Key activities

Teaching science concepts in higher education

CELS is developing new methods and materials to teach difficult scientific concepts. These are specially designed to make science more relevant to real-life situations, which will in-turn help students understand and engage with the subject at a deeper level.

CELS is also carrying out research into the area of threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge, the findings from which will be used in the creation of further resources

Developing new materials in higher education

Materials are being developed for undergraduate students with non-traditional qualifications and mixed entry profiles. These resources are designed to bridge knowledge gaps and to cater for specific learning needs, as identified through educational research and observations.

Assessment in higher education

CELS has trialled and is continuing to investigate modern methods of assessment, including optical marking systems. The use of such systems may assist lectures in the assessment of large student groups. CELS is also investigating the role of peer and group assessment in higher education.

Evaluation and impact in higher education

There are many claims made about the effectiveness and impact of different learning approaches. CELS is developing a range of evaluation tools to measure the impact of educational developments.

Please visit the Projects in higher education section of our website for further information.

Outreach developments

CELS has developed a successful programme of outreach activities to inspire local students of all ages. These include activity days, master classes, workshops, demonstration lectures and Kit in a Kase activities.

CELS is also able to offer teachers’ CPD sessions. These are sometimes included in student events, however bespoke sessions can also be arranged on request.

For further information please visit the outreach section of our website..

Promoting better use of statistics and data handling

The Royal Statistical Society RSSCSE are working with CELS to help school pupils develop and improve their data handling and statistical skills. Please visit the Experiments at School website for further information.