About STEM Fluency Labs
STEM Fluency Labs will be five days of intensive learning and exchanges of ideas, between teachers, scientists and artists – a multi-disciplinary experience of enquiry, invention, and sharing of outstanding practice.
As part of the three year Ignition* programme STEM Fluency Labs are designed to enable teachers to transform their capacities for creativity across their subject areas and in turn inspire the next generation. Designed by Performing Arts Labs (PAL) there will be three residential labs, one each year between 2008 and 2010. PAL identifies and brings together talented creative practitioners from a wide range of disciplines to explore new ways of working, to develop innovative work on a collaborative basis and to transform individual professional practice.
During the three years sixty teachers and thirty artists and scientists will have the opportunity to take part in a STEM Fluency Lab which promises to be an inspiring, life changing programme for all involved. The participants will also be supported by the Reflect programme of co-mentoring which will ensure ongoing development of the leading STEM educators across the region.
Whitwell November 2008
The first STEM Fluency Lab was held in Rutland over the course of five days in November. 17 teachers from across the region worked with scientists and artists (composer/musician, dancer/movement artist, visual artist/printmaker, sculptor) and had their creative practice extended and their imaginations infused with new and challenging approaches to their subjects. This was more than having their STEM teaching skills topped up with some creativity - the Lab was an affirmation of their capacity to think creatively and share their learning with their students.
How can you get involved?
The next Creative Science Lab will take place in November 2009 and places are available for 20 teachers. If you would like to find out more or register your initial interest please email ignition@ignitefutures.org.uk
We will also be holding a sharing day in April to disseminate the learning and post-Lab developments from the first STEM Fluency Lab. For details contact the Ignition* team.
