A clear conclusion from @daisychristo.bsky.social's analysis is that a knowledge-rich curriculum is not in itself a cause of mental health problems but does push up the attainment of pupils. The case for change made by @educationscotland.bsky.social for its CIC made the case for a focus on knowledge
The different education systems in the four nations of the UK provide, an often overlooked, natural experiment. Here is a good example of comparative analysis from @daisychristo.bsky.social. substack.nomoremarking.com/p/do-knowled...
IPDA🏴 Symposium on 09/05 with @charlainesi.bsky.social @stuartphysics.bsky.social @drcatrionao.bsky.social & others
🗣️ Galvanising strength through collaboration & support in professional learning
A new virtual tour of the launch site at #SaxaVordSpaceport in Shetland is now live: saxavord.darkstarlabs.io
This reinforces the scale and ambition behind Scotland’s growing #space sector and the central role #physics plays in making launch, propulsion, and satellite technologies possible.
It’s a wrap from Summerhall. Standing room only, as over 150 folk - most of whom were not physicists - came out on a sunny Friday evening to hear a fabulous discussion about #particles, fundamental #physics and the joy of discovery chaired by @robinince.bsky.social and featuring five experts.
Finally some clarity on the #STFC budget: it's falling in real terms as UKRI spending rises. A conscious decision has been made to decrease UK funding for fundamental physics, despite all the evidence that our blue skies research is key for economic growth.
Thank you @resprofnews.bsky.social!
So what's better, human or robotic space exploration? Happy to make the case for robotic on Sky News today (with a little shout out to Europa Clipper, arriving at Jupiter in 2030 🥳)
Earth sets at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, over the Moon’s curved limb in this photo captured by the Artemis II crew during their journey around the far side of the Moon. Orientale basin is perched on the edge of the visible lunar surface. Hertzsprung Basin appears as two subtle concentric rings, which are interrupted by Vavilov, a younger crater superimposed over the older structure. The lines of indentations are secondary crater chains formed by ejecta from the massive impact that created Orientale. The dark portion of Earth is experiencing nighttime. On Earth’s day side, swirling clouds are visible over the Australia and Oceania region.
Latest #Artemis image to drop is my newest favourite!
"A New View of the Moon"
ICONIC! 🔭🧪
📷: NASA
images.nasa.gov/details/art0...
Congratulations Graham. @nasuwtscotland.bsky.social
... the role of subjects disciplines will not be sufficiently valued and emphasis on poorly defined and articulated cross-curricular themes will distort the specificity, systematicity and subject sensitivity needed to genuinely improve the curriculum for the benefit of Scotland's young people. 10/10
... and their assessment to the detriment of learning. That subjects contribute to the overall education of people in different ways and promote different ways of thinking and viewing the world ought to be celebrated. I also fear that with the current curriculum developments in Scotland that ... 9/n
... careful sequencing of the curriculum which leads on to @didau.bsky.social's third point, "Different subjects organise knowledge differently. A curriculum that ignores this will almost certainly distort what’s being taught." Too often a on-size-fits-all approach has distorted subjects ... 8/n
... it is generally easier to see because it is mostly gibbous or full and because of the darkness. The curriculum needs to be built coherently both for well-educated citizens right thorough to those studying astrophysics and cosmology at university Schema are only built efficiently through ... 7/n
... thanks to the wording implying the Sun and Moon move helps embeds a person/geocentric view and but also misses that the cycle of the Moon is independent of that of the Earth and Sun. The Moon is frequently seen in the daytime sky (usually as a crescent) as will as during the night where ... 6/n
This allows a progression on to further 'dots' about the rotation of the Earth, introducing the standard scientific explanations explaining the Sun/Earth/Moon system and addressing common misconceptions such as 'The Sun comes up during the day and the Moon comes up during the night. which ... 5/n
... Let's Think podcast. I used the example that I thought the first 'dots' of knowledge in the Space strand of Physics is that in the early years children should learn the names of the days of the week and that a day (24 hours) consists of a period of daytime/daylight and night-time/darkness. 4/n
"Students do not passively receive knowledge; they organise it into schemas and patterns of association. But unless the curriculum imposes some structure on what is encountered, those patterns will be superficial, unstable or unhelpful."
I touched on this sort of thinking recently in ... 3/n
"In practice, insufficient specificity reveals itself in curriculum language that sounds impressive but says nothing. Statements such as “explore a range of texts” ... don't tell us enough."
We must ensure we specify a core of knowledge and practices at each stage to enable coherent progression. 2/n
Excellent substack by @didau.bsky.social which identifies and addresses the main problems of the curriculum in Scotland. Those involved in the Curriculum Improvement Cycle need to give it a read. I fear that too many have not yet learned these lessons. 1/n
A graphic with two sections. The top has gold rays emanating from a central point, partially visible. The text reads "IOP Awards 2026 Phillips Award." The bottom displays similar gold rays, centered around circles and a vertical line.
Do you know an IOP member who has made a big impact in supporting physics and the IOP community? The Phillips Award recognises those driving innovation, engagement, and outreach in physics.
📅 Nominate by 19 April
🌟 https://www.iop.org/about/awards/phillips-award
It was good to have a chat with Stuart Twiss of the Let's Think podcast earlier today about science curriculum development and teacher professional development amongst other things. You can listen here open.spotify.com/show/7vrI8xo...
It was good to have a chat with Stuart Twiss of the Let's Think podcast earlier today about science curriculum development and teacher professional development amongst other things. You can listen here open.spotify.com/show/7vrI8xo...
In the Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CRESTEM) at KCL we have just opened two doctoral scholarships. More information below:
🕊️ In Memoriam: Professor Paul Black OBE
ASE is saddened to share the passing of our former President, Professor Paul Black OBE.
President of ASE in 1986, Professor Black had a long and distinguished career in science education.
👉 Read the tributes https://ow.ly/fmTQ50YxsBH
and still most probably one with SPA in the middle column.
Insightful post about productive failure, structuring learning and the limitations of many ed tech designs.
Photo of Nat Phil ‘O’ Ordinary Grade physics textbook by Jim Jardine. Cover has a photo of the Forth Bridge viewed through a lens and a round bottom flask giving erect and inverted images of the bridge with the bridge in the background. The photo was taken from Jim’s house in South Queensferry.
That would make a good cover photo for a physics textbook 😉
Worst team contrast I have ever seen.
Some thoughts about the physics curriculum and its assessment in Scotland with some observations and questions about standards and how this impacts on things like subject choice. Can we address some of these longstanding issues in the Curriculum Improvement Cycle?
www.enlighten.scot/lessons-lear...
