Genetics 'Collapsed day' trialled

5 November 2003

A new genetics 'collapsed day' - during which teachers work together with students off-timetable to explore a theme - has been trialled in secondary schools in the UK.

The day was developed by a multidisciplinary team led by Mary Ratcliffe, Senior Lecturer in Science Education at the University of Southampton, with funding from the Wellcome Trust.

It aimed to help break down subject barriers in schools and encourage cross-curricular work, so topics could be examined from a range of perspectives. Specifically, the day offered teachers and pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4 (11-16-year-olds) an opportunity to explore the ethical and societal impact of aspects of biomedical research alongside the science.

Eight schools took part in the trials. School timetables were suspended for the day, and teachers from different disciplines - English, RE, history, science and PSHE (personal, social and health education) - encouraged a whole year group to focus on aspects of genetics in their broadest sense: the impact on students' lives, on their families and on society as a whole.

Each collapsed day started with a stimulus, perhaps a video or expert speaker, which raised various issues related to genetics. Students then discussed the science, its moral and ethical implications and looked at how the media treats science. The day was rounded off with a synthesis activity, such as the development of a web page, a short dramatic performance, news story or a debate.

A summary report of the collapsed day project is being compiled and will be published by the Wellcome Trust early in 2004.

See also

• Controversy in the classroom: Valuable lessons (Education reports, Knowledge Centre)