All project outputs > Good Practice Guide: Top tips & Resources
The below are tips drawn from regional and national contacts with regards to tackling common challenges encountered with curriculum development and student support activities:
- Where academics lack personal experience of working in industry, use opportunities for them to engage with employed STEM professional to inform their teaching
- Use STEM employees to inform curricula and project content to ensure context
- An Interactive Lab Primer gives students familiarity with laboratory techniques
- Arrange summer school ‘boot camps’ to improve students’ practical skills prior to arrival at university
- University induction programmes should provide the opportunity to address students’ knowledge and skills gaps
- Student ambassadors provide a welcoming and friendly face to University visitors. They are also positive role models for study in particular subjects and they demonstrate enthusiasm and a positive approach to learning
- It is also possible to make the most of national events such as National Science Week or Chemistry Week when schools are often happy to support science activities
- Visiting schools may be easier but possibly less time-efficient and students do not benefit from experiencing the university environment or using new equipment
- If an activity can be demonstrated as directly relevant to the school curriculum it is much easier for teachers to get permission to bring students
