OISSP News
SCIENCEBOOK update
In support of the Sciencebook project OISSP had an opportunity again this year to interview scientists and researchers at World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment (http://www.smithschool.ox.ac.uk/events/world-forum/ ).
Pupils from Oxfordshire schools attended the first day of this event to here speeches by President Mikhail Gorbachev (former President of the Soviet Union and founding President of Green Cross International) and Mr Janez Potočnik (European Commissioner for the Environment).
What is Sciencebook?
Sciencebook is a prototype online resource, which connects young people with leading edge scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. This resource is being developed in Oxfordshire, UK with the support of The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford.
This resource is being developed by OISSP in partnership with The Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford.
Sciencebook makes use of original video interviews with scientists and researchers to lead the exploration of different areas of science,
technology, engineering and mathematics central to the themes of sustainability, climate change and innovation.
Early stage testing of Sciencebook, has involved OISSP delivering a one hour introductory session to individual classes of science students, and
their teachers although all are welcome to take part. Views and comments have then been fed back to the Sciencebook design team.
Further Sciencebook testing and workshops are planned for the new term.
What will Sciencebook do?
Use the key themes of sustainability, climate change and innovation to engage the target audience of 14-19 year olds, with real STEM challenges and thinking.
Create an innovative and accessible, resource, which promotes focused, self-directed online enquiry within a range of qualified materials.
Support the development of a network of professionals, businesses and educationalists, supportive of building 21st Century STEM capacity and understanding through communication and collaboration.
News Archive
OISSP is the UK’s largest Independent and state schools partnership (ISSP)
The ISSP scheme was established by the Government in 1998, to support partnership working between the independent and state school sectors. Since then, 330 partnerships have been supported with £10 million of funds. The aim of the scheme is to break down barriers between the independent and state school sectors, share expertise and good practice, widen educational opportunities, and to raise standards in education.
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Schools Science Prize awarded to Oxfordshire pupils.
Prize-winning pupils from Oxfordshire came together for the Schools Science Prize awarded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Year 9 and 10 pupils attended the awards ceremony at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
Pupils were nominated by their teacher for significant progress or outstanding achievements in science and received book tokens. OISSP was delighted to have the opportunity to support this years Science Prize and to encourage pupils enthusiasm for science.
News MAY 2009
In May 2009, OISSP invited Oxfordshire Head Teachers to a consultation event at which the value and future of schools partnership was discussed. There was support for OISSP to continue running key science events including the Chemist, Biologist and Physicist of the Year Awards and to encourage the development of a range of local partnerships lead by schools. Head Teachers also acknowledged that partnership takes time and dedicated funding to achieve but that it enabled the county as a whole to harness local strengths in education, business and the wider community for the benefit of all pupils.
Speaker, Penny Jones from the DCSF referred to the governments white paper, 'Schools in the 21st Century' which further promotes partnership between schools. This paper, published in June 2009 is now available at: http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction=productdetails&PageMode=publications&ProductId=Cm+7588&