Binding Blocks UK: A National, Inclusive Programme for Nuclear Physics Education

Binding Blocks项目旨在激发公众和年轻人参与最前沿的核物理研究。在成功实施关键阶段5核物理大师班计划之后，这个新项目“Binding Blocks UK：一个全国性的、包容性的核物理教育计划”旨在扩大教育资源的提供，以涵盖整个中学年龄范围，并与伙伴机构合作，提供一个全国性的计划。该项目将持续两年，并将开发针对普通中等教育证书和关键阶段3物理学生的新课程相关资源。无论是否有2020年和2021年我们看到的Covid-19限制，将在线和面对面活动和活动相结合的混合模式都将实现合适的交付模式。资源的开发和材料的交付将与伙伴组织合作，包括英国各地的大学和STFC实验室（见参考信）。这将不仅使广泛的地理覆盖范围，而且有能力根据不同地区和教育背景的需求和挑战定制内容。内容将包括视频、测验、实验室参观（现场和虚拟）、现场网络研讨会和讲座、计算机模拟、建模活动和实际工作，并将通过一系列不同的榜样来突出核物理学的应用和职业前景。因此，这个新计划的主要目标是：1)通过以下方式吸引新的受众：(a)为关键阶段4 （KS4）和关键阶段3 （KS3）物理学生（以及苏格兰同等学历）制定计划；(b)支持那些“最有能力但最不可能”上大学的学生（在所有中学阶段），以及(c)创建全国地理覆盖。2)我们将在整个STFC核物理研究界创造一种参与文化，支持英国各地的个人发展和公众参与能力建设。所有在线内容都将使用一个新的平台，这将减少对专业软件的需求，并将提高不同受众对材料的可访问性。相应的教师培训方案以及相关的工具包贷款计划也将使资源能够在课堂上得到利用，使方案可持续发展。该计划的大部分覆盖范围将在该计划的最后18个月，前6个月（主要）侧重于新材料和平台的开发。在该计划的范围内，我们预计将直接接触到约15,000名学生，800名教师和100名有影响力的人，并通过教师主导的活动，利用我们（开放获取）Isaac Physics实施的大部分材料，进一步接触到计划之外的人。根据我们试点活动的反馈，我们希望这个项目能提高A-level物理的使用率，特别是在代表性不足的群体中。随着目前项目在英国各地的产能增加，预计在Nucleus奖之后的几年里，潜在的影响力将会更高。因此，从长远来看，Binding Blocks UK项目有可能对STFC在下一代物理学家和更广泛的年轻人中的形象产生重大影响。

The Binding Blocks project aims to enthuse and engage the public and young people with cutting-edge Nuclear Physics research. Following the successful implementation of a Key Stage 5 Nuclear Physics Masterclass programme, this new project, 'Binding Blocks UK: A National, Inclusive Programme for Nuclear Physics Education' aims to expand the provision of educational resources to encompass the full secondary school age range, and to work in collaboration with partner institutions to offer a national programme. The project will run over two years and will enable the development of new curriculum-linked resources targeted at GCSE and Key Stage 3 physics students. A hybrid model combining online and face-to-face events and activities will enable a suitable delivery mode, with or without the Covid-19 restrictions we have seen in 2020 and 2021. Resources will be developed and the material delivered in collaboration with partner organisations, including both universities across the UK and STFC laboratories (see letters of reference). This will enable not only a wide geographic reach but also the ability to tailor content to the needs and challenges of different areas and educational contexts. Content will include videos, quizzes, lab tours (in-person and virtual), live webinars and lectures, computer simulations, modelling activities and practical work, and will highlight the applications and career prospects of nuclear physics through a diverse set of role models. The key objectives of this new programme are therefore to: 1) Engage new audiences by: (a) developing programmes for Key Stage 4 (KS4) and Key Stage 3 (KS3) physics students (and Scottish equivalents); (b) supporting the students (across all secondary school stages) who are 'most able but least likely' to attend University, and (c) creating national geographic coverage. 2) We will create a culture of engagement across the entire STFC Nuclear Physics research community, supporting personal development and capacity building for Public Engagement across the UK. All online content will use a new platform that will mitigate the need for specialist software and will improve the accessibility of the materials to diverse audiences. A corresponding teacher training programme, with associated kit-loan scheme, will also enable the resources to be utilised in a classroom context - making the programme sustainable.The majority of the reach of the programme will be over the last 18 months of the programme, with the first 6 months focussed (primarily) on development of new material and platforms. Within the scope of the programme, we anticipate a direct reach of approximately 15,000 students, 800 teachers and 100 influencers, and with further reach beyond the programme through teacher-led activities utilising our (open access) Isaac Physics implementation of much of the material. Based on feedback from our pilot activity, we hope that this programme will lead to improved uptake of A-level Physics, particularly among under-represented groups. With the build up of capacity across the UK through the present project, the potential reach over the years following the Nucleus Award is anticipated to be even higher. In the longer term, the Binding Blocks UK programme therefore carries the potential to have a major impact on the STFC profile amongst the next generation of both physicists and young people more broadly.