Researching STEM (899S5)
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Researching STEM
Module 899S5
Module details for 2026/27.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Full Module Description
It is hoped that by the end of the module students will have a greater understanding of the complex nature of the role of a teacher and be better informed as to how to communicate with pupils of school age. Building on knowledge gained in the Autumn module, Communicating STEM, students will identify an area of interest and carry out a small-scale research project, spending some time in a school setting.
Module Aims:
The aims of this module are:
To develop the skills and understanding required for explaining STEM concepts to a range of audiences, with a particular focus on school aged pupils (11-18)
Encourage more Life Sciences, Physics and Maths undergraduates to consider a career in teaching
Develop students’ written communication and research skills
Encourage STEM students to engage with social science literature
Module Outline
It is hoped that by the end of the module students will have a greater understanding of the complex nature of the role of a teacher and be better informed as to how to communicate with pupils of school age. Building on knowledge gained in the Autumn module, Communicating STEM, students will identify an area of interest and carry out a small-scale research project, spending some time in a school setting.
Module Aims:
The aims of this module are:
To develop the skills and understanding required for explaining STEM concepts to a range of audiences, with a particular focus on school aged pupils (11-18)
Encourage more Life Sciences, Physics and Maths undergraduates to consider a career in teaching
Develop students’ written communication and research skills
Encourage STEM students to engage with social science literature
Module learning outcomes
Apply knowledge and understanding of how concepts in a STEM subject can be communicated to a specific audience.
Use primary sources of educational research and policy to inform a coherent and detailed literature review on an aspect of communicating STEM, using academic conventions for referencing.
Plan a small-scale research project to evaluate aspects of a key learning theory relating to communicating STEM education.
Analyse and evaluate evidence obtained from a small-scale research project to describe and comment upon findings in relation to existing literature, using academic conventions for referencing.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Dissertation (3000 words) | Semester 2 Assessment Week 1 Thu 16:00 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Seminar | 2 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Mr Andy Lowe
Assess convenor
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Mrs Susan d'Espagnac
Assess convenor
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Mrs Fi Branagh
Assess convenor
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The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.