You can book one live CHAT per term, giving students the chance to chat to the scientists and researchers from Hertford and Wadham Colleges six times during the year.
CHATs are 30 minute sessions for students to chat with the scientists and researchers in real-time. They’re text based (so no audio or video required), and allow students to ask their questions through a format they’re comfortable with.
Before each live CHAT session
- Book IT suite/provide internet access for students
- Book your CHATs each term by emailing kathryn.boast@hertford.ox.ac.uk, with the dates and times that suit you, and class ability (low, medium, high or mixed). You can book all chats for the year now, or book later chats later in the year. We suggest you book early as slots get snapped up fast.
- Test the CHAT system
- Do some preparation with your class where you introduce the scientists and researchers.
Lesson Objectives
- Interact with scientists and researchers using CHAT.
- Find out what it’s like to study at Oxford University.
- Increase the relevance of science to everyday life.
- Broaden the students’ perceptions of scientists and science and contribute to students’ science capital.
Curriculum Links
- Apply principles and concepts to unfamiliar situations.
- Make informed judgements about science, careers and university,
Resources
- Live chat booking (book in advance each term at iasuk.ddev.site/hertford-live-chat/)
- Access to the website for individuals or pairs
Starter: 5 minutes
- Go over the important criteria from Lesson 1, Suggested Questions and any questions students have prepared.
- Explain that students are going to chat online with some real scientists and researchers from Oxford University.
- Remind students the scientists have given up their time to chat with them today and prompt students to express their opinions on the work that the scientists do and to find out what they’ve been up to recently.
Activity: 35 minutes – the CHAT
- Log on to the website (hertford19.iasuk.ddev.site) using the details on the students’ login stickers
- Live chat with the scientists, as individuals, pairs or small groups. Students should tag their messages by clicking on a scientist’s name before sending a question, and click on a message to reply to it.
Support: Suggest questions or ask scientists the mindmapped questions from Lesson 2: Meet the Scientists.
Extend: Read scientists’ profiles to ask questions about their specific areas of study — what can students learn about the different projects scientists are working on?
Log in using your Teacher account to:
- Follow and join the chat — anything you say will have a special teacher icon by it.
- Remove inappropriate comments with the icon next to a chat line.
- Temporarily ban students with the icon next to a chat line.
- Download a copy of the transcript once the chat has ended.
Should you need to identify a student during the chat, look at the top right-hand corner of their computer screen to see their username.
Plenary: 10 minutes
- Students cast their vote for who they think should win this term.
- Are there any other questions they didn’t get to ask? Post these in ASK.
- Sum up what students have learnt about the scientists and going to university. Did students learn anything that surprised them? What have the scientists and researchers been up to since they last spoke?
- Remind students that they should use the site to ASK questions at home if they have access to the internet.
Suggested Homework
Pick one of the scientists’ or researchers’ specific areas of work. Find out more about their department or course on the Hertford or Wadham College website. Post a question about this in ASK.