Physics into Schools Module Co-ordinator Role Description#

The Physics into Schools module is a unique opportunity for Level 3 students to develop their understanding of Physics and their key transferable skills, inspiring the next generation by sharing their passion for physics with pupils and staff in a local school. The module includes 10 x 1-hour tutorials and an activity day in the Michaelmas Term, and a 40-hour placement during the Epiphany Term. Support for all aspects of the module, including the tutorials, the activity day and the placements is available from Dr. Paula Street and Mrs. Linda Campbell in the Science Outreach & Engagement Team.

A suite of similar modules, collectively known as the Science into Schools modules, are run across the Faculty of Science. There are a variety of standardised processes and documentation, resources and support available through Paula and Linda. Additional support is also available from the other module co-ordinators across the Faculty of Science, as and when appropriate (e.g. initially shadowing tutorials in other departments, informal chats about experiences with the module, practical advice, etc.).

The Physics into Schools module co-ordinator focuses on supporting the Physics into Schools students, primarily through the running of the tutorials and encouraging the development of the students’ ideas for Physics activities to be led by the students during the module.

Specific responsibilities include, working in collaboration with Paula and Linda:

• To select each cohort of students, through the standard selection process. Level 2 students must submit a 200-word application and then participate in a 20-minute interview, normally during the Easter Term (this process is standardised for all Science into Schools modules across the Faculty of Science).
• To design and lead 10 x 1-hour tutorials to support student skills development in advance of their school placement. There is a standard framework for these tutorials across the Faculty of Science and a bank of relevant resources, but there is also freedom for the module co-ordinator to shape the tutorials each year to suit their own interests and the needs of each cohort of students.
• To support the students to develop and deliver of an activity day for a class of primary school children who will visit the University for a day of inspiring hands-on practical physics activities during Michaelmas Term.
• To match each of the students to an appropriate available school placement.
• To provide formative feedback to the students for work undertaken during Term 1 and Term 2.
• To visit each student on their school placement, normally once during the first half of Term 1 (preferably before the local schools’ February half-term break).
• To provide summative assessment to the students for 15-minute oral presentations, normally during the final week of Epiphany Term.
• To provide summative assessment to the students for written work (4,000-word report; 2,000-word piece of reflective writing), normally submitted during the final week of Easter Term (summative assessment criteria are already in place and clearly defined).
• To liaise and collaborate with the team of module co-ordinators across the Faculty of Science as and when required (normally one 2-hour review and planning meeting each year).

Paula and Linda organise the DBS checking of the students, the school visiting for the activity day and the schools’ placements. The module co-ordinator themselves will also need to undertake an enhanced DBS check via Durham University. If you would like to chat to us informally about the module, please do get in touch: paula.street@durham.ac.uk and linda.campbell@durham.ac.uk