Strengthening Teaching and Learning of Energy, Secondary National Strategy

This National Strategies study guide from the Department for Education is one of a suite designed to support the development of aspects of subject knowledge. It has been designed to link with the Progression Maps, the Revised Framework for Teaching Secondary Science and Assessing Pupils’ Progress in Science.

Context
All teachers recognise that some parts of science can be difficult to teach and this can be even more problematic if it is outside your area of expertise. The study guide offers background information and practical suggestions to support classroom practice when teaching about energy. All the strategies suggested have been tried and tested by teachers and draw upon academic research. Similarly, many of the activities could be used with students who need to develop similar knowledge.

Development
Study guides were developed as part of a series of publications which could be used flexibly. In particular, they can be used in a school by an individual teacher, a pair of teachers or a larger group without specialist support. If used collaboratively, a peer coaching model would be effective to support its use. This study guide contains a combination of newly developed materials augmented by materials developed earlier in the Secondary Strategy. As a consequence, there is no simple, sequential route through the materials; it is more a collection of ideas and resources to tackle separate issues within the teaching of energy.

Components
This study guide was originally produced as eight separate files. The separate files have been joined together for ease of download. The eight documents were entitled, ‘Strengthening teaching and learning of energy’:
• Introductory section
• Misconceptions and teaching models
• Food and fuels as energy sources
• Using energy transfer language when explaining light
• Quantitative model of energy transfer
• Bringing it all together
• Appendix 5: Some questions about misconceptions
• Appendix 10: Amplified objectives

In addition to the new materials produced in 2009, there were materials from the original Key Stage Three Strategy energy topic, Strengthening Teaching and Learning of Energy in Key Stage 3 Science.
• Session 1: Notes for tutors; Where are the pupils coming from?
• Session 2: Notes for tutors; Where and when to start in Year 7
• Session 5: Notes for tutors; The challenge in Year 9
• Appendix and further resources

Also included are some excerpts from the Revised Framework for teaching Secondary Science
• Appendix 1: The Learning Demand
• How science works: Explanations, argument and decision making
• How science works: Practical and enquiry skills