Overview

This one-day practical course will help secondary-school science laboratory technicians to support the teaching of practical physics more confidently.

You'll learn about hazard identification and risk assessment with demonstrations that include the following:

• lasers
• microwaves
• ionising radiations
• heat
• flammable liquids
• electrical and mechanical hazards

Who this course is for

It's aimed at secondary-school science laboratory technicians teaching Key Stage 3 and 4 (KS3 and KS4).

Course content

You'll learn techniques for activities that technicians often have to carry out to support physics teaching, including:

• magnetism
• model steam engines
• ionising radiation - absorption, range and half life investigation
• datalogging equipment
• oscilloscope and signal generator
• ammeters, voltmeters and multimeters
• radiant heat investigations
• laser light
• microwaves
• electron beams
• colour mixing
• power lines

Teaching and structure

The course is delivered as a practical workshop.

Entry requirements

You'll need to be the science technician in your school.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you'll have: 

• gained confidence in the support that you provide in teaching physics
• understood hazard identification and risk assessment
• learned new techniques to support physics teaching

Course team

Samir Moezzi for CLEAPSS

Samir works as an adviser for CLEAPSS.

CLEAPSS provides advice and guidance on all aspects of practical work in science, technology and art. This guidance explores ideas for exciting and engaging practical activities that fire pupils' imaginations and then, unlike many alternative resources, goes on to show teachers and technicians, in detail, how to translate these ideas into safe and exciting classroom experiences.

CLEAPSS has in excess of 28,000 schools and colleges in membership, predominantly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where its advice is recognised by HSE, DFE and OFSTED as representing best practice in these areas and as such it is used by employers as the basis for them to discharge their responsibilities under the H&S at work act, 1999.

Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 16:00