Secondary

5th May 2000, 1:00am
EXPRESS YOURSELF! The Young Scientist’s Guide to Giving Talks. By Tony Sherborne. Pupil Researcher Initiative, Sheffield Hallam University. pound;1.50 or 75p per copy for a class set of more than 15 copies. Tel: 0114 225 4880.

An increasingly popular strategy with science educators, particularly with the growing emphasis on key skills, is to give students a taste of life on the other side of the lab bench and get them to teach a topic, present a talk or summarise some research. The skills that these activities encourage are valuable both in the learning environment and in the wider world - but developing them can be daunting. <> Express Yourself! is aimed directly at students to help them plan and deliver a talk about a topic in science - but much of the advice would be valuable right across the curriculum.

With its common sense and sound advice, handy hints from fellow pupils and tips from well known television presenters, this booklet could be a valuable tool in helping 12 to18-year-old students become more effective communicators. It gives them ideas, focuses their research, helps with planning and organising and offers support and back-up ideas.

ANN FULLICK Ann Fullick is a writer of biology and science resources for schools