The third edition of the ASE's "Teaching Secondary Biology" sets out a vision for teaching and learning biology. Learning biology is not about learning the contents of a textbook. It is about conceptual learning, learning what it means to do biology and learning what it means to be a biologist. Our hope is that "Teaching Secondary…

Plant identification is a skill that takes years to hone and develop, yet it is important in understanding diversity in biology while in school. This is highlighted when studying ecological succession in A-level biology where students are often unable to notice the different species, which leads to the production of poor-quality data, potentially…

Focusing on health education as its context, this article considers the question of how to equip students with strategies to identify and resist misinformation. In doing so, it confronts a key problem for health services nationally and globally, which is the problem of entrenched compartmentalisation. The relationship between these two key issues…

There are several 'cool' mechanisms that result in materials luminescing or emitting light. Artificial luminescence has often been created by mimicking nature and there are many examples of applications in society. It is very likely that most of your students will have observed luminescence in one form or another, such as glow sticks,…

This article offers a concise account of the known science underpinning the greenhouse effect and global warming. The greenhouse effect is described at different levels of sophistication. It explains how greenhouse gases work and their relative contribution to warming. Climate models are introduced, as are climate sensitivity, feedback mechanisms…

A knowledge of ionisation energies helps us understand the elements and their chemistry. The usual plots of first ionisation energies give us little insight. Apparent irregularity of first and second ionisation energies of transition metals and lanthanides can be explained in terms of the electronic configurations of the ground states. Periodicity…

Genetics forms a major part of A-level biology specifications in the UK for 16- to 18-yearolds. Research has identified several reasons why learning genetics is hard. However, research has not investigated whether examiner reports are useful for identifying difficult genetics concepts for students. This research explored the extent to which…

Schools have a vital role to play in helping young people understand and engage with the pressing issues of our time. More effective and engaging climate education can help prepare them to play their part in combatting climate change. Practical science activities, such as those promoted in the CREST Awards hydrology resources described here, can…

An introduction to the noble gases and chemical bonding via Lewis theory and the octet rule are common inclusions in secondary school curricula. However, the usual approach may lead to misconceptions and difficulties when valence bond (VB) theory and valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory are taught at a later pre-university stage.…

This article responds to the DfE sustainability and climate change education draft strategy that was introduced in November 2021 during COP26. It outlines the approach of one working group to considering what meaningful implementation of such a strategy means for teachers and learners in schools. The authors suggest a number of areas that should…

A pilot study, funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, supported 10 secondary schools across England to plan and deliver open-ended investigative practical work within science curriculum time. This enabled all students to experience the benefits of investigative work, rather than just those attending extracurricular STEM enrichment activities.…

The "Evolving 5-19 Biology" report (RSB, 2021) presents eight key recommendations and a framework for the development of biology curricula for ages 5-19. The framework proposes organising the curriculum in 23 coherent themes that form learning progression pathways. These pathways build answers to seven 'big questions' related to big…

Initial teacher education (ITE) needs to respond to the huge increase in research in neuroscience that informs our understanding of learning. Educational applications of cognitive psychology, in particular from the field of memory, are strongly evident in government policy documents in England, but as yet the wider contribution of educational…

The article describes a science activity designed to increase students' knowledge and awareness of the spread of COVID-19. It helps students achieve scientific literacy through improving their views about the nature of science and their argumentation skills. It also promotes students' engagement in scientific practices such as modelling,…

Short-answer questions are commonly used for assessment in secondary biology education, but their scope limits what can be observed. If a curriculum intends to encourage students to think deeply about how biological systems function, or to integrate physiology, development, evolution and ecology, then longer-answer assessments are required. This…