WHAT TECHNICIANS DO
Gratnells has helped F1 in Schools to raise the presentation of its global event at a higher level, with a supply of its iconic
storage trays and trolleys
Dr Katherine Forsey, Education & Outreach
Consultant and Gratnells’ Learning Rooms
and STEM Consultant, highlights the
crucial role today’s science technicians play
and the value they bring.
What do school science technicians
do? On paper at least, the role
is clearly defined and can be
simplistically summarised as follows:
Technicians prepare experiments,
maintain equipment, store equipment
and consumables, oversee health and
safety and ensure teachers consider
risks associated with practicals.
Experienced technicians may also
control budgets, make purchasing
decisions and deliver or support
practical work in the classroom.
However, beyond providing an
excellent technical service, many
technicians also go above and
beyond to support the learning and
development of young people both
inside and outside their schools.
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May - Jun 2018
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Some are fortunate, and this work is
supported by their schools, others
do it in their own time. Most receive
little recognition for their contribution
and there is usually no reward beyond
personal satisfaction.
Gratnells, through their International
Science Technician of the Year
(STOTY) awards, seek to recognise,
reward and celebrate the valuable
and essential contribution made by
school science technicians. Working
with previous Gratnells STOTY winners
through the STOTY Alumni Group,
they have sought to capture the
diverse array of activities technicians
are involved with. Here is a snapshot
of the vital contribution school
science technicians make to the lives
of students, teachers and the wider
community.
Science and STEM Clubs
Technicians often get involved in extra-
curricular activities such as gardening
Class Time
clubs, STEM club, F1 in Schools,
field visits and increasingly Robotics,
coding and 3D printing. F1 in Schools,
whose mission is “to help change the
perceptions of Science, Technology,
Engineering and Maths by creating a
fun and exciting learning environment
for young people”, runs a challenge
that now engages over 20 million
students in 46 countries, to design a
fast F1 car and Gratnells has become
a willing sponsor of the event, through
pro bono supplies of its products.
STEM Ambassadors
Hundreds
of
technicians
are
registered
STEM
Ambassadors.
STEM Ambassadors volunteer their
time, enthusiasm and experiences
to encourage and inspire young
people to achieve more and progress
further in STEM subjects by sharing
their own interests and skills. STEM
Ambassadors support lessons by
bringing real-world problems for
pupils’ experience and solve, give