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advancing ecology and making it count. www.britishecologicalsociety.org. Education. Education. Education policy at the BES. Karen Devine, Education Officer 1 st July 2010. Education. Education. About the BES. Learned Society (1913) 4 journals and 1 online journal
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advancing ecology and making it count www.britishecologicalsociety.org
Education Education Education policy at the BES Karen Devine, Education Officer 1st July 2010
Education Education About the BES • Learned Society (1913) • 4 journals and 1 online journal • 4,000 members, mostly academics, mostly UK • Charitable activities: • Grants • Science Policy • Education • Grassroots • Education policy
Education Education Policy- From low to high priority • Why? • Science Policy • Statement HERE • Education Policy • An education staff of 1 • Impact for effort
Education Education Ed. Policy: From low to high priority • How? • Within the BES • Institutional shift over time • Influencing external agencies • I don’t know • More luck than management?
Education Education Education activities • 2006 • schools project northwest • Responded to occasional consultation (LOtC) Trigger- New A level criteria • 2007 • schools project yorkshire • Wallchart (ponds) • Started to think about influencing QCDA • 2008 • schools project New Forest • Ecology in UK Curricula workshop • Science diploma • Invited Greg barker to visit school projects • 2009 • Workshops on GCSE science criteria consultation • Meetings with QCDA- Influence on GCSE criteria • Meetings with awarding bodies • 2010 • schools project Peak district • Development of wall chart ( Hedges) • Become part of Society fo Biology PAG Curriculum development • Meetings with awarding bodies to review GCSE Content • Set up of A-level Biology review in collaboration with others • Engage with consultations proactively • European Ecological Federation education forum- education policy Significant Increase In collaboration
Education Education GCSE Science Criteria • develop and apply their observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills and understanding in laboratory, field and other learning environments • Saw the consultation • Dropped almost everything else • Put together a working group that included IEEM, FSC, SAPS, SEB, BES • Produced a report • Responded to the consultation • Attended a QCDA focus group representing BSF and practical biology • Did my bit for Practical Biology and didn’t forget to mention fieldwork • We were prepared with supporting evidence, with recommendations and we spoke to the right person in the right room on the right day • Went to all the awarding bodies to speak to them about the draft criteria changes, explained what we had intended and offered information, advice, ideas etc
Education Education Going forward • Being prepared • Thinking ahead • All BES education objectives ranked in order of impact and importance- Education policy is highest priority • Ready to drop/delay everything else, with support of the executive officer and committee/council • Understanding and appreciation of risk • Staying networked • Collaboration
Education Education Challenges • Education is always a political target…… and it moves • Where to go to for CPD? (mine that is) • The unintended consequences?