Science update
The end of the item we broadcast on iPM about Planet-Scicast featured the physics of a phenomenon known as the Magnus Effect , where an object spins and curves in the air.
If you click here, you can see it in action, while this explains what's going on and how to do it yourself.
Eddie Mair spoke to Professor Michael Reiss about Planet Sci-Cast's efforts to popularise science on the internet.
Here's a full length version of the interview:
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Comments
Welcome contribution from Dick Willis - his post turned up in some older rough notes - now moved here.
At 06:29 PM on 01 Dec 2007, Dick Willis wrote:
Another aspect of raising kids' enthusiasm for science is by allowing them to approach science and technology in the same way that adults working in these fields do... by solving problems through a process of collaboration. Most progress in science and technology is not made by individuals experiencing eureka moments but by the efforts of teams focusing on a particular project. Unfortunately, this isn't the approach adopted through the mainstream curriculum.
The charity iEARN UK (www.iearnuk.com) has worked on this basis for years, introducing kids and teachers to collaborative activities on the Internet, through projects that can involve kids from countries around the world. Their 'learning circles' approach is a simple and effective way of getting students to address a wide range of issues, including those with a science and technology bias. It unlocks students' enthusiasm, creativy and innovation and introduces them to ways of working that are increasingly prevalent in the 'real world'. They also have an established programme of teacher training and CPD.
Yet iEARN's profile in the UK is tiny and they receive no core funding. At a time when significant sums of money are spent on educational innovation - it seems strange to ignore an established, proven initiative which not only delivers educational engagement but also helps kids to learn the skills of online team working that are essential for most business and research teams today
Whoops, you caught me out! In the interview I rattled on about a film of toast landing butter-side down. Which, as it happened, wasn't on the SciCast site when the interview went out.
I've just thrown together a rough version of it, so you can see what I was talking about: http://www.planet-scicast.com/view_clip.cfm?cit_id=2686
Many thanks for the feature, iPM; I'll be interested to see what the reaction is.
Well done Jonathan and Scicast!
Another film project that supports the concept of students as educators is 'Films for Learning': http://www.filmsforlearning.org
Films for Learning is a teacher and student led project. Science and technology was the initial focus, but the project has now broadened it's content.
Next month Films for Learning launches a new website. This will enable students and teachers to upload their own films, which will be moderated before being given 'world wide release'. Students and teachers will be able to rate and offer feedback to film makers. The site will also have a community element offering blogs and forums for both learners and teachers. The site will have no advertising and link to only appropriate sites and organisations.
It is projects such Films for Learning and Scicast which are transforming science education and putting the fun back into learning.
You will be able to find out more about Films for Learning at the Microsoft stand at BETT in January.