the Sunday Herald reports that Glasgow Caledonian University are investigating ways of using different online technologies such as MySpace and podcasts to enhance teaching and learning.
An article in the Guardian reports that an English school has attempted to tackle the issue of immigrant children being placed in lower ability classes due to their lack of English by introducing an online assessment programme which aims to assess ability using pictures rather than words.
Finally, art students at university are to stage their degree show in the virtual, online world of Second Life. Goldsmiths students have created digital versions of their art work which their Second Life characters will present in their online world. Click here.
CC4G in Edinburgh
e-skills UK has announced that the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and City of Edinburgh Council have formed a funding partnership enabling schools across Edinburgh to take advantage its CC4G (Computer Clubs for Girls) initiative. CC4G are out-of-school hours clubs that provide 10 to 14 year old girls with a range of specially-tailored activities designed to teach valuable technology skills while focusing on the girls' areas of interest. Currently, only around 15% per cent of Scotland's IT workforce is female. More than 30 Edinburgh schools attended a launch event hosted by RBS at its Edinburgh headquarters.
Growth of Mandarin
An article in the Guardian looks at the increasing amount of Mandarin teaching and learning taking place in both primary and secondary schools.
However, the Herald reports that although foreign languages are now taught in Scottish schools from primary six, experts say the fall-off in subjects such as French and German could harm students' careers and leave a generation without key skills. Click here.
However, the Herald reports that although foreign languages are now taught in Scottish schools from primary six, experts say the fall-off in subjects such as French and German could harm students' careers and leave a generation without key skills. Click here.
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