News & Events
FaSMEd Kick-off Conference Launch
Partners from across Europe and South Africa met in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK for the launch of the project in January 2014.
The conference was opened by Newcastle University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Brink, who has close links with one of the project’s partners, the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), when he was Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University in South Africa. “This is an opportunity to demonstrate how relatively small interventions can raise attainment in mathematics and sciences,” he said. “I hope that this project can have a lasting positive effect on the long-term problem of under-achievement in these subjects.”
Partners spent two and a half days discussing and planning the future direction of the project, with specialists sharing knowledge on the main focus areas of formative assessment, low attainment, professional learning and technology.
A conference dinner was held at The International Centre for Life at which Professor Justin Dillon and Professor Malcolm Swan spoke about the challenges of engaging a wide range of young people in science and mathematics.
On the afternoon of the third day partners had the opportunity to visit a local secondary school to see technology being enacted in the classroom. This was an excellent opportunity to experience first hand some of the cultural differences that will be addressed throughout the project.
One of the outcomes of the project will be a toolkit for teachers of activities, resources and pedagogies that will be applicable to a wide range of pupils across Europe and South Africa.
Last modified: Tue, 01 Sep 2015 17:11:14 BST
