SATIS (16-19) - AN EVALUATION OF THIS RESOURCE FOR POST-16 SCIENCE-EDUCATION

The Association for Science Education has published a set of 100 works heets, for use in post-16 general or specialist science classes. These were evaluated by the author, with a view to using them in her teachi ng of a large group of university Foundation (Year 0) students. She wa s anxious to find material which could be used for self-study or small group work, since this was considered to be a better approach than wh ole-class teaching to large numbers of students with diverse education al backgrounds. Several of the units were trialled in various modes su ch as laboratory work, group work and individual coursework. The paper concentrates on the detailed analysis of one of the worksheets. The a im was to ascertain whether its positive features outweighed its perce ived negative features. The overall design and content of the unit was also examined to determine whether the SATIS authors had taken into a ccount the results of educational research into what constitutes a val uable learning experience. The material in the trial was found to be e minently suitable for use in the learning environment in which the Fou ndation students find themselves, and it has since become a valuable p art of the mainstream teaching on this course. In addition, with some slight reservations, it was clear from the detailed analysis of one un it that the SATIS authors had designed the worksheets with due conside ration of current educational theory and an emphasis on the promotion of active learning.