Institute of Physics: New home for Guzled Scotland resources

Teachers can now access over 1,000 physics teaching resources created by the Scottish teaching community for teaching physics in Scotland via the Institute of Physics’s (IOP) online discussion forum.

The resources come from Guzled Scotland, which was set up four years ago by IOP coach Sally Weatherly. She explained that the move was necessary to enable the resources to remain free and easily accessible. The TalkPhysics platform enables users to upload their own resources, receive notifications of new additions and have discussions on the same platform. Guzled Scotland will be deactivated after 1 January 2020.

Log in to TalkPhysics (or register for if you are not already a member – it’s a great place to meet other teachers of physics, ask advice, share ideas and explore new teaching approaches). To access the Guzled Scotland resources, go to the Teaching Physics in Scotland group.

SPUTNIK

There is a special email group for teachers of physics north of the border: the Scottish Physics Teaching News and Comment forum, which soon became known as SPUTNIK. SPUTNIK has proved to be a lively, provocative and stimulating arena. It is a medium for debating the big issues in physics teaching nationally. It is also a contact point for exchanging ideas and solving everyday problems in the classroom.

To join, email education@iop.org with the subject line ‘Subscribe to SPUTNIK’. Include in the body of the email: your name, email address and the name of your school.

46th STIRLING PHYSICS TEACHERS’ MEETING and SSERC

IOP host an annual meeting for those teaching physics, training to teach physics, technicians and others involved in education. In 2020, they will be holding the 46th Stirling Physics Teachers’ Meeting, where they will celebrate 100 years of the IOP. It will take place on Wednesday 6 May in Stirling! The meeting is an opportunity to hear lectures from researchers at the cutting edge of physics, workshops and practical activities for the classroom, freebies and a friendly place to meet other teachers. Early registration is until 18 March, final deadline is 29 April.

The meeting is part of the IOP/SSERC physics summer school, which runs from 4 – 7 May and includes a visit to the University of St Andrews, two days of workshops at SSERC and accommodation for three nights in Dunfermline. Apply for a place by 28 March.

CAREEER-LONG PROFESSIONAL LEARNING (CLPL)

IOP have expanded their network of physics coaches into some of the remoter and more rural areas of Scotland. They have appointed school-based physics coaches in three hub schools – Jennie Hargreaves in Lockerbie Academy, Andrew Bailey in Carnoustie High School and Allan Reid in Elgin Academy – and their roles will be to each organise a series of activities to support the teaching of physics in their areas.

This will include:

  • visiting partner schools to support other physics teachers, especially early career and inexperienced teachers
  • supporting primary science officers
  • twilight events
  • contributing to local authority in-service days.

The work of these coaches is funded from the Education Scotland Enhancing Professional Learning in STEM Grants programme. It is designed to deliver aspects of the Scottish Government’s STEM Education and Training Strategy. The coaches are part of our wider Network of Physics Coaches supporting the teaching of physics across the UK and Ireland.

CONTACT IOP EDUCATION SCOTLAND

The IOP education manager, Stuart Farmer is based in Aberdeen. Get in touch with Stuart to find out what teacher CLPL events are taking place, for teaching support or to find out more about IOP Scotland. Stuart taught physics in Scottish secondary schools for 35 years – for the last 15 of these, he was also an IOP Physics Teacher Network Co-ordinator – and has been active in curriculum and assessment development, teacher professional learning and education policy work.

Visit the IOP Scotland website to find out about our activities.

IOPSPARK – PHYSICS TEACHING RESOURCES FOR ALL TEACHERS OF PHYSICS

The new IOP education website IOPSpark is the ‘go to’ resource for every aspect of teaching physics at school and college levels. It has been designed with teachers and their supporters in mind. IOP have thought long and hard about how the site is structured to make it quick and easy to navigate, offering suggested related resources and linking topics.

IOPSpark is the UK’s most comprehensive set of free high-quality physics education resources, with collections of themed resources, news and expert comment designed to bring classroom teaching to life. They also have a brand new – and still evolving – glossary of physics terms for 16+, materials for teacher CLPL and evidence-based resources to help you identify and address common student misconceptions

IOPSpark brings together all of their tried and trusted existing resources such as Practical Physics, Supporting Physics Teaching, Teaching Advanced Physics and Marvin & Milo, linking it together and combining it with new content such as the glossary and misconceptions above.

The website is searchable by student age, physics topic or type of resource (eg lesson plan or enrichment activity).

Visit IOPSpark and add a spark to your teaching!