Wiked Science

Wiked Science will produce a series of four 15-minute digital programmes for students and teachers of key stage 3 science. Three of the programmes broadcast on Teachers' TV, will depict charismatic, inspirational scientists describing and demonstrating their work. To accompany the broadcast programmes (which will also be downloadable from the Teachers TV website), a set of downloadable curriculum resources and CPD programmes will also be produced, including supplementary inserts and narrative soundtrack using interviews with science education professionals and scientists, drawing out key aspects of how scientists carry out their research and how to use the programmes and associated materials effectively in the classroom to teach how science works and develop 'Big' ideas in science at KS3. The downloadable programmes will be used in initial teacher training and CPD. The programmes, supported by the curriculum materials and CPD materials, will be available on the Science Upd8 and Teachers TV websites and on National Network of Science Learning Centres training courses. The training and web-based resources will be designed to support teachers engaging with the materials via distance learning, and for use by expert trainers providing face-to-face training for teachers both to embed the programmes and associated curriculum materials and disseminate as widely as possible. The 4th Broadcast program is a promo for this rich collection of teaching resources.Wiked Science will provide an exciting blended media approach to address the most challenging aspects of the national curriculum for the new key stage 3 programme of study, in that it presents the methodology of scientific activity within areas of contemporary research. It will unite scientists with expert practitioners in the field of science education, the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of York Science Education Group team, responsible for the development of the new Twenty First Century Science GCSE. Further partners are the educational television production company, Glasshead, the National Science Learning Centre and Teachers' TV. This team will work alongside a community of science teachers through the use of a sophisticated wikki website and online conference mettings to develop the programmes and associated curriculum and CPD materials. We believe this provides an innovative approach to engaging scientists and teachers in collaborative curriculum development.