For those of you who don't know, Gain time is where timetable slots are freed up by students being on study/examination leave.
#ASEChat is discussing this tonight. Don't forget the hashtag!
People say that there isn’t really any gain time any more. Is this true? What other things are you being asked to do in the science department? #ASEchat
I wonder how many teachers get extra time at the end of examinations, as there seems to be increased pressures to start 'examination teaching' for other classes #ASEChat
Depends on your school I would suppose. We have close to 100 feeder schools so this would be either deeply impractical or very unfair to those who could not attend #asechat
#ASEchat - There's certainly less as Y11 & Y13 don't have 'study time' as such any more; plus there's more primary activity (though it is lovely) - have spent a great afternoon with Y6 making rockets and boats - Does it fly? Will it float?
People say that there isn’t really any gain time any more. Is this true? What other things are you being asked to do in the science department? #ASEchat
I’m not too sure I have ever used gained time effectively. If I had I would remember. There is sports day, taster days for 6th form, primary visits, drop down days... #ASEchat
#asechat not for us in primary, we just pause teaching long enough for them to do the tests then carry on business as usual including demands from secondary folk on gain time
Can you use this time to plan departmental approaches to teaching (ie internal cpd) or is the time taken with admin, assessment issues and so forth ? #ASEChat
#2 Now we have a decent idea of what tasks you routinely perform during gain time, which of these tasks do you find most/least useful and why?
#ASEChat
#ASEchat - Have certainly done lots of this - last year I had all the KS2 classes from one school in at different times; does depend on your catchment. A previous year each teacher went to a different school and we had a fabulous display at the end on a sat
After a decade of not having study leave, we sent the year 11s off before half term this year. Couldn't deal with the expansion working its way through #asechat
I have found doing stuff we change every year pointless! I personally am a doer so we will get into some teams. I will be Physics - and get a chance on creating and sharing resources #ASEChat
I have attended some SLE training this year, and STEM CPD facilitator role training. I have delivered more CPD, training and workshops than attended. #ASEChat
In reply to
@TFScientist, @theed_ucator, @ViciaScience
My current school has a great year 6 to 7 induction period. However, my last one had one, not very well put together, as Maths and English took priority. Then Sept becomes a task to learn scientific practices
You should pass this link to your SLT https://t.co/HWjbrwwtGv Developing Great Subject Teaching lots of suggestions about both working collaboratively- CPDL and outside- CPD to improve #asechat
I like to work on bigger projects during this time, which need multiple people to focus on. I haven’t got the time to put into big one off fancy-pants events for the summer term. #ASEchat
You should pass this link to your SLT https://t.co/HWjbrwwtGv Developing Great Subject Teaching lots of suggestions about both working collaboratively- CPDL and outside- CPD to improve #asechat
#2 we looked at creating variety in practical activities in a sequence using Minner’s elements of inquiry. Then time to work on a specific area of focus in individual science departments. #ASEchat
So, is there a plan/outcomes for using this additional time? That way it could be included that everyone gets to do something they ‘need’ to improve #asechat
We started with some of the feedback from the Gatsby report and then built outwards from there led by the literature. But mainly thinking about our own teaching. I look forward to reading the @theASE guide and getting another perspective on the issues. #ASEchat
Need some time to reflect, and to decide what personal development could have most impact on professional practice #ASEChat Time needs to be 'booked out'
We started with some of the feedback from the Gatsby report and then built outwards from there led by the literature. But mainly thinking about our own teaching. I look forward to reading the @theASE guide and getting another perspective on the issues. #ASEchat
Our work has a focus on developing policy. This is through activities designed to promote discussion. Aim to publish the resources at end of year. #ASEChat
Sounds interesting, and great if you can all work collaboratively, so that students get to experience different elements across the science curriculum #asechat
Gained time could be used so much more effectively than filling it with things so that the school feels better that the teachers aren’t just loafing around. Such an opportunity for learning... #ASEChat
As a starting place for self-evaluating our strengths and weaknesses. We are lucky to have strong subject specialists, technicians, etc. But better understanding of purpose in practical work (to build students’ conceptual understanding) was a weakness. #ASEchat
.@DrStuClark makes a good point about early education. We teach kids to appreciate English, Art, etc, even if they aren’t ‘good’ at it, but do we nurture an appreciation for science? #TwoCultures#FictionLab Desperate for thoughts from the experts over at #ASEChat on this one 💕
#3 What advice do you have for making the most out of your gain time? How do you prevent procrastination? How do you prioritise so far in advance? #asechat
I don’t think we do in England, and possibly not the rest of the UK. We are particularly weak on the philosophy of science, which is a good place to start #asechat
As was frequency and variety - have the frequency, but critically analysing whether we have sufficient variety was next. Then into the research on forms of practical instruction (for the variety) and ways of linking the ideas and the practice (for the purpose-ness). #ASEchat
Good timing - we are in mid discussion.
Science is rarely seen as a cultural activity and part of the fabric and history of our society - to its detriment #ASEChat
#3 I think @emily_seeber is describing a whole department approach to getting the best out of gain time. Use Self evaluation to ID the issue in T & L , agree an approach, work together then divvy up the tasks #asechat let us know how it goes and your evaluation
I think we need a slight amount of pressure to get something done (from SLT) but not a ton of pressure so that the ‘something done’ gets done to appease SLT. A kind of Goldilocks zone of productivity... #ASEchat
I am saddened by the loss of enthusiasm for enquiry and asking questions often seen in primary pupils that seems to disappear early in their secondary careers #ASEChat
Agreed. It is 'fun' for primary kids. Then 'necessary' for GCSE kids. But not sure we are good at selling the intrinsic merits of science, or how to appreciate the wonder of science even if you aren't good at it. Although #scicomm aims to address that
In reply to
@ViciaScience, @FunSizeSuze, @DrStuClark
I think we need a slight amount of pressure to get something done (from SLT) but not a ton of pressure so that the ‘something done’ gets done to appease SLT. A kind of Goldilocks zone of productivity... #ASEchat
Agreed. My Year 7 and 8s are my favourite classes - particularly for the off the wall questions they ask.
That is soon reined in when we 'have a curriculum to cover' with not enough teacher time #asechat
#4 Is it more valuable to use gain time to try something completely new (like an experiment or project) or polish/perfect something you did that year? #asechat
#ASEchat Great time to do some extended practical work with Y7&8 - last year I did some work on hydroponics using this https://t.co/Txh3emDLqE; we also learnt about vertical farming
Its probably the best time for two or more colleagues to collaborate on an idea, so I suggest try to go for something completely new. However, depends on school circumstance! #ASEChat
#ASEchat Great time to do some extended practical work with Y7&8 - last year I did some work on hydroponics using this https://t.co/Txh3emDLqE; we also learnt about vertical farming
Evening #ASEchat, if anybody has been making use of the Gatsby principles and report around Good Practical Science, or have suggestions of how better use could be made of it, I’d love to hear as I’m meeting them soon to discuss. https://t.co/X3JWOXzB7F
#asechat And somewhere i remember some resources, international chemistry year rings a bell about pruifying water and also growing crystals; a great chance for teachers to choose something of interest to them!
If I manage to get any gained time to myself, I'd like to look at whole class feedback. I've got a few examples I've collected off here but any advice on actual implementation/management of it? #asechat#ukedchat#CogSciSci
#asechat - Y12 chemists get to do some synthesis (and not just aspirin) then get to analyse and if you're lucky to take their product to a local uni for mass spec and maybe even nmr; they also get to see & work in UG labs - oh the joy!
#5 Should gain time be used to primarily benefit:
a) GCSE exam classes
b) A Level exam classes
c) KS3
d) Data drives/Report writing
e) Teacher performance management tasks
[8 marks] +1 QWC
#ASEChat
If I manage to get any gained time to myself, I'd like to look at whole class feedback. I've got a few examples I've collected off here but any advice on actual implementation/management of it? #asechat#ukedchat#CogSciSci
#ASEchat Here's the original tweet with the full detail on this fantastic idea; plaese share widely as it really does help reduce workload and I found it focused my feedback and my planning
And gain time is ideal for getting into a lab without students being there, to sort equipment, displays, benches etc. Start the new term with a perfect environment, even just to clean out the fish tank and prune the geranium #ASEChat
