ID4001 Communication and teaching in Science

This module offers senior Honours students in several Schools in the Faculty of Science the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of science education through a mentoring placement in a local school.

The module is also open to Integrated Masters students in several Schools in the Faculty of Science in the final year of their degree programme if they already have 15 credits of level 5000 modules.

Through a structured school placement, you will observe science teaching, support pupils in class and develop your communication skills. With guidance from a teacher-mentor, you will learn how to explain scientific ideas clearly for different audiences and lead a teaching activity as your special project.

Students wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests explore a rocky shoreline, with the St Andrews skyline visible across the water.

Overview

Module ID4001 Communication and Teaching in Science is a final year, 15-credit Honours module for students in the Faculty of Science who want first-hand experience of communicating in classroom settings, and experience of working with school pupils.

School teachers act as mentors, and they and their pupils get something back from the useful inputs of an undergraduate student in the classroom.

As a student, you are expected to have knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for your science, technology or mathematical subject, which can add to the classroom environment.

ID4001 is part of the UK Undergraduate Ambassadors Scheme, launched in 2002 by the writer and broadcaster Simon Singh.

What the placement involves

You will usually complete your placement in a school in Fife or Tayside. You will spend about 25 hours in classroom contact time at your placement school during first semester.

You will progress through these stages during the semester:

  • observe class teachers
  • support learning in a role similar to a teaching assistant
  • lead a teaching activity as your special project, with the class teacher present

You will also complete these activities:

  • do relevant reading over the summer
  • attend an induction event in orientation week
  • meet your University tutor (departmental representative) on defined occasions through the semester and on request
  • discuss your work with your teacher-mentor

Special project

You will lead a teaching activity as your special project by the end of the semester. The class teacher will stay present during this activity.

Assessment and submissions

The module includes several assessment components:

  • your teacher-mentor contributes to your assessment
  • you submit two documents to the University for assessment
  • you deliver an oral presentation at the University on your special project

You can find more detail in the module handbook and other documents listed below.

Applying and eligibility

ID4001 is available for senior Honours students in several science Schools in the University. ID4001 is also available for students in their final year of an Integrated Masters programme in the same Schools, if they already have 15 credits at level 5000.

You must apply to join the module.

The ID4001 departmental representatives will email junior honours students in their Academic School part way through Semester 2 to invite them to apply to join the module.

Selection

Applicants will be invited to attend an interview to discuss their application. Read Statement for students considering applying to join the module (PDF).

If you accept a conditional offer of a place on the module, you will also need to pass the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) disclosure process, and sign the module's Code of Conduct form before being placed in a primary or secondary school.

The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland. This gives schools reassurance that people working with children and protected adults have completed the required checks, including criminal record checks.

Key documents and forms

Students, teacher-mentors and University staff can download the module handbook, supporting documents and forms from this page.

For students

These are the documents and forms for Honours year students and those interested in taking the module. These may be useful also for reference by teacher-mentors and University staff.

Module handbook and catalogue

Before you start

During the placement

After the placement

For teacher-mentors and University staff

These are the documents and forms that primary and secondary school teacher-mentors and University staff use.

Teacher-mentors

Staff

Contact

Module coordinator

Dr Brian Chalmers
School of Chemistry
Email: bac8@st-andrews.ac.uk

Departmental representatives

There are departmental representatives in each University academic School. You can find their contact details in the module handbook.