Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum

Many pupils who study chemistry in Scotland and intend to progress to university undertake a final capstone practical research project as part of their Advanced Higher chemistry qualification. This project work was suspended for several years due to COVID-19, then reintroduced in 2023/24. We surveye...

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Main Authors: Traynor Erin, Scott Fraser J., Thomson Patrick I. T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2024-10-01
Series:Chemistry Teacher International
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2024-0073
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author Traynor Erin
Scott Fraser J.
Thomson Patrick I. T.
author_facet Traynor Erin
Scott Fraser J.
Thomson Patrick I. T.
author_sort Traynor Erin
collection DOAJ
description Many pupils who study chemistry in Scotland and intend to progress to university undertake a final capstone practical research project as part of their Advanced Higher chemistry qualification. This project work was suspended for several years due to COVID-19, then reintroduced in 2023/24. We surveyed 47 Scottish teachers during this first project year using a mixed-methods survey, and found that resource availability had the biggest impact on projects, with over half of respondents reporting that they asked pupils to buy materials and a third committing their own money. Technician support was seen as critical to success, but project selection was heavily curtailed by the availability of existing equipment or chemicals, even as teachers made good use of available professional development and other forms of support. We finally make recommendations around the resourcing of project work and teacher/technician CPD provision.
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spelling doaj-art-72c80f1bbae54d31852f36210ac158cb2025-08-20T03:29:40ZengDe GruyterChemistry Teacher International2569-32632024-10-017118319310.1515/cti-2024-0073Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculumTraynor Erin0Scott Fraser J.1Thomson Patrick I. T.2Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, 3527University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UKDepartment of Pure & Applied Chemistry, 3527University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UKDepartment of Pure & Applied Chemistry, 3527University of Strathclyde, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UKMany pupils who study chemistry in Scotland and intend to progress to university undertake a final capstone practical research project as part of their Advanced Higher chemistry qualification. This project work was suspended for several years due to COVID-19, then reintroduced in 2023/24. We surveyed 47 Scottish teachers during this first project year using a mixed-methods survey, and found that resource availability had the biggest impact on projects, with over half of respondents reporting that they asked pupils to buy materials and a third committing their own money. Technician support was seen as critical to success, but project selection was heavily curtailed by the availability of existing equipment or chemicals, even as teachers made good use of available professional development and other forms of support. We finally make recommendations around the resourcing of project work and teacher/technician CPD provision.https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2024-0073financial pressures on educationproject based learningsecondary schoolteaching practice
spellingShingle Traynor Erin
Scott Fraser J.
Thomson Patrick I. T.
Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
Chemistry Teacher International
financial pressures on education
project based learning
secondary school
teaching practice
title Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
title_full Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
title_fullStr Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
title_full_unstemmed Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
title_short Responses of teachers in Scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
title_sort responses of teachers in scotland to the reintroduction of the practical project in the advanced higher chemistry curriculum
topic financial pressures on education
project based learning
secondary school
teaching practice
url https://doi.org/10.1515/cti-2024-0073
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AT scottfraserj responsesofteachersinscotlandtothereintroductionofthepracticalprojectintheadvancedhigherchemistrycurriculum
AT thomsonpatrickit responsesofteachersinscotlandtothereintroductionofthepracticalprojectintheadvancedhigherchemistrycurriculum