Teaching about science careers

ASPIRES Project

Why teach about careers from science?

Research carried out in the UK and elsewhere suggests that many students begin to feel that “science is important but not for me” at an early age. By the time they receive careers information and guidance, their minds are made up, and many of them are not aware of, and don’t even consider, the vast array of jobs and careers that involve or depend on science.

What can be done?

Secondary school teachers have been working as part of a project based at King’s College London which looks at this very issue. The Science Aspirations and Career Choice: Age 10-14 project (ASPIRES) is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of a wider Targeted Initiative on Science and Mathematics Education (TISME). One element of ASPIRES involves developing strategies for integrating information about careers, in and from science, into lessons or other school science activities.

What’s available for teachers to use?

One of the main outcomes of this work is a series of ‘case studies’ each of which focuses on an individual teacher’s efforts in this area. These case studies contain everything you need to try these activities with your own students.

Case Study 1: Promoting STEM Careers within Year 8 Climate Change Lessons

This is a series of three lessons that use web-based resources to promote environmentally friendly STEM careers and encourage students to consider what skills would be required to work in these jobs. Opportunities are also provided for students to develop their ICT and presentation skills. Students liaise with a STEM ambassador to gain an understanding that scientists are “real people” too!

The full case study and all its accompanying documents (lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets etc) can be downloaded below.

Case Study 2: Wind Power Challenge Years 6 to 9

A project was run as enrichment over three lunchtimes with the intention of promoting careers in engineering, design and sustainable energy to approximately 20 KS3 students. Working in teams students compete to design a wind turbine capable of lifting a weight off the floor to desk height.

The full case study and all its accompanying documents (lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets etc) can be downloaded below.

Case Study 3: Career Exploration Year 7

We used a series of three lessons to give Year 7 students an overview of careers in science and to start them thinking about the wide range of opportunities there are in science industries. We used the Futuremorph website to encourage students to talk about their motivations, likes and dislikes and existing knowledge about careers in science.

The full case study and all its accompanying documents (lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets etc) can be downloaded below.

Case Study 4: STEM Leaders Qualification in Year 9

This consists of several projects that can be implemented individually or as a series. The projects emphasise developing careers awareness by engaging with the wider STEM world and through working with external STEM practitioners.

The full case study and all its accompanying documents (lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets etc) can be downloaded below.

Case study 5: Year 9 STEM weeks - Raising awareness and promoting STEM careers

These lessons aim to raise awareness of the importance and diversity of STEM careers. Students are encouraged to consider the skills and attributes required to work in a range of jobs, some of which they may not have previously connected with STEM education. The activities on which this case study is based took place in an inner city, all girls community comprehensive, with Year 9 students. The case study consisted of science lessons over 6 weeks at the end of KS3.

The full case study and all its accompanying documents (lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, worksheets etc) can be downloaded below.