CogSciSci 2023 Manchester 30th May 2023

It’s here! The next CogSciSci conference is just around the corner! Join us at Wright Robinson College in Manchester on Tuesday 30th May to discuss all things cognitive science and science education.  CogSciSci prides itself on being truly grassroots. That’s why we would like you to consider if you would like to speak at this

Choke points and Pitfalls- reflections from a virtual day at ResearchEd Warrington

We are proud to welcome Dr Sarah Benskin– Assistant Principal: Curriculum, T&L and CPD; Science teacher and lover of educational research to the world of blogging. Here she has a great run down of the virtual offer fro rED Warrington. I am a big fan of ResearchEd and have attended several events, both in person

rED Brum 2022: Reflections from a ResearchED Newbie

A lifetime or so ago, back in 2018, Tom Bennett came to my school to give a talk to staff. I remember it because towards the end of the session, Tom talked about ResearchED and the conference events that were held on Saturdays across the country. I remember reacting with an almost visceral ‘urgh –

Disciplinary Knowledge – Intent

By Ryan Badham At the very end of the previous academic year, we were joined by a team of Ofsted inspectors whom corroborated our own opinions of the strengths and weaknesses of our department and curriculum, namely great retention of substantive knowledge by our students but a weaker retention of disciplinary knowledge by our students.

Shelley Parry’s CogSciSci ‘Bath 2020’ Quick Wins and Slow Gains

Shelley is here with her first ever blog!! Here is her take on the talks she heard yesterday. It’s great to help teachers find a platform to share their thoughts. We fund Shelly’s to be a great insight for those who were unable to travel. Enjoy! ‘Does anyone have a £2 coin? What is the

James Bullous’s thoughts on CogSciSci Bath ‘2020’

James has been kind enough to write up some takeaways for those that could not make it to beautifully rainy Bath yesterday. Click the link above to go to his twitter page and find links to his other blogs. Thanks James! CogSciSci Bath “2020” – Golden Nuggets and TakeawaysLike most CogSciSci enthusiasts and followers, I

HoDSciSci’s advice to new HoDs

We asked the members of the HoDSciSci staff room slack channel what advice they would give new Heads of Department. Here are some of their gems. If you are a new HoD and want to join over 300 others in the staff room just DM @HoDSciSci on twitter. Mike writes: When planning your days as

CogSciSci Book review: Greg Ashman’s The Power of Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction

A book review by Matt Ben David a science teacher from London. Greg Ashman’s The Power of Explicit Teaching and Direct Instruction is a 134-page, no-holds-barred, whistle-stop tour of, well, explicit teaching and direct instruction. The book starts by addressing both the importance of, and the main objections to a knowledge-rich curriculum before moving into

CogSciSci Book review: How We Learn: The New Science of Education and the Brain by Stanislas Dehaene

A book review by Dom Shibli – Senior Lecturer in Secondary Science at the University of Hertfordshire This is a book I read a few months ago. But instead of being returned to the bookshelf for me to look at and reminisce, it is now inundated with Post it notes and used to inform planning

HoDSciSci March Roundtable: Teacher Assessed Grades

March brings us to the elephant in the room of most HoDs minds: Teacher Assessed Grades. As it stands there is still woefully little specificity and guidance from The Powers That Be. We thought the best we could do is get a few HoDs to share their thoughts and plans for Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs).