The Association for Science Education (ASE) conference takes place every January, the Schools in the Parks presented a workshop to participants from as far as Norway. Despite the intense rain we donned our waterproofs and took a trip out into the Reading University grounds (where the conference was held) to try out some activities.
As the winter snow had finally melted the “good teaching practice” training session was finally able to take place at the Wide Horizons curriculum centre. The session was very popular, with lots of new people from the London environmental education network coming along. Participants spent the day exploring the wonderful site in Greenwich and considering how to improve their education sessions through questioning, assessment for learning, starters, plenaries and teaching through misconceptions.
Unfortunately, like many others across the UK, the WideHorizons curriculum centre is having its funding withdrawn from Greenwich Council. They have a couple of years to become self sustaining, So please go along to one of their events to see the centre and help them raise money to keep the centre open.
The closure of environmental centres across the UK is a growing trend, the FSC is currently collating data on this and will be reporting to government with their findings in Spring.
