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The classroom and beyond Education support and activities 2013 For further information contact: 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT Tel +44 (0)20 7470 4800 Fax +44 (0)20 7470 4848 E-mail [email protected] www.iop.org/education www.iopblog.org Follow us on Twitter @PhysicsNews and join via #teachphysics Registered charity number: 293851 Scottish charity register number: SC040092 This document is also available to download from our website as a PDF. The RNIB clear print guidelines have been considered in the production of this document. Clear print is a design approach that considers the needs of people with sight problems. For more information, visit www.rnib.org.uk. This brochure was produced by IOP using responsibly sourced materials.

The classroom and beyond - Institute of PhysicsSchools and Colleges Affi liation Scheme The Institute offers an affi liation scheme for schools and colleges in the UK and Ireland,

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The classroom and beyondEducation support and activities 2013

For further information contact:

76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NTTel +44 (0)20 7470 4800 Fax +44 (0)20 7470 4848E-mail [email protected]/educationwww.iopblog.org

Follow us on Twitter @PhysicsNews and join via #teachphysics

Registered charity number: 293851Scottish charity register number: SC040092

This document is also available to download from our website as a PDF.

The RNIB clear print guidelines have been considered in the production of this document. Clear print is a design approach that considers the needs of people with sight problems. For more information, visit www.rnib.org.uk.

This brochure was produced by IOP using responsibly sourced materials.

Physics UpdatesPhysics Updates are two-night/three-day residential courses for physics teachers. The lecture component of the programme is devised to update participants on innovations in physics, both pure and applied, as well as curriculum developments. Workshops allow teachers to try new equipment, learn new experimental techniques, try out novel investigations and share their experience. There are three courses a year (usually in March, July and December). Visit www.iop.org/update for details of courses and to apply.

Scottish Summer SchoolThe Institute, in conjunction with the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Schools Equipment Research Centre, supports the annual Scottish Summer School, a residential course that gives teachers the opportunity to explore contemporary issues in physics education with colleagues and professional scientists.

Meetings and conferencesThe Institute supports a variety of one-day meetings and conferences across the whole of the UK and Ireland, providing subject-focused CPD for all teachers of physics. Some of these are organised centrally and others by regional branches or Physics Network co-ordinators.

Anthony Waterhouse FellowshipThe Anthony Waterhouse Fellowship, which is worth £2500 over two years, provides an opportunity for current teachers of physics to access funds to help them develop a dormant or nascent idea that will be useful in the classroom. It is generously endowed by Helen Parsons in memory of her brother and his passion for physics. More information is available at www.iop.org/education.

The Institute of Physics is a leading scientifi c society. We are a charitable organisation with a worldwide membership of more than 45,000, working together to advance physics education, research and application. We engage with policymakers and the general public to develop awareness and understanding of the value of physics and, through IOP Publishing, we are world leaders in professional scientifi c communications.

One of our core aims is to secure a fl ourishing future for physics, and to this end the Institute supports physics in all schools and colleges by:

• running policy projects to inform our position on improving education in physics;

• making representations on national policy;

• supporting initial teacher training and professional development;

• supporting curriculum development;

• creating teacher networks;

• running teacher and student events;

• providing careers materials and classroom resources.

These pages offer an overview of our education work. For more information on any of the projects, to access resources and for full details of all the support available to teachers and students go to www.iop.org/education.

Unless otherwise stated, all resources can be requested for free by e-mailing [email protected].

ITE support, Teachers’ continuing professional development &

Get involved

Education ForumThe Institute represents the interests of physics and its members in policy discussions, consultations and responses. The Education Forum allows us to seek the views of the physics-education community and involve them in supporting some of our work, in particular, with regard to the National Curriculum and public examinations.

To be eligible to join the forum, you must be a member of the Institute or the nominated teacher in an affi liated school or college. Most of the discussions take place online through www.talkphysics.org/forum, with periodic physical meetings.

To join the forum, e-mail [email protected] and put Education Forum in the title.

Membership and affi liationOur affi liation scheme is the simplest way of building a link between your school or college and the Institute. You get the benefi ts outlined on p2 and it allows the nominated teacher to join the Education Forum.

Becoming an individual member of the Institute takes the relationship to another level. It means that you can become more involved with governance of the Institute and provides you with other benefi ts, including access to careers advice and chartered status. There are three grades of membership: associate, member and fellow. You can fi nd out more about the eligibility and the application process at www.iop.org/membership.

Student teacher affi liation, which is free, is a way of building a bridge between trainees, the Institute’s education department and other teachers (see p10). When you leave training you can continue the relationship with the Institute, via one of the routes outlined above.

Get involved

Teachers’ continuing professional development

2 11

Schools and Colleges Affi liation Scheme

The Institute offers an affi liation scheme for schools and colleges in the UK and Ireland, which costs £48 (€60) per annum. International schools that teach the UK curriculum can also join the scheme for £74 (€90) a year. This entitles schools and colleges to receive the following publications.

• Classroom Physics – a newsletter published four times a year.

• Physics Education – a journal published six times a year, plus access to all of the content and archive online, free of charge.

• Physics World – a leading physics magazine published monthly, as well as access to physicsworld.com.

In addition, affi liated institutions benefi t from:

• discounts on Institute conferences and events such as Physics Updates and teacher meetings;

• information on local Institute branch activities;

• posters, resources and careers material produced by the Institute and other organisations.

For enquiries e-mail affi [email protected].

Follow us on Twitter@PhysicsNews and join via #teachphysics.

ITE support

The under-representation of girls in physics beyond the age of 16 is a serious issue for the UK and in particular for the STEM community, because A-level physics is a gateway qualification to a variety of careers that make a substantial contribution to the financial and intellectual wealth of the country. The proportion of girls among students continuing with physics post-16 has remained at around 20% for many years.

The Institute published a new report in October 2012, It’s Different for Girls: The influence of schools. The report looks at how the proportions of girls and boys going into physics A-level vary between different types of English school, using data from the National Pupil Database on students who did A-levels in 2011.

The findings include the fact that 49% of maintained co-ed schools sent no girls on to take A-level physics in 2011, but only 12% sent on no boys. The variation in the

experience of physics between school types is not gender neutral; it’s different for girls.

Individual teachers have been working on encouraging more girls to take physics post-16, many using IOP experience and materials as a starting point for their interventions. However, for success to extend beyond individual teachers, the work needs to be part of a long-term programme involving the science department and the whole school. The report is intended to act as a catalyst for change by bringing the issue to the attention of school leaders, policymakers and parents.

The report and briefing sheets for senior leaders in schools and for parents are available to download from www.iop.org/girlsinphysics, along with other reports and resources, which include Engaging with Girls: an action pack for teachers, with advice on action research and teaching interventions.

Girls in physicsGirls in physics

10 3

Teacher recruitmentThe Institute seeks to reduce the national shortage of physics teachers in England. We raise awareness of a career in teaching to suitable audiences and support new entrants into the profession. Activities include the Insight into Teaching events programme, the School Experience Programme for prospective teachers and the IOP Teacher Training Scholarships.

For the second year running the Institute is able, through a scheme funded by the Department for Education, to offer £20,000 Teacher Training Scholarships to 100 outstanding individuals wishing to embark on a physics, or physics with mathematics, PGCE or School Direct course in England. Scholars will be supported by experienced mentors. For further details see www.iop.org/scholarships.

Stimulating Physics Support NEWAs part of the Stimulating Physics Network, IOP is able to offer light-touch mentoring support to student and early-career physics teachers in England, based on the geographical availability of mentors. SPS mentors offer advice and maintain contact but don’t aim to duplicate or replace any support or structure offered by ITE centres or schools. Termly local meetings are also held, which are open to all trainee and early-career science teachers. See www.iop.org/sps.

Learning to Teach Physics Learning to Teach Physics is a broad programme that supports all novice science teachers as they build their confidence in teaching physics. Support covers all student, NQT and early-career science teachers in the UK and Ireland. Students’ involvement with the Learning to Teach Physics programme begins with their training period when they receive a booklet highlighting Institute resources and encouraging them to register with the Student Teacher Affiliation Scheme. Visit www.iop.org/education/ltp for more information.

Student teacher affiliationA dedicated free scheme for all student teachers of secondary science in the UK and Ireland. Student teacher affiliates will receive advice and support throughout the year through a combination of routes, including access to www.talkphysics.org, regular e-mail bulletins and resources to help develop teaching expertise in physics. Our three bloggers – an early-career teacher, a NQT and a student teacher – share their experiences of teaching at www.iopblog.org/education-2/. To apply to the scheme go to www.iop.org/education/ltp/affiliation.

ITE centre affiliationITE centres are able to join the affiliation scheme and receive the same benefits as schools and colleges. See the front of this brochure for details of the scheme. Centres can qualify for free affiliation if their science trainees have a visit from a physics network co-ordinator. E-mail [email protected] for details on how to apply.

www.talkphysics.org is our community and resources website linking teachers of physics at all stages of their careers. It now has around 6500 members and about 100 posts a week.

The site aims to bring together those who want to improve their teaching or help others to improve, such as teacher trainers. It provides a richer environment than IOP’s existing e-mail discussion lists, allowing the sharing of resource fi les and providing a searchable archive of all previous content. You can subscribe to e-mail notifi cations of new content.

It is home to IOP’s Supporting Physics Teaching (SPT) resources.

E-mail discussion lists

The education department supports a number of e-mail discussion lists designed to provide teachers with a forum to share ideas, ask for advice and exchange views. E-mails are sent to all list members and are automatically archived.

Lists include:

• PTNC: Physics Teaching News and Comment – for all those with an interest in the teaching and learning of physics.

• SPUTNIK: Scottish Physics Teaching News and Comment – for debating the big issues facing physics teaching in Scotland as well as exchanging ideas.

• NIPTG: Northern Ireland Physics Teachers Group.

Support for teachers

See the world differentlyA series of three high-tech, interactive posters to illustrate the wonder and awe that physics can inspire by allowing people to see the world differently. Each poster illustrates and emphasises at least one aspect of seeing the world differently: in a literal sense, in a metaphorical sense and by modelling. The posters change when the conditions change in the dark, under UV light or when they are heated up. For more information on how to use the posters go to www.talkphysics.org/world or www.physics.org/world.

Careers clipsThese award-winning clips are a suite of 5–8 minute videos showcasing some exciting careers available to those studying physics to A-level and beyond. They are suitable for classroom use and link with the 14–16 curriculum.

Expand: Physics at A-level/Higher A leafl et for students considering their options at age 16. It contains profi les of people who have studied physics at A-level/Higher level and responses to commonly asked questions.

My Physics Course The website www.myphysicscourse.org is a guide for students considering physics at university in the UK and Ireland. It lists all accredited physics degree courses and typical grade offers. Students can search

or compare courses by nation, university, a whole range of subject combinations or by distance from a given postcode.

Physics at University: your essential guide NEWA booklet for students considering their options at age 18, with answers to commonly asked questions about career prospects, degree entry requirements, course content and advice on choosing a university.

Do Try This at Home – featuring Marvin and MiloA set of 24 colourful postcards is available, based on the Interactions feature Do Try this At Home. They can be used as teaching resources and they are also available at www.physics.org.

Marvin and Milo reward cardsThis is a set of six cards that can be sent home to recognise outstanding work in the classroom and feature the popular cat and dog team. They are also available to download from www.iop.org/rewardcards.

Pocket PhysicsAn A6 booklet listing physics equations and defi nitions along with diagrams and useful data. A revision and homework aid for students aged 16+, this replaces the Best Pocket Physics Handbook.

physics.orgThe www.physics.org website provides visitors with a starting point for exploring physics on the internet, bringing together content produced by the Institute and the best online material found elsewhere. Secondary students can fi nd advice and inspiration in the Study and Careers sections. The site also provides information about the Institute’s outreach activities.

Extra-curricular resources and careers material for students

Careers material and other resources

talkphysics.org

4 9

Teaching Advanced Physics (TAP)This website covers almost all of the post-16 content for A-level specifications in England and Wales and Advanced Higher in Scotland. It provides teaching tips for key concepts, as well as lesson plans, experimental details and questions for pupils. It will be particularly useful for newly qualified teachers in their early years of teaching and for non-specialist teachers. Everything is fully downloadable as Word documents, to be customised by teachers. Visit www.tap.iop.org.

Practical Physics Together, the Institute and the Nuffield Foundation have developed the practical physics website to help all teachers of physics to share their skills and experience of making experiments and demonstrations work in the classroom. The website includes information on apparatus, procedures and teaching notes, together with general guidance on teaching approaches. The website also includes a section on “How Science Works”. Visit www.practicalphysics.org.

Physics and Ethics Education Projectwww.peep.ac.uk is an interactive website and virtual learning environment for secondary-school science teachers and their students. This teaching resource has been developed to highlight the moral, ethical, social, economic, environmental and technological implications and applications of physics.

Teaching Astronomy and SpaceThese resources support the teaching of astronomy and space to 11–16 year olds and are built around a series of videos. There are clips to use with students, where astronomers talk about their work in an inspiring and engaging way, as well as guidance and advice on setting up and managing

practical activities with students. The activities are supported by full teaching notes. The resources are available on our website and on DVD.

Teaching RadioactivityThese resources help support the teaching of radioactivity, enabling teachers to give students a more authentic and engaging experience of ionising radiations and sub-atomic particles. They include a TV programme in which the presenter leads a group of teachers through a series of activities that illustrate the properties of ionising radiations, as well as animations and a background radiation worksheet to use in the classroom. The resources are available from the Institute’s website and on DVD.

Thinking on Your Feet: football and physics NEWLook out for a new set of resources, available from the summer onwards, using football as the starting point for help with teaching ideas around forces and motion.

Teaching Medical Physics The resources that have been available for a number of years have been fully revised and updated. These include PowerPoint slides, video

Resources for the classroom

clips and teaching notes for a variety of diagnostic and imaging tools. The materials are free to download from www.teachingmedicalphysics.org.uk and are also on DVD, along with the 2011 schools lecture “From X-rays to anti-matter – the science of seeing inside your body”.

Voicebox: the Physics and Evolution of Speech This booklet and accompanying electronic resources are part of the Innovations in Practical Work series produced by the Gatsby Science Enhancement Programme, in conjunction with IOP and UCL. The resource provides a set of practical activities that encourage students to understand human speech at a basic level and to explore animal sounds and the evolution of human speech. They are also available to download from the National STEM Centre e-library.

Physics in Concert This resource is based on the Ashfield Music Festival activity (see p8) and incorporates many of its features, but it can also be run in lessons. Students work in teams and explore how physics applies to the context of planning a music event. The resource for 13–14 year olds is available from www.iop.org/concert and in printed form.

The Virtual Physical Laboratory (VPLab)Developed with the National Physical Laboratory, VPLab software contains more than 180 simulations and interactive experiments for teaching physics to 14–19 year olds. Currently this resource is provided free of charge to teachers who attend a demonstration at Physics Teacher Network sessions or Institute INSET events.

The MODEL project: practical physics at workThis resource aims to provide engaging and relevant practical experiences for students aged between 14 and 16 years. It is available to download from the National STEM Centre e-library.

Are You a Good Scientist?This is a poster and set of questions for use with students, which highlights safe and ethical approaches to scientific work. The resource is intended to act as a stimulus for teaching about science as well as helping students understand the importance of behaving ethically in terms of their own work.

SimPhysicsFour interactive games are available to use for teaching energy, space and sound to 13–16 year olds. The games are designed to help students to engage with the physics they need to use to solve problems and win the games. They are downloadable from the Institute’s website, along with supporting teaching notes.

Resources for the classroom

Instructions On most PCs, you simply need to insert the DVD into your computer. The DVD will automatically start on Windows XP. If you are using Windows 7 or Vista, you may be prompted to continue and you should choose to open the “Start here” document.

Alternatively you can explore the DVD content by selecting “Open folder to view files” or launching “My computer”. Simply double click on the “Start here” document to access the videos and resources.

Mac or Linux users will need to double click on their DVD-drive icon, and then open the “Start here” document.

Once the DVD has started, you can navigate round the different videos and resources by clicking on the links at the top of the page, just beneath the title banner. You can select resources and videos on the DVD by clicking on the orange text or images.

Watching the video clips The videos can be viewed by using the movie software on your computer, such as Windows Media Player, Flip 4 Mac, VLC or MPlayer. If the videos don’t play at all, then you should check that suitable software is installed. More information is included on the DVD.

Running LTImage The software can be run directly from the “LTImage” folder on the DVD. Further instructions are included on the disc.

Contents• Astronomy and space videos – stimulating film clips to introduce students to the

wonders of the universe.

• Classroom demonstrations – film clips with supporting teachers’ notes. This section also includes resources from Practical Physics and the Physics and Ethics Education Project (PEEP).

• Teaching resources – a variety of additional teaching resources from the National Schools’ Observatory. It also includes LTImage – a piece of image-processing software that has been specially written by Dr Andy Newsam of Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) for schools to display and analyse telescope-image data.

• Web links and software – a selection of useful websites and software to support the teaching of astronomy more widely.

Institute of Physics76 Portland PlaceLondon W1B 1NT

E-mail [email protected]/education

The programmes Teaching Astronomy and Space were produced by Glasshead, with generous funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, on behalf of The Institute of Physics and Teachers TV.

The copyright of the content on this DVD is provided under licence from Teachers TV or owned by the Institute of Physics, apart from the exceptions listed in the acknowledgements and the copyright notice that is included on the DVD. The videos include material from other copyright holders, including

movies and images from ESA, NASA and many others. The teaching resources also include material provided by the NSO, LJMU and Dr Andy Newsam.

This DVD (and all of the content within it) is licensed for personal use or non-commercial educational use within educational establishments. All other uses (including, by way of illustration only, broadcasting, public performance or communication via the internet) unless authorised by the owner

and/or the relevant licensor are strictly prohibited. It may only be replicated or used on a network for not-for-profit and educational purposes. All rights reserved. Logos and trade names are included with the permission of their owners.

Teaching asTronomy and space

Resources and support for teaching 11–16 year olds

Expand your horizons

L ED DVD 0710 Astro-6.indd 1 10/09/2010 15:52

Institute of Physics76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT

E-mail [email protected]/education

Acknowledgements

The resources were written and researched by Taj Bhutta and Christine Mayson of the Institute of Physics (IOP). The 2011 schools lecture was produced by Picnic Films on behalf of the IOP, with generous funding from the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

We would also like to thank the following people for their advice:

• Michael Wilson, Birmingham University Hospital NHS Trust

• Adam Gibson, University College London

• Debbie Hill, Institute of Cancer Research

• Michael Drinnan, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Matthew Dunn, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

• Alys Potter, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

• Kevin Munson, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

and the following people and organisations for permission to use their images:

• Michael Wilson, Birmingham University Hospital NHS Trust

• Jens Langner, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

• American Physical Society

• Pancreatic Cancer Action

Teaching resources Curriculum links Schools lecture

Pulse oximeters Diodes Visible and infrared light

Chapter 2: Pulse oximetry

Electrocardiograms CRO traces Frequency/amplitude

N/A

Ultrasound scans Sound Longitudinal waves

N/A

X-ray imaging Electromagnetic spectrum Background radiation

Chapter 3: X-rays Chapter 5: CT scanning

Gamma camera Types of radiation Half-life

Chapter 4: Nuclear medicine

Positron emission tomography

Stable and unstable isotopes Beta decay

Chapter 7: PET scans

Magnetic resonance imaging

Electromagnets Electromagnetic induction Radio waves

Chapter 6: MRI Chapter 8: Functional MRI

Copyright statement

The copyright of the content on this DVD is owned by the Institute of Physics, apart from the exceptions listed in the acknowledgements and copyright notice that is included on the DVD. The teaching resources also include material provided by IPEM and others.

This DVD (and all of the content within it) is licensed for personal use or non-commercial educational use within educational establishments. All other uses (including, by way of illustration only, broadcasting, public performance or communication via the internet) unless authorised by the owner and or the relevant licensor are strictly prohibited. It may only be replicated or used on a network for not-for-profit and educational purposes.

All rights reserved. Logos and trade names are included by permission of their owners.

Teaching Medical Physics 14–16 teaching resources

Including the schools and colleges lecture tour 2011 From X-rAyS To AnTImATTer: The science of seeing inside your body

Instructions

On most PCs you need to simply insert the DVD into the computer and the DVD should automatically start. If autorun does not work please double click on the file called “Medical_Physics”(not suitable for Apple Mac computers). The teaching resources are compatible with Word and PowerPoint 97 onwards. On older versions of PowerPoint however some graphics and animations may not display properly.

L ED DVD 0312 Medical Physics-4.indd 1 16/05/2012 16:16

6 7

Schools and colleges lecture tourThe schools and colleges lecture has been delivered by a series of acclaimed physics communicators annually, throughout the UK, since 1993. The free lecture demonstration is designed to show 14–16-year-old school pupils contemporary developments in physics in an engaging and stimulating way. The 2013 lecture, entitled “Defying gravity: make physics your launchpad”, will explore how scientists and engineers have used physics to send astronauts and vessels into space. Dates and venues can be found on the Institute’s website. Videos of previous lectures are available.

Physics in Perspective This is a three-day course for sixth-formers and college students, running on 17–19 February 2013 in London. The speakers are chosen for their ability to make physics come alive, by illustrating its impact on our lives, and exploring its potential for shaping the future world through engineering and technology. Early booking is recommended.

16–19 membershipFree electronic membership of IOP is available to all students studying physics in this age group, with access to Physics World online and physicsworld.com. They receive regular updates on what’s new in physics, exam and university guidance, and information about careers in physics, as well as the chance to interact with other young physicists. Go to www.iop.org/16-19 to join up.

Ashfield Music Festival This is a simulation activity and the pack contains all that is needed to run a one-day, off-timetable activity with a large group of 14–15-year-old students. The students work in teams to plan a music festival; they take on specialist roles within the teams and seek advice from a group of “experts”. The aim is to

show students that a knowledge and understanding of physics is useful in the world of business and enterprise. It is a good opportunity to bring in outside support (parents and STEM ambassadors) and include physics in a school’s enterprise agenda. Go to www.iop.org/ashfield to download the resource.

ScienceliveThe www.sciencelive.net website is an online directory of talks, presentations and workshops delivered by professional science and engineering communicators and committed enthusiasts. Sciencelive helps you to find a suitable speaker or presenter for your event. We are also developing an IOP database of outreach officers at university physics departments that teachers can use to find suitable speakers and ambassadors.

Physics activity pack for STEM clubsThe activity pack contains physics-based ideas, resources and activities for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) clubs. The resource is available on DVD and on our website.

IOP/IET/STFC School Grants SchemeThis co-funded scheme provides schools and colleges with grants of up to £500 for small-scale projects or events linked to the teaching or promotion of physics and engineering. Projects and activities linked to astronomy, space and particle physics, or engineering and technology are particularly encouraged. Grants will not normally be given to meet costs that should be met from school budgets, or for projects that will run regardless of whether an award is made.

The scheme is open to all UK schools and colleges, catering for pupils and students in the age range 5–18. There are three deadlines a year: 1 February, 1 June and 1 November. To facilitate a quick response, applications will only be accepted electronically using a simple form available on the Institute’s website.

Extra-curricular resources for students

Stimulating Physics NetworkA government-funded partnership between the Institute of Physics and the Science Learning Centres, the Stimulating Physics Network (SPN) is a national programme focused on reinvigorating the culture of physics in schools. It provides coherent and sustainable professional development programmes for teachers and inspiring activities for pupils.

The 60-strong network of knowledgeable physics specialists provides, amongst other things:

• support for all English secondary schools from the Physics Network co-ordinators;

• bespoke, cost-free programmes of workshops and support for physics teachers in more than 300 SPN partner schools, over two years, via a dedicated Teaching and Learning Coach (TLC);

• summer schools that are open to non-specialist teachers of physics from SPN partner schools. Each school consists of four days of intensive hands-on workshops led by the Teaching and Learning Coaches. The summer schools focus on developing subject knowledge and pedagogy;

• the Exoplanet Physics Project, which is available to year-9 students in SPN partner schools and is based on the popular astronomy topic of extrasolar planets.

More information is available from www.stimulatingphysics.org.

Physics Teacher Network There are currently more than 50 Physics Network co-ordinators in the UK and Ireland, who are current or recently retired teachers. These co-ordinators organise and coordinate local CPD workshops and events. They also act as a source of information about local initiatives and activities, and generally provide help and advice in response to requests. The network has developed a number of off-the-peg workshops, but sessions can be tailored to meet the individual needs of the teachers and pupils in each school. Schools can request a workshop at a time and place to suit them.

To find a local co-ordinator visit www.iop.org/network.

Supporting Physics Teaching (SPT) The SPT initiative has been in development over the last few years and there is now full coverage of the 11–16 physics curriculum to help teachers gain a better understanding of physics and develop greater confidence in their teaching of it, with sound teaching approaches.

There are five topics focused on the needs of teaching 11–14 year olds, and three topics appropriate to teaching 14–16-year-old students. The resource is available online as a series of downloadable interactive PDFs and as web pages.

To get the resources go to www.talkphysics.org and register.

Support for teachers

8 5