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Support Hubs : Support Hubs
The Digital Design and Technology Programme, which grows out of and builds on the two major curriculum development projects, CAD/CAM in Schools and the Electronics in Schools Strategy, aims to develop a coherent support programme for teachers involved with CAD/CAM and ECT which reflects the changing requirements of both the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 and the STEM Agenda.
One key area where support is provided is through the regional support centres. These have been developed out of recognition that the teacher training offered by this programme needs to be flexible in order to allow STEMNETs, HEI’s and LA’s and others to identify, plan and provide training in modules dependant on local demands. There are currently 34 support centres based within the nine government regions - London, North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, East of England, South East, South West, East Midlands, West Midlands and include partnerships between STEMNETs, LA advisers, HEIs, ECT and CAD/CAM Accredited Trainers and lead practitioners. Some of these centres focus on electronics, some on CAD/CAM and some offer both. The key aim of the support centres is to identify the needs of local teachers, and provide ongoing support to encourage teachers and schools offering electronics in the design and technology curriculum.
Many support centres also provide a wide range of consultancy support to individual schools and teachers as result of relationships built up through other activities. Some hubs also do interesting and effective work with primary schools. In addition, the support centres are involved in organising two and four-day teacher training programmes in conjunction with ECT accredited trainers, through funding from the IET. For details of specific CAD/CAM software training please visit cadinschools.org. |
Last year, the support centres carried out a range of training including