Impact of Children Challenging Industry CIEC Promoting Science University of York Joy Parvin

Programme Aims To enthuse children and their teachers about science. To improve primary school children’s and their teachers’ perception of the science-based manufacturing industry and its relationship with science. To improve teachers’ knowledge and confidence in teaching science, and the National Curriculum for science.

… but what is ‘industry’?

A potted history of CCI 1994 MORI poll initiated discussions between CIEC and Durham-based chemical company owner Pilot programme in County Durham 2000 CCI launched in Liverpool, Teesside and Humber 2001 Expansion across the North West, North East and West Yorkshire

CCI film.

Science in context Industrial story: water is transported by pipeline from a reservoir to an industrial site, used as cooling water and returned to the river. Science: scientific enquiry, materials (for a water pipeline and sealants), filtration and heat exchange.

Classroom organisation Personnel manager Health & safety officer Resources manager Communications manager They are all scientists

Numbers involved

Professional development Advisory teacher in classroom Whole staff CPD Extensive websites CCI folder Teaching and learning materials

In-depth interviews Detailed questionnaires Drawings Structured questionnaires Research

Drawings

10 years later...

Short term impact on children’s and attitudes: Methods Baseline data was collected from 264 children from 44 schools Follow up data was collected from 978 children from 163 schools

Examples of positive attitudes I like science I’d like to be a scientist Science is my favourite subject Industry is useful Industry is safe Our lives would be worse off without industry Scientists are important

Examples of negative attitudes Saying yes to: Industry is dangerous Industry causes pollution Saying no to: Scientists are important Scientists are important in industry I could work in industry

Short term impact on children’s enjoyment: Results 1 >90% of children stated that they enjoyed the challenges in the classroom and enjoyed learning about industry 82% of children said that they enjoyed science more after the CCI project “ I enjoyed your lessons; you never knew what would come next. You made me like science more, as I never knew it was this exciting ”

Short term impact on children’s attitudes: Results 2

Medium term impact on children’s enjoyment & attitudes: Methods Data was collected from children from 44 primary schools in years on in 2002, data was collected from 90 pupils now aged 12 to 16 years

Medium term impact on children’s attitudes to science & industry: Results 1 70% of children remembered the site visit 5 years later Nearly all children said CCI was enjoyable Half of children stated that the CCI lessons had helped them in secondary school

Medium term impact on children’s attitudes to science careers: Results 2 A third of pupils said they wanted to be a scientist Pupils that remembered the site visit were nearly twice as likely to want a science career in the future (46% compared to 21%) “We have never done anything quite as fun before as I think if you make children enjoy science they will remember it more”

Potential long term impact on children’s attitudes These improved perceptions have the potential to lead to changes in behaviour in the future. As a result of CCI, both girls and boys were more likely to say they would consider a career in industry More girls said they would like to be a scientist as a result of CCI. “I like it because I didn’t know a lot about science but now I know a lot more I love it!”

Impact on teachers’ perceptions Half the teachers were still using the CCI materials 5 years later Positive effect on teaching methods Increased children’s enthusiasm for science Improved investigative skills Relevant to the science curriculum Interesting and useful.

Conclusions The Children Challenging Industry project has a proven long lasting positive impact on children’s views of science and industry There is some evidence that CCI improves children’s knowledge of science and industry