Dr Leah Holmes from Nowgen presents at Gengage 2010 Annual Conference

Gengage, the Scottish Healthcare Genetics Public Engagement Network, held their annual conference on 15 June which focused on teaching genetics in schools. It aimed to give teachers innovative ideas about how to approach this topic in the context of the new highers in biology and human biology in Scotland. Both teachers and students were delegates.

Dr Leah Holmes, Public Programmes Project Officer, ran a workshop using the new Teachers’ TV programmes that Nowgen have co-produced as part of the Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme.

This workshop provided teachers and their students with an opportunity to view the new Teachers’ TV programmes made for the Nowgen Schools Genomics Programme (NSGP). The 3 TV programmes are targeted to students aged 14 – 16, post-16, and to teachers. They aim to introduce simple case studies of contemporary genetics and genomics to the classroom, to excite viewers about the pace of discovery in genetics, and to stimulate discussion about some of the wider issues associated with research in this field.

The workshop promoted dialogue amongst the group on the most effective methods of teaching and learning using these resources, and also provided an overview of the other resources available as part of the NSGP.

The workshop was successful in showcasing the TV programmes and involving both teachers and students input into what resources should be designed to support teaching and learning of contemporary genetics.

Participants in Leah’s workshop included a member of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and a Chief Inspector for Education.