Read the blog, then join the discussion in the Primary STEM , Teaching 11-19 Science and Technicians groups - tell us what strategies you use during practical work to meet the needs of your learners.
The Gatsby practical science report reminded teachers of the importance of practical work to scientists, listing five reasons why we do practical work:
- To teach the principles of scientific inquiry
- To improve understanding of theory through practical experience
- To teach specific practical skills, such as measurement and observation, that may be useful in future study or employment
- To motivate and engage students
- To develop higher level skills and attributes such as communication, teamwork and perseverance
Each one of these is relevant to learners with special educational needs, and some of these will be important - and possibly life changing - employability skills as well.
We understand the importance of managing cognitive load for all learners, so try the following:
- Break tasks down into small bite sized pieces
- Keep the instructions as simple as possible – try and use shorter sentences to give instructions. Perhaps give each person in a group a specific set of instructions
- Consider using dual coding – create a set of graphic instructions and talk to these (this is not the same as reading instructions with learners!)
- Have established routines for practical work – setting up, clearing away and of course during practical work
- Think about the grouping of your learners – make sure peer support is available if needed
- Consider role badges/assigning roles in practical work so that all students get a broad range of skills and experiences
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