On Monday evening, EuroStemCell and Debating Science issues were online hosting a chat for the Association of Science Education on Twitter. The live #asechat was part of a weekly online chat to share teaching ideas, and this year it was focussed on stem cells. We've summarised the highlights of the discussion below using Storify and we've drawn together conversations on key themes.
[<a href="http://storify.com/eurostemcell/how-do-you-teach-stem-cells" target="_blank">View the story "How do you teach stem cells?" on Storify</a>]<h1>How do you teach stem cells?</h1><h2>EuroStemCell and Debating Science Issues host #asechat - the Association for Science Education's weekly science education discussion group</h2><p>Storified by EuroStemCell · Wed, Jun 06 2012 11:00:28</p><div>Teaching Stem Cells #ASEchat 4th June 2012 http://wp.me/p1TSgB-4BJoe Wright</div><div>Even though he couldn't join the whole chat, Joe Wright kicked us off with a great blog post with teaching examples<br></div><div>This is our first #asechat. I’m Emma Kemp, tweeting for @eurostemcell and Danielle Nicholson is also on board, tweeting @debatingscienceEuroStemCell</div><div>@bio_joe great blog post and examples of ways to get ethical discussions, thanks for posting and sorry you can't join us #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>Stem cells are very often connected with ethical debate, and ethics cropped up early in the chat...<br></div><div>It seems stem cells are synonymous with teaching ethics in science curricula. Not sure this is good #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>So, a question for those joining #asechat: When you teach stem cells, do you focus on ethics or do you build it into teaching cells too?EuroStemCell</div><div>#asechat Worthy of a meaty discussion- hook the interest by exploring the ethical issues around stem cell science. http://pic.twitter.com/A3OgYNdWDanielle Nicholson</div><div>I try to build ethics in any aspect of the curriculum I can. Stem cells jut happen to be a really good topic for it #ASEchatJoe Wright</div><div>Not sure stem cells are taught as a topic - not sure children understand the significance of undifferentiated cells #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>Try films http://ow.ly/bic7d , Play Decide Stem cells http://ow.ly/bic9m Split the class in 2 for a debate #asechat http://pic.twitter.com/7J5QcgS4Danielle Nicholson</div><div>But how does this fit with what teachers need to teach?<br></div><div>Where should stem cells fit into the secondary science curriculum? #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@viciascience stem cells is popping up in some GCSE specs + Scot Highers now. You can also look at it from the angle of homeostasis #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell But cells is generally considered a KS3 topic in England #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@DrDav I contend we need to teach cell differentiation and plant meristems when teaching stem cells. Ethics follows, but seperate #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>Debating Science Issues http://ow.ly/bicuk &I'm a Scientist http://ow.ly/bicqw will walk you through steps #asechat http://pic.twitter.com/ayj1UkInDanielle Nicholson</div><div>#asechat Other bioethics projects which are favourites are BEEP http://ow.ly/bicCZ and High School Bioethics Project http://ow.ly/bicIpDanielle Nicholson</div><div>#asechat Child1 set homework to do casestudy on stem cells, but struggling to get him beyond simplistic ethical issues.Carol Davenport</div><div>@drdav #asechat how old is child1? We've got loads of info http://ow.ly/blYcG for example under 'factsheets'. Any help?EuroStemCell</div><div>A number of tweeters thought it important not to think ONLY about the ethics...<br></div><div>Do we have to be conscious that there is more to STEM cells than just exploring ethical issues? #asechatLinda Needham</div><div>@NeedhamL56 Yes, I really think so! And more to stem cells than embryonic stem cells #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@ViciaScience @DrDav We've done some lessons with 11-14s looking at how our healthy bodies work 1st, then new medicine, then ethics #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>STEM cell overview in TS materials quick guides http://bit.ly/LhSLIE #asechat other guides worth a look too all on STEM e libraryLinda Needham</div><div>@NeedhamL56 Please note any link between STEM elibrary and stem cells is purely incidental #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>#asechat Give the Ready or not Role Play a go! http://ow.ly/bidLE http://pic.twitter.com/zWuHa94DDanielle Nicholson</div><div>Some great ideas from @DebatingScience and @eurostemcell for resources to teach STEM cells appropriate for KS3,4 & 5 #asechat tonightLinda Needham</div><div>#asechat Ready or not incorporates current info on all types of stem cells, spinal cord injury & clinical trials. http://pic.twitter.com/K68beu2nDanielle Nicholson</div><div>Should teaching ethics be part of all children's SCIENCE education? Not just biology. Needs structured programme #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>Yes + in ALL education, inc beyond science MT @viciascience: Should teaching ethics be part of all children's SCIENCE education? #ASEChatEuroStemCell</div><div>@ViciaScience have to be careful that sci teachers don't offload onto PSHCE #asechat needs joined up approachLinda Needham</div><div>@NeedhamL56 seems to me that considering dialysis vs transplant is easier route in to bioethics, or biofuels and forest clearance #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>#asechat agree w @viciascience ethics should be structured across all edu, but obv there's ample opportunity in sci which ALL students learnPeter Board</div><div>Monkey of Science has been trying out webchat as a discussion tool:<br></div><div>@ViciaScience Had a webchat with Sanger last week with y10s, they touched on stem cells, was a bit too much but it was bottom set. #asechatMonkey of Science</div><div>@MonkeyofScience Can you write this up? Blog etc? Be good to hear what technology used and which people involved #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@ViciaScience ... us practicing. Will check that they are happy for me to forward contact details. We are hoping to repeat soon. #asechatMonkey of Science</div><div>@MonkeyofScience Excellent experience for chldn. partic those with lower aspirations #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@ViciaScience Definitely, and they seemed keen to do more of this. Shall do a write up, learnt a lot from this experience! #asechatMonkey of Science</div><div>@monkeyofscience #asechat would also be interested to know more about your webchat. We tried it a bit but found technology tricky in schoolEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell We used adobe connect, not sure of cost but i can find out. We hosted it and sent them a link to log in online.... #asechatMonkey of Science</div><div>@eurostemcell We were also able to stream the feed to the other classrooms using the link too. #asechatMonkey of Science</div><div>@MonkeyofScience Linking between classrooms=great. Be good to do this after an intro on science to have interclass ethics debate #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>And good resources can help support teaching, so we chatted a bit about what is out there and what else is needed....<br></div><div>Joined up cross-curricular approach sounds good. What kinds of resources would you want to help you do that with stem cells? #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell I would find good quality royalty free images a god send #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>#asechat Differentiation/ cell image resource http://ow.ly/bigr5 http://pic.twitter.com/oM4ppKMTDanielle Nicholson</div><div>@DebatingScience This is great! Thanks http://bit.ly/KatYbv #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>Here’s a monthly image blog taking beautiful pics from stem cell research and explains what they are about: http://ow.ly/bimUJ #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell Is there a feed into your image blog? Be good to have a weekly sci image in every science teaching room in schools #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@viciascience you mean an RSS feed of the blog? No set up now, but we could do that if you think it would be useful....#asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell Yes - RSS or similar. Lots of tweeps using blogs and need to collect content as teacher into one place. #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>#asechat XploreHealth is a wonderful biotechnology project! Videos, experiments, debates, ethics http://ow.ly/bihl2 http://pic.twitter.com/q8EpCPoWDanielle Nicholson</div><div>#asechat 4 themes for 4 groups to explore and present to the rest of the class: All About Stem Cells http://pic.twitter.com/5rQYN35LDanielle Nicholson</div><div>@DebatingScience @eurostemcell please make sure all your links to resources are on the summary, too many to favourite #asechat thanks!Linda Needham</div><div>What ideas about cells do students have to be secure about before they can follow what's going on with STEM cells? #asechatLinda Needham</div><div>@needhaml56 To start talking about stem cells, I think you need to realise cells in your body die + get replaced all the time. #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@needhaml56 blood system a good example of where cells replaced A LOT and blood is something familiar + already discussed #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>#asechat Hang concept posters in the classroom a few weeks before start of stem cells lessons http://ow.ly/bibS1 http://pic.twitter.com/giv6PRIoDanielle Nicholson</div><div>The concept posters may encourage students to question their own background knowledge on the subject of stem cell research. #asechatDanielle Nicholson</div><div>And what about materials for teachers? CPD opportunities?<br></div><div>@DebatingScience good pupil materials. Need good teacher materials too. Keep tchrs up to date. #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@needhaml56 @ViciaScience teacher cpd really important so what would work best? Hard to get out of school these days I know. #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@needhaml56 @ViciaScience On CPD: Biochemical Soc has CPD on stem cells - you need to get 20 teachers together and they come to you #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell @viciascience 20 teachers is quite a lot, need to explore some on line CPD #asechatLinda Needham</div><div>@needhaml56 hm, do you think people would use online cpd? I know time is short and inertia can be high with online stuff... #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell interest is growing, especially from tweachers #asechat onlineCPDLinda Needham</div><div>@eurostemcell Can we discuss how these cpd initiatives could link to ASE activities? #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@viciascience Definitely, would love to. We've done a couple of w/shops at ASE confs but would love to explore more #asechatEuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell I was thinking if there are sessions we could put on in regions perhaps hosted by a local uni? #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>@NeedhamL56 @eurostemcell @viciascience How easy would it be to organise this in each ASE region? #asechatMonkey of Science</div><div>@MonkeyofScience Easy to organise either with or without reg SLCs #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>So perhaps an opportunity for more CPD in the future. In the meantime, more chat about classroom resources...<br></div><div>#asechat All you teachers out there: where do you look for resources on stem cells? What have you found that really works?EuroStemCell</div><div>#asechat Planaria work well for demonstrating stem cell function, development & the complexity of tissue regeneration. http://ow.ly/bihUdDanielle Nicholson</div><div>#asechat This is a hands on game that models what happens as stem cells differentiate to different cell types? http://pic.twitter.com/yV6mSAxWDanielle Nicholson</div><div>#asechat The Game of Life requires play dough, dice http://ow.ly/bigUbDanielle Nicholson</div><div>@DebatingScience wow looks a bit like a guide to all those funny particle names in physics #asechatLinda Needham</div><div>#asechat Look in @eurostemcell 's resource directory! Log in & submit your own stem cell resources for inclusion. http://pic.twitter.com/9XU7qYA9Danielle Nicholson</div><div>And finally, this chat was on a bank holiday and the Queen's jubilee celebration so we wondered...<br></div><div>Getting towards the close of #asechat, thanks all for your efforts and comments even on a bank hol! Any last thoughts? Repeat needed?EuroStemCell</div><div>@eurostemcell Yes - repeat needed on a 'school night' #ASEChatRichard Needham</div><div>I agree - especially to raise awareness of resources. RT @ViciaScience: @eurostemcell Yes - repeat needed on a 'school night' #ASEChatCarol Davenport</div><div>Watch out for the summary of tonight's #asechat: we’re trying something different will post on http://ow.ly/bidLJ and http://ow.ly/bidKqEuroStemCell</div>
You can also view a full chronological list of all the #asechat tweets from Monday 4th June on our Storify page .
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