Science Capital – and how to fill children’s science capital ‘backpacks’ – is often talked about in classrooms, staff rooms, at conferences and in professional development sessions. The concept of science capital is rooted in making science relevant to everyday life. You can find out more about science capital in this STEM Learning article, this Explorify blog post and this video from King’s College London.
Primary Science Capital Teaching Approach (PSCTA)
The Science Capital Teaching Approach (led by Prof Louise Archer and team at UCL) is designed to support teachers in helping students find more meaning and relevance in science and, as a result, engage more with the subject. PSCTA is about tweaking the teaching practice rather than the child. It supports building relationships between children and science by broadening the ways in which science is represented, by valuing what all children bring with them and by connecting science with children’s identities, experiences and what matters to them and their communities.
Dr Jo is an accredited trainer!
Dr Jo is one of only 16 accredited trainers in the Primary Science Capital Teaching Approach. As part of a nine month project, involving train-the-trainer training, delivering sessions as part of a nationwide programme, conducting training with a small number of schools as part of a case study and submitting a portfolio of evidence, I’m delighted to say that I have achieved the necessary standards to disseminate this social justice approach to science education. You can find out more about PSCTA and download a free handbook here. If you’re interested in exploring this more for your school, do get in touch.
