Category Archives: Teacher FAQ
What is I’m a Scientist, Decipher My Data?
I’m a Scientist, Decipher My Data (DMD) provides an online way to make data real for secondary school science students. It allows them to become real scientists working alongside leading academics on a real experiment. They’ll report their findings, peer … Continue reading
How long will the project take?
Each lesson is designed to take approximately 50-60 minutes. Most schools will allocate roughly 3 lessons plus some time for homework. You are free to use as much or as little class time for Decipher My Data: Flu!
Can I take part if I can only commit a small amount of time?
That’s OK! The absolute bare minimum commitment is to supply school absence data until the end of Term 4 and to complete the School Profile. This is a questionnaire about your school which will be completed during the project. It … Continue reading
What’s in it for the Scientist?
Dr Rob Aldridge is motivated by the lack of published studies in this area and can see that by working with students a project that would otherwise require a large budget can be done cost-effectively. Children have the highest rates … Continue reading
What’s in it for the School?
Rather than learning about “How Science Works”, your students can actually be part of science. The work that your students do as part of this project will be of real benefit to researchers looking to reduce the impact that flu … Continue reading
How does this fit in with the curriculum?
Key Concepts: 1.1 Scientific thinking a. using scientific ideas and models to explain phenomena and developing them creatively to generate and test theories. b. critically analysing and evaluating evidence from observations and experiments. 1.4 Collaboration a. sharing developments and common … Continue reading
Who is Decipher My Data for?
Anyone from a secondary school in England and Wales can take part in the Flu project. Decipher My Data is suitable for students in KS3 and KS4 – particularly when studying topics to do with disease transmission. Decipher My Data … Continue reading
How much contact can my students expect with the scientists?
If you have participated in I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! you will have experience a number of scientists working with a small group of schools over a short, intense time period. Decipher My Data will be running … Continue reading
Who is the Lead Scientist?
Dr Rob Aldridge (that’s him on the right) is a specialty registrar in Public Health and an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow at University College London’s Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology. Rob’s research interests are focused on respiratory infections such as influenza … Continue reading
Why should I take part? Why is DMD exciting?
Your students will be contributing work towards a real scientific experiment. Nobody knows what the outcome will be or even if the experiment will work. No longer will your students have to learn separately about “How Science Works” (or often … Continue reading
