There are several possibilities in terms of types of activity you choose to fulfil your intended outcome. There are advantages and disadvantages to each and there may be a difference between what you would ideally like to do and what is logistically possible. Some projects may include multiple types of activity, e.g. an introduction/follow-up session at school followed/preceded by a university visit.
Workshops at the University
Arguably, pupils visiting the university to take part in an activity has the most impact. It is an experience outside the everyday which allows teachers and school pupils to see what facilities are like at a university. Enabling school pupils to work with researchers in a university setting is often very powerful in terms of enabling them to understand what research really entails. It also helps them to view the researchers as human beings rather than being intrinsically different to their view of themselves. However, getting pupils and teachers to the university can be difficult to arrange due to the time pressures of the school curriculum and the incompatibilities of the school and university academic years. Due to these factors it is important that activities that take place at the university make full use of facilities or equipment that are not available at school.
Workshops in Schools
University staff visiting schools can remove the logistical difficulties of getting pupils and teachers out for the day. It may also mean that larger numbers of pupils can be reached through repeating the session with a number of classes or by leading assemblies. Mentoring activities where there is prolonged, in-depth engagement with the same pupils for a specific purpose may also work best if university staff visit the school. This is also true of any training that may be offered to teachers unless it relates to a particular piece of equipment or facility that can only be accessed at the university. Engaging pupils in their own environment may also be beneficial, especially at the beginning of a partnership, in avoiding feelings of intimidation. However, there is a danger that researchers will be viewed as ‘just another teacher’ if they cannot offer something different.
Browse through the links below to discover how to plan your activity, the types of activity, depth of engagement and resources: