Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service, these materials help to demonstrate effective practice. This case study, from Network Learning Centres UK Ltd, looks at the theme of embedding functional skills. In this instance, the planned implementation of functional skills was broken into four stages. This...

Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of harnessing technology. The study describes ProVQ, a work-based learning provider, which wanted to improve the support to their motor vehicle apprentices while they were in the work place. ProVQ aimed to look at the...

Published by LSIS, this research report describes a project undertaken by New College Nottingham. The project describes the creation of a webquest to aid the learning of space exploration for a BTEC first diploma.

Using a blog facilitated a dialogue between the students themselves and also with the class...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the themes of curriculum development, progression through STEM subjects and careers. By Hartlepool College of Further Education, the case study looks at the development of an engineering diploma and issues relating to timetable,...

Published by LSIS, this research report describes a project carried out by the City of Wolverhampton College. The project was a joint collaboration between Skills for Life and Access to HE teachers. A collection of ready-made, active learning numeracy resources were produced. The project makes use of the approaches...

Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of enrichment and enhancement in STEM, employer engagement and knowledge and technology transfer. By the National Marine Aquarium, the study demonstrates the potential for informal learning institutions to create...

Produced by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the themes of knowledge transfer and Curriculum development. It focuses on exploring the experiences of South Devon College in their undertaking of extensive employer engagement. The aims were to drive knowledge and technology...

Craven College in Skipton, North Yorkshire is twenty four miles from Leeds Bradford Airport where there are significant employment opportunities covering a range of areas in a busy airport e.g. pilots, ground staff and a range of auxiliary services. The College, through partnership with Jet2.com, Multiflight, TUI...

This report describes an action research project by Gateway College and is published by LSIS. The project supported BTEC Level 2 students as a pilot group to develop their literacy and language skills by integrating literacy into their science learning. This enhanced both student language competence and their...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study looks at the theme of knowledge and technology transfer. Written by Pera, it describes how research organisations, industry players and educational institutions worked together to create a suite of short technical courses.

By...

Produced by the Learning Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), this case study tackles the themes of curriculum development, employer engagement and new jobs. It describes how Newcastle College, working in close collaboration with local companies, designed a foundation degree (FdSc) in sub-sea engineering validated by...

A Catalyst article about juvenile diabetes, a genetic disease also known as Type 1 diabetes, which affects over 200,000 people in the UK. Scientists are still trying to unravel its causes in order to develop improved treatments. This article describes what is being done to improve people’s understanding of the...

A Catalyst article about a brilliant new light source under construction in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside - the Diamond Light Source. Diamond will be a source of synchrotron light. Many of the everyday commodities people take for granted, from chocolate to cosmetics, from revolutionary drugs to surgical...

A Catalyst article about diamonds. The element carbon exists in a number of allotropic forms, but diamonds have always held a special allure, whether it be for their hardness or for their transparency. The article examines how they can be made artificially and looks at some of their uses.

This article is...

This Catalyst article explains the code structure of DNA and looks into how it is copied across generations.

This article is from Catalyst: GCSE Science Review 2003, Volume 14, Issue 1.

Catalyst is a science magazine for students...