Welcome to Amgen Teach - Information Page
Autumn 2017 workshops
Please click here or on the flyer to book your place. Please note substitution cover will be provided for the school day events (i.e. UL and UCC).
Amgen Teach aims to deepen student interest and achievement in Science by strengthening the ability of life science secondary school teachers to use inquiry-based teaching strategies in the classroom. Amgen Teach uses training workshops and distance learning events to provide educators with the skills and confidence necessary to transform the student experience in learning Science.
PDST Coursework B Support Team
Amgen Teach 2016/2017
Day 2: Takes place in school
Day 3: Amgen Teach PDST inquiry based science education for coursework B: Supporting our science teachers.
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 23 January 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Navan Education Centre |
| 24 January 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Blackrock Education Centre |
| 25 January 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Kilkenny Education Centre |
| 31 January 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Donegal Education Centre |
| 01 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Galway Education Centre |
| 02 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Limerick Education Centre |
| 06 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Dublin West Education Centre |
| 07 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Kildare Education Centre |
| 16 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Cork Education Support Centre |
| 17 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Tralee Education Centre |
| 27 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Athlone Education Centre |
| 28 February 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Drumcondra Education Centre |
| 01 March 2017 | 9.30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Laois Education Centre |
Click here to book your place.
The specification for the new junior cycle science can be found here.
This year for Amgen Teach our focus was on Science at senior cycle with a separate inquiry based workshop for our various Science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Agricultural Science. The sessions focused on the introduction of inquiry into a science lesson, exploring the levels of inquiry and applying sensor technology to promote inquiry
The following were the workshops provided in 2015/2016
| 1 Amgen Teach Biology |
|---|
Using an inquiry based approach to enhance Teachers knowledge in Biology investigations. Days (14 Nov. 2015)
Venue: Waterpark College, Waterford
GMIT, Galway
Theme:
Using inquiry based learning techniques to broaden teacher’s knowledge
on a number of practical based Biology investigations and to model
best practice when applying this approach.
Resources
| 2 Amgen Teach Chemistry |
|---|
Using Sensors to Conduct Inquiry Based Learning in Chemistry (14 May 2016)
Venue: University of Limerick
Theme: Workshop in which experienced teachers demonstrated the use
of sensors to conduct inquiry based learning experiments.
Resources
| 3 Amgen Teach Physics |
|---|
Electricity, Force and Heat: The Essentials (7th November 2015)
Venue: Gonzaga College, Dublin
Theme: Practical activities followed by inquiry based discussion demonstration
and ending with relevant questioning to clarify challenging concepts.
Resources
Electricity - Practical Activities
| 4 Amgen Teach Agricultural Science |
|---|
Ag-Venture 2016: “Theory into Practice”
How to convey practical farming into the classroom (4−5 March 2016)
- Education Centre, Sligo
- Inquiry based learning methodologies and the importance of good questioning. Project work, as a task was explored and how it may be used as a stimulus for inquiry
For all of the above Amgen Teach workshops all facilitators ensured the common emphasis:
- The tutors in all of the courses advocated the use of an inquiry approach
- The inputs sessions involved many short “thinking exercises” and discussions to ensure that teachers could articulate their ideas.
- All workshops involved hands-on activities designed to clarify teachers’ own ideas and to engage their pupil
Resources
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The PDST ran three Amgen Teach workshops in 2014 – 2015.
18th October 2014 - Inquiry based Science Education
28th February 2015 - Teaching through Inquiry using Sensors
Amgen Teach Day 1 ~ Teaching Science through Inquiry
Session 1: Chain Reaction: This will focus on involving teachers in an inquiry themed lesson to show how inquiry can be carried out in an everyday classroom setting. The aim is to help develop teachers’ awareness of IBSE and show that inquiry approaches are possible regardless of the resources available.
Session 2: Teaching Enquiry Mysteries Incorporated (TEMI): This will enable you to experience IBL (Inquiry Based Learning) and to become informed about the 5 E model for IBL. In this project the teaching approaches used incorporates scientific mysteries or discrepant events to arouse and engage student interest at the beginning of a lesson, which will then motivate students to enquire further and find out the scientific explanations. As a participating teacher, you will be provided with prepared TEMI lesson ideas and develop your own TEMI lessons.
Session 3: Developing key skills in Science teaching and learning: Majella Dempsey Maynooth University will provide an insight developing key skills in Junior Cycle Science.
Workshop Materials Day 1
Amgen Teach Day 2 ~ Teaching through Inquiry using Sensors
Session 1: Data logging and Inquiry in Biology and Chemistry: In conjunction with the European Inspiring Science (ISE) programme, data logging experiments in biology and chemistry will be on show. Vernier will demonstrate the power of data logging and how it can assist in the classroom by giving fast and accurate results every time. You can also learn how to integrate data logging wirelessly with iPad and other smart devices and how data can be shared with everyone in the classroom with a single data logger. The team will be there to answer your questions on specific sensors and each session will have an introductory “get you started on data logging” session." ISE Ireland team be on hand to demonstrate the digital resources and inquiry based class plans available to Irish schools interested in providing engaging, effective e-tools for science teaching. More information about ISE involvement will be available at the session
Session 2: Using sensors to explore energy: CASTEL in conjunction with SEAI will offer a workshop on energy. Lesson plans and worksheets will be available for teachers at this workshop.
Session 3: Argumentation in Science Teaching and Learning: Argumentation is about providing justification to claims with evidence. Suppose we make a claim about the particulate nature of matter. How do we know that matter consists of particles? What is the evidence? How do we know how to select which evidence? There is now substantial amount of research that informs us about how to design science lessons and professional development to enhance argumentation. In this workshop, resources that enhance the use of argumentation in secondary science lessons will be explored. The participants will engage in activities and trial strategies for supporting argumentation.
Workshop Materials Day 2
