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Quality Control of Speakers in Schools . Caitlin Watson Head of Public Engagement, Institute of Physics 8 May 2012 caitlin.watson@iop.org, www.iop.org. Background . Teachers are searching for physics speakers Any list of speakers implies a recommendation
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Quality Control of Speakers in Schools Caitlin WatsonHead of Public Engagement, Institute of Physics 8 May 2012 caitlin.watson@iop.org, www.iop.org
Background • Teachers are searching for physics speakers • Any list of speakers implies a recommendation • No effective mechanism for ensuring quality of speakers • Need to avoid all unnecessary barriers to participation (on all sides)
Question • How can we, as a community, provide a quality controlled list of physics speakers for schools?
Existing provision • Departmental lists on organisation websites • ScienceLivewww.sciencelive.net • STEM Directories www.stemdirectories.org.uk • STEMNET (ambassadors and brokerage)
Existing provision - issues • How do teachers know where to go or what exists? • Provision is often very patchy • Rating systems don’t work or aren’t used • No way of monitoring performance or dealing with underperformers
A possible solution • PhysicsLive • Focus on individual speakers from HEIs and research labs • Curated by outreach officers • Support individuals and monitor activity • Common ‘code of conduct’ and policies • Mechanism for confidential feedback to go to outreach officers rather than individual • Could feedback be compulsory?
Role of outreach officers • Act as curators of scheme by signing up speakers • See speakers in action • Get speakers to agree to code of conduct • Offer training and other support, egmentoring • Collect and act on feedback provided by teachers • Publicise scheme to local teachers
Role of IOP • Convene working group to develop scheme • Identify funding partners • ? Host database on www.iop.org • Provide central contact and marketing to teachers and speakers
Outstanding questions… • …are numerous! • Skimming over ALL technical details for now • Discussion to focus on: • need • feasibility • functionality wish list
Discussion questions What is needed to: • make this scheme work for outreach officers • make this scheme work for speakers (individual physicists) • make this scheme work for teachers and schools • ensure teachers give constructive feedback? ALL. make this scheme well known and well used by all?
Discussion feedback • Short feedback from table facilitators • Do we do this?? • Volunteer to be part of the working group • Sign up sheet at front