Please note this is a hybrid event, you can attend in person or join online

Facilitator: Terry Bendall HEN Network co-ordinator

What will be covered?

Ways in which museums can develop the teaching of STEM subjects in schools.

STEM subjects – Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are an important part of the curriculum but developing appropriate and practical learning activities that can be used in classrooms is a challenge for many teachers. The meeting is intended to present ways in which engineering focussed museums can use their collections and their expertise to develop activities that schools can use to teach STEM subjects.

Keynote talk from Dr Jinx St.Leger, Engineering Outreach Manager

University of Cambridge. The talk will focus on ways in which museums can use their collections to help children develop an understanding of some basic engineering concepts such as energy, simple machines and structures. Dr St. Ledger will also explain how to create ‘discovery toolboxes’ for preschool children to explore the environment and potential activities they can do throughout a museum site. Guidance sheets on how to develop activities will also be provided.

Case studies from two museums:

Staff from the Museum of Power at Maldon will talk about the work the museum has been doing with schools, including visits by museum staff to schools.
Staff from the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden will outline how they have worked with Time & Space Learning to develop bespoke resources and STEM activities for both their event days and also for school and youth group visits. Mark, from Time & Space and Matthew from Shuttleworth will talk through these projects and how it is possible to achieve cost effective, small batch production of bespoke kits for your museum.

Developing practical activities to teach understanding of engineering and technology topics. Terry Bendall from the Leighton Buzzard Railway Museum and a former teacher and adviser for design and technology will outline some simple practical activities and simple resources that can be used in primary schools and how these can be linked to National Curriculum Programmes of Study. This will be followed by a session where those attending can develop their own ideas.

Learning Objectives

To develop an understanding of how museums can contribute to the teaching of STEM subjects.
To develop a practical framework for designing teaching and learning activities than can be used with schools

Who should attend?

The meeting is arranged by the Heritage Engineering Network which is a network group in East Anglia but the meeting is open to all museums in the MDSE region. Attendance by anyone working in an engineering based museums who want to develop their work with schools is welcome to attend

Develop the teaching of STEM subjects in schools (hybrid event)