What is Newton's Bruises Secondary Science Course?
Newton’s bruise has been designed to support learners in developing their understanding and engagement with science. It uses thinking tools and strategies to explore how scientist’s work and form ideas to explain phenomena and give better understanding of the modern world.
The philosophy underpinning the course is that the teacher is the facilitator of the learning and they make it personal and real to the students. It is a holistic rather than a fragmented approach. To do this there needs to be easy access to all the thinkers and an opportunity to find out what students already know. The students then develop their curiosity of what they want to know and how they can answer questions that they have produced.
The aim is to provide the students with a structure that is not based on shallow learning that relies on memorisation, which can be easily replicated but is very brittle and easily lost. By using simple accessible strategies deeper and profound learning can be nurtured that will engage and bring about a rich science curriculum that is meaningful and enjoyable. It will also provide a rigour in thinking which does not replace proven curriculum and methods but enhances and enriches them so that academic achievement can be raised.
Through the course teachers are taught easy methods that ensure that the learner is not working alone but is co-operating with others in a dynamic and flexible manner.
Which is to say -
- Newton’s Bruises is about get your hands dirty/scuff your knees science. It’s about framing and asking questions, finding out, gathering and using knowledge to think with, rather than as an end in itself, solving problems and engaging with partners and the peer group.
- Newton’s Bruises is about practical and intellectual enquiry. It’s built on the premise that even the simplest activities can promote original thinking and measured judgement.
- Newton’s Bruises is about challenge – for every pupil
How Does Newton's Bruises Do All That?