Enhancing STEM Academics' Public Engagement Skills > Adopter Universities - Enhancing Public Engagement > Outreach Activities - Wolverhampton

Adopter Universities - Enhancing Public Engagement > Outreach Activities - Wolverhampton

Through adoption of the Enhancing STEM Academics' Public Engagement Skills project, the University of Wolverhampton took the training and support provided to develop an outreach activity for Key Stage 2 pupils from local primary schools, involving the use of Scalextric to ascertain how tracks can be adapted to allow cars to take corners at high speeds. The activity was run at the university's inaugural science festival (Scifest 2012).

The adoption activities at Wolverhampton were led by David Dyke (d.w.dyke@wlv.ac.uk). Find out more in the case study below.

Project Highlights

Scalextric

The main benefit attained from planning the activity and attending the adopter seminars has been the use of the learning cycle and the enquiry question to think through the planning of the activity, what the pupils would be expected to achieve and be challenged by, and how to ensure all pupils are engaged with the activity. The original intention for the Scalextric activity was to have a track already constructed and for the academic to lead on the activity whilst the pupils observed. As a result of attendance at the seminars, the activity has been altered to make it more interactive. Instead of the track already being built, the pupils break into three groups and build their own tracks as part of the activity.

Another benefit has been the introduction to the different activities that can be used with the pupils and the introduction to the generic learning outcomes and generic session structures that can be utilised to create activities for delivery to primary schools.

It has also been beneficial to understand that the aim of public engagement with school children is to ensure learning outcomes are focused upon, as opposed to just meeting, the objective of the activity. Although a “double-diamond” approach has been utilised for the Scalextric activity, the author is now aware of other session structures that can be used for other offers and activities.

Case Study & Activity Plan

Please find below a case study of Wolverhampton's engagement in the project, alongside session plans that should help you to implement a similar Scalextric workshop. Should you like to know more, feel free to contact David at d.w.dyke@wlv.ac.uk

Scalextric - Case study

Scalextric - Session plan

Staff involved

Ed Drewitt
Project lead, University of Bristol

Claire Dimond
Graphic Science

Nicholas Garrick
Lighting Up Learning Ltd