the-BA : Elizabeth Major reflects

Elizabeth Major, Lloyd's Register Educational Trust Teachers' Prize 2008 winner, with Michael Franklin from Lloyd's Register Educational Trust

This year, for the first time ever, the BA was able to offer a teachers’ prize at the UK Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair to recognise the vital role that teachers play in helping students to complete CREST projects in school.

The prize was made possible by the sponsorship by Lloyd's Register Educational Trust who believed it was important to support the teachers work as well as the students.

Elizabeth Major, a teacher at Mary Webb School and Science College, won the prize following nomination by Justine Ranson of the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Education Business Partnership (EBP). She has been heavily involved with promoting CREST and motivating her students to take up hands-on activites in science and engineering for over 5 years.

‘Teachers are absolutely key to engaging young people in the exciting and vital world of science and technology,’ said Michael Franklin, Director of the Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust. ‘We need to motivate and enthuse them as much as we do the young people themselves. The Teachers’ Prize at the Fair recognised their immense contribution. The three finalists were shining examples of inspiration and achievement but Elizabeth Major's passion for CREST and her work won her the prize.’

As well as receiving a £500 bursary and a trophy to take back to her school, Elizabeth won an all expenses paid opportunity to attend the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in the US. And, after the visit in May, she says she has come back inspired.

While there, Elizabeth was able to attend some of the workshops on offer to participating students.

‘They focussed on strategies to equip young people with the skills to carry out their own investigations and were promoted on the grounds that they motivate and engage young people, encouraging them to work collaboratively and creatively whilst managing their own time,’ she said.

‘In one example, parents and pupils were invited to a venue on a Saturday to meet academics from University and Industry to either discuss their project ideas or to inspire them to come up with suggestions. Some of the professionals attending would then maintain links with students, even allowing them to carry out project work at their workplace.’

Her experience of the event has given her ideas to build on in her own school: ‘My trip inspired me to initiate a research project for year 7 pupils which encompasses experimental work that can be done at home as well as in school. This I hope will engage and motivate pupils as well as providing the opportunity to address Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS).

‘I like the idea of a meet the mentor day which involves staff, pupils and their parents, so I am pursuing the further use of our established company links for CREST and extending this to include academic mentors.’

She said she was amazed by the size of the event and it was very apparent how important Science Fairs were to Americans. ‘The speeches at the award ceremonies gave out clear messages to the students about the importance of education, creativity, pursuing your ideas, perseverance and how the young people before them and many more like them are the hope for the future,’ she commented. ‘No one attending the ceremonies would forget the delight on the faces of those that achieved success in the awards.’

Elizabeth had expressed an interest in visiting an American school before the trip, so a visit to a culturally diverse school in North Springs was arranged.

‘Science is approached very differently,’ she observed, ‘with pupils being taught a year of biology followed by a year of chemistry and then a year of physics. There are optional classes for those that show an aptitude for science in subjects like anatomy and organic chemistry. I went into an anatomy class to find the students preparing to dissect cats. They do have a limit on class size in science but this can vary from state to state.’

Some things are the same the world over though, it seems, as Elizabeth added: ‘I had to smile to myself when I joined a very enthusiastic class going out to fire rockets; some practicals have that universal appeal.’

	Home

	News

	News from the BA

	News Archive