Student teachers and secondary school students both benefit in new initiative

The Access Schools Programme and Science Programme at St Angela’s College, Sligo initiated a new and innovative programme for the benefit of both secondary school science students and future Biology teachers. The third year Biology students in the Bachelor of Education programme offered demonstrations of the mandatory activities in Leaving Certificate Biology and mandatory Junior Certificate science practicals.

‘This programme is a very worthwhile initiative for both student teachers and the Leaving and Junior Certificate pupils,’ said Dr Anne Taheny, President of St Angela’s College, Sligo. As an academic in science, Dr Taheny viewed the uniqueness of the programme as mutually beneficial. She also noted the programme is another supportive educational opportunity for the College Access Schools Programme to work with their Access link schools.

Using the College laboratories and the support of College academic staff, the programme is designed to be comprehensive for students needs. Dr Michelle Mc Garraghy, Director of the Science Programme at the College explains how the programme is arranged: ‘The Junior Certificate science syllabus comprises of a selection of thirty mandatory laboratory experiments encompassing the science subjects of physics, chemistry and biology.’ She also noted that student participation was paramount to ensuring the best learning experience, ‘Relevant practical applications were also included as part of each experiment to demonstrate the importance of the topic in every day life and in order to help reinforce and develop the student’s knowledge and understanding of the related science.’ 

The College also arranged to provide secondary students with eight mandatory Leaving Certificate biology practical activities. The twenty-two activities were demonstrated by student teachers and College academic staff to students from a variety of local schools, emphasising the scientific method involved and clearly displaying the various steps involved. 

‘St Angela’s College, Sligo acknowledges the ongoing support from local Sligo schools to Bachelor of Education students completing teaching practice,’ Dr Taheny explains, ‘This programme provides an opportunity for our student teachers and the College to give back by supporting to Junior and Leaving Certificate students as they prepare for their forthcoming exams.’ It is anticipated that the College will explore the expansion of the success Science programme in future.