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Pilot Project: Investigating Marine Issues with Climate Change

The project will investigate the provision for climate change topics within formal teaching, examine the links between informal and formal science teaching and improve provision for educators to address the difficulties experienced in engaging young people with science.

The project counts on different activities:
- research into the educational curriculum, trough the collection of news, articles and studies,
- contacts with academics and universities,
-activities with schools: pupils aged from 13 to 16 years old ( KS4) will be invited to visit the Aquarium and will be involved in exhibits and websites evaluation.

The project will culminate in the creation of “Climate Lab”, a one-stop shop for teachers, pupils and science centres dealing with the topic of climate change.

Target age group
Students aged 9-15 years old

Languages
English

Methodology
Research into curriculum provision
Production of interactive Learning Objects
Teacher support and recommendations

Location
Materials will be produced for school use and science centre use.  A new exhibit will be created for the Aquarium visitors which will be informed by the research.

Planned outputs
Reports – 12/2005
Visitor exhibit – 5/2006
Website with learning resources – 9/2006
Evaluation – 1/2007

Impact
The focus will be on presenting science - climate change in particular - as dynamic, contemporary and controversial.  Facts will be replaced by opinions and evidence.  The student will be in control of the learning experience – choosing their own route through the topics presented to reach their own conclusions.

Evaluation strategy
Questionnaires
Interviews
Focus groups

Pilot coordinator

The National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, UK

The National Marine Aquarium was the first aquarium in the United Kingdom to be set up solely for the purpose of education, conservation and research. It remains Britain's foremost aquarium and in the six years it has been open it has attracted over two million visitors through its doors and thousands of enquiries by letter, telephone, fax and email.

Contact details
 
The National Marine Aquarium
Rope Walk,
Coxside,
Plymouth UK
PL4 0LF
www.national-aquarium.co.uk

Project coordinator
Paul Cox, Learning Manager
paul.cox@national-aquarium.co.uk

Partners

Scientific partners
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK
Marine Biological Association of the UK
University of Plymouth, Faculty of Science, UK
Tyndall Centre, University of East Anglia, UK
The Association for Science Education, UK
Environment Agency, UK

Educational partners
Primary Schools
Shiphay Primary School, Torquay, Devon, UK
Kenn Church of England Primary School, Kennford, Exeter, Devon, UK
Tedburn St. Mary Primary School, Devon, UK
St Budeaux Foundation Church of England School, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Swiss Cottage School, Swiss Cottage, London, UK
Castle Hill Infant School, Basingstoke, Berkshire, UK
Secondary Schools
Eggbuckland Community College, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Kingsbridge Community College, Kingsbridge, Devon, UK
Stoke Damerel Community College, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Coombe Dean  School, Plymouth, Devon, UK
Altrincham Girls Grammar School, Manchester, UK
The Aveland High School, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, UK