Learn Differently

Edinburgh, Newcastle and Brussels .. in a week

Paul McCrory — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:33:38 +0000

Paul has been busy delivering training and conference sessions recently. In a particularly busy week he was in three different countries – including speaking at a STEM conference in Technopolis, the Flemish science centre.

Engineers Week, RoI

Paul McCrory — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:37:22 +0000

learn differently had a successful week delivering shows as part of Engineers Week. A busy travel schedule took in Cork, Dublin and Kilkenny, with a few stops in between. Many thanks to our the organisers for a fun-, and engineering-, filled week.

Science Week continues

Paul McCrory — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:34:19 +0000

National Science and Engineering week is nearly over and learn differently is busy making a reactionary mess in school halls across the country. Knockloughrim Primary was our kind host on Monday and have some photos of the event here.

Science at Navan Centre

Paul McCrory — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:46:30 +0000

learn differently are in the middle of a busy week at the Navan Centre, Armagh, as part of their science week celebrations. We’re demonstrating the wonderful world of Chemistry with experiments, explosions and thought provoking demonstrations.

“Suspense and surprise” course for NI teachers

Paul McCrory — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:23:05 +0000

This innovative course has been prepared through a partnership between the Belfast Education and Library Board, the National Science Learning Centre and learn differently.

The importance of creating positive emotions in the science classroom has increasingly been recognised by researchers. This course will provide teachers with an overview of the key educational, psychological and neuroscience research in this area and explore a wide range of emotional engagement techniques designed to foster suspense and surprise in the classroom context. Triggering these emotional responses can impact positively on attention, enjoyment, motivation, student-teacher relationship and on cognitive processes such as memory and understanding.

The courses are running in Belfast and Derry in February 2013. Find out more …

learn differently doubles in size

Paul McCrory — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:03:58 +0000

learn differently has been putting willing candidates through a series of ever-increasing challenges to identify only the very best communicators and is pleased to announce an addition to the team. Terence Finnegan has been working in formal and informal education settings for 6 years and is keen to build on his knowledge and experience with learn differently.

He has a BEng in Software Engineering and a PGCE in Primary Education. His experience with science festivals in the UK and abroad and in classrooms around the UK hold him in good stead to inspire, encourage and inform about STEM subjects.

2012/13 shows available to book

Paul McCrory — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:22:20 +0000

In between the showers, we’ve been busy adding to the menu of shows available over the Summer, and you can now find out about the exciting new shows available for each age group – FS / KS 1; KS 2; and KS 3.

We have kept the show prices the same as last year, but with a busy schedule of shows, outreach tours and training contracts there are unfortunately relatively few dates still available in the first term – latest availability can be found here.

The good news is that the team (ie me) will be expanding in December (more of this later) so our availability should be greater in the future.

learn differently in Abu Dhabi

Paul McCrory — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:09:41 +0000

We’re delighted to have been asked to be part of the team helping to train the local science communicators for the Abu Dhabi Science Festival 2012.

This year’s festival will be even larger than the hugely-successful event organised last year, with even more science communicators involved. Find out more here.

Discovering Queen’s post-primary shows

Paul McCrory — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:46:52 +0000

Thanks to Discovering Queen’s we’re absolutely delighted to able to again offer an exciting and interactive experience for Year 8-10 pupils in the participating schools already contacted by Queen’s University. The free science shows can be used to engage your pupils and those from nearby schools.

UPDATE – All the available sponsored forces have allocated. Keep your eyes open for a new sponsored show during 2012/13 though.

Extended school shows

Paul McCrory — Mon, 28 May 2012 21:19:58 +0000

If you’re planning activities for your extended school scheme in 2012/13, why not include some after-school science enrichment for your pupils or an evening science show for the whole family?

Find out more about these programmes and how to book here.