Report to SCORE: Science teacher education, special focus on biology

Arguably biology has enjoyed a healthy uptake over the years both within compulsory and higher education. When considering Initial Teacher Education, despite a reported decrease in biology applicants onto science PGCE courses between 2001 and 2006 in England and Wales, a healthy increase in acceptances onto such courses was evident across the devolved nations during that time. Scotland in particular almost doubled their figures during this period (The Royal Society, 2007). Although the picture remains buoyant, concern exists regarding the medium to long-term supply of quality biology teachers. Drayston (2009) emphasised the need to enthuse and motivate pupils towards the sciences from the GCSE years; to achieve this a well qualified, enthusiastic and motivated teaching staff needs to be in place. This paper reports on observations regarding the supply of specialist science teachers within the forthcoming years. These observations are substantiated through a small scale scoping survey as preliminary research to a longitudinal study. This scoping survey has been commissioned by SCORE and involves the collection and processing of data gained from questionnaires and email interviews designed to investigate the current context of Science Education and how this may influence the motivations and intended exit routes of science trainees

The perceived experience of supervision within the PACE trial

This study was set within the UK inter-professional multi-centre randomized controlled PACE trial of manual based therapy (White et al 2007). The aim of supervision within “the trial” was to maintain specificity, sustain retention, manage quality control and assurance, monitor competence in delivering therapy and enhance professional development. The rationale for the ancillary study was that the approach to supervision within the trial appeared to be different from the previous experience of supervision for many of the therapists (Clouder & Sellars 2004, Sellars 2004, Sweeney et al 2001). A review of the literature on supervision and reflective practice highlighted that there are many models, methods, approaches and factors that influence the effectiveness of supervision (Edwards et al 2005, van Ooijen 2000)

Cumbria curriculum: place-based learning in Cumbria, report for Cumbria County Council

A shared vision for education in Cumbria. Framing this scoping report is an ambition that every child has a world class holistic educational experience in their local setting, which enables them to contribute to society as resilient, confident, and tolerant global citizens. The scoping report focuses on the provision of place-based learning about the environment and sustainability in Cumbrian schools. Place based learning includes learning about the local environment and wider Cumbrian landscape, issues of sustainability, climate change and biodiversity as well as experiences that build appreciation for nature and the environment

Business research and innovation activity in Cumbria: a review of evidence

The purpose of Cognitive Cumbria is to improve understanding of the local and regional knowledge processes that encourage the growth and quality of innovative and creative businesses across Cumbria. This report has been prepared by the Centre for Regional Economic Development (CRED) at the University of Cumbria to contribute towards this overall purpose. Definitions of research and innovation are specified and applied to the County of Cumbria using relevant available data and sources of information. The report concludes by considering future prospects for innovation and business performance in Cumbria. This report has been commissioned at a time when there is intensified interest in research activity, technological development, science and innovation at virtually all levels of economic policymaking. At the European scale, research priorities specified in the Horizon 2020 and also European Regional Policy give much greater attention to understanding the process of research and innovation than in the recent past. So too at national level, UK Government is placing much greater emphasis on business innovation as a key to unlocking productivity and international competitiveness: Business innovation is a vital ingredient in raising the productivity, competitiveness and growth potential of modern economies. Providing the right economic conditions for and using appropriate policy instruments to encourage innovation in the UK is a central objective. Measuring the level of innovation activity in the UK and identifying where policy might be best targeted contributes to the pursuit of that objective. (UK Innovation Survey, 2015) Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills under the Conservative-Liberal Coalition Government, in a speech delivered in July 2014 (BIS, 2014a), stated that “Of the productivity growth that took place in the UK between 2000 and 2008, one third (32%) was attributable to changes in technology resulting from science and innovation. Innovative firms are also more resilient and more likely to export.” More recently, Science Minister, Jo Johnson (BIS, 2015b), has also stated in a speech in July 2015, that “UK taxpayers invest £10 billion a year in research and innovation…and we will invest new capital on a record scale – £6.9 billion in the UK’s research infrastructure up to 2021 – which will mean new equipment, new laboratories and new research institutes.

Cumbria Improvement & Efficiency Partnership Fusion Cumbria Learning Lab: Action Learning Programme final report

This document presents the final report of the Action Learning Programme which the Centre for Regional Economic Development at University of Cumbria was commissioned by the Cumbria Improvement and Efficiency Partnership’s (CIEP) Economic Development and Regeneration Theme to implement

Developing the framework for a borderlands strategy: a report produced by the Universities of Northumbria and Cumbria

The 2013 report, Borderlands: can the North East and Cumbria benefit from greater Scottish Autonomy?, recommended a new approach to boosting economic development across the Borderland area covered by Northumberland, Cumbria, Carlisle, Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders councils. The report highlighted that the Borderlands have much in common: a shared history; the daily cross-border flows of people for work, shopping or family visits; and also shared experiences of economic and social change which has produced a number of common challenges and opportunities which lend themselves to a collaborative response. In April 2015, The Institute of Local Governance (on behalf of Northumberland County Council and the wider Borderlands Steering Group) commissioned the Universities of Cumbria and Northumbria to produce a detailed Framework Document that would underpin the development of a collaborative approach to economic development in the Borderlands. This study would provide comparative economic and social data which would serve as an in-depth and independent evidence base on which a collaborative approach for the Borderlands could be developed and promoted by the combined efforts of the 5 councils and their partners. The study would review the wide range of existing economic strategies operating across the Borderlands, identifying: priorities; key sectors; assets; challenges, and opportunities for collaboration particularly in relation to Energy, Forestry, Tourism, and Connectivity

Unreal Developers Kit level and demo bridge video tutorials

These are video tutorials showing the use of the free UNREAL Developer Kit (http://www.udk.com/) These videos show examples for creating new levels using the games engine, and importing meshes from other 3d modeling programmes. This is a link to where the videos can be viewed as a presentation. The included videos and associated example files are available to download from JorumOpen as: ‘Unreal Developers Kit level video tutorial’ and ‘Unreal Developers Kit demo bridge video tutorial’.

Local Government Council Constitutions Presentation

Presentation slides outlining the key features of Local Government Council Constitutions. (Associated resource to the ‘On the receiving end’ assignment 2 of 3 for the Introduction to Government module

Interviewing

Getting the most out of an interview A set of related resources that can be used together as content for students to explore the role of interviewing as a tool of the professional journalist’s trade.

Qualities of the professional journalist, lecture notes

Summary lecture notes exploring the nature of journalism as a profession and some of the qualities and skills that make a successful journalist.