careers talks or help at careers fairs and public outreach events, provide technical advice to teachers and practical support to STEM projects in and outside the classroom and help to improve the way STEM is delivered within a school.
Technicians training Technicians
Be it internally or externally, technicians regularly support each other through provision of continuing professional development( CPD). In addition, CPD training for science technicians is delivered on a regular basis by several UK suppliers covering such things as microscope maintenance, chemical handling and risk management.
Technicians also support each other at a higher level, delivering CPD through national centres of excellence such as the National STEM Learning Centre, or by working through funded projects, such as those supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, to deliver a programme of training, development and change for technical staff in other schools. This can involve on-site visits to other schools to help technical teams organise resources, identify equipment and set it up safely and correctly.
Classroom Delivery
The role of the science technician is evolving and much of this is evolution is driven by technicians themselves. Increasingly, technicians are either asked or offer to prepare and develop demonstrations and present these direct to students in the classroom. This allows the students to see technicians in a new light and appreciate the knowledge and skills they have. Paul Cook, Senior Lead Technician and Technician Advisor at Burlington Danes Academy in the UK has previously been asked to create a chemistry demo show and then train A-Level students to carry out the activities before presenting them to lower year students to encourage them to take science subjects in the future. This gave the A-Level students more confidence and inspired the younger students.
School Science Technicians have a huge impact on the lives of young people
The research carried out amongst science technicians has highlighted one common thread- that it is essential for technicians to shout loudly and publicise what they do, use social media groups, twitter, school newsletters, blogs, YouTube, journals and education magazines. Gratnells, subject associations, professional bodies and campaigns such a Technicians Make It Happen are all keen to hear your stories, publish
your writing and celebrate your contribution.
Feeling inspired? Want to find out how you can gain recognition for the work you are doing? There is a lot of support available for those wanting to get involved in any of the activities listed above and some great recognition opportunities, such as the Gratnells International Science Technician of the Year Award and STEM Learning’ s STEM Inspiration Awards. School science technicians can also achieve professional accreditation via RSciTech and RSci routes.
So what are you waiting for? Get stuck in, and when you do, make sure you join us in shouting about all the amazing work technicians are doing to support the learning and development of young people.
Author Dr Katherine Forsey @ DrBiol
Education & Outreach Consultant and Gratnells’ Learning Rooms and STEM Consultant. Keynote speaker at the 2016 and 2017 National Technicians Conference and presenter of the Gratnells Science Technician of the Year Awards.
Gratnells trays are used extensively in the Science Prep Room at Repton School in Dubai
Class Time | | May- Jun 2018 | 13