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My name is Andy Darvill, I live in North Somerset,
England.
I taught Science (with a Physics specialism)
at Broadoak Maths & Computing College in Weston-super-Mare
for 16 years, and now teach Physics at Sidcot
School along with running the tech on all kinds of school
events.
 andy@darvill.clara.net
 facebook.com/andy.darvill
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I'm keenly interested in the use of ICT in
education. Where we can't illustrate the work with practical
exercises, I'd much rather give the students a computer simulation
than simply hope they'll take my word for it. There are many
exciting developments in collaborative learning which don't
involve spending any money on hardware: you should take a
look at socrative
for real-time questions, quizzes and lesson "exit polls"
- all done via the students' own smartphones.
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Quick History
 Gained
private pilot's licence (single engined) 1978.
Physics degree Bristol University, graduated 1981.
Whilst at university, gained more flying experience with the RAF
University Air Squadron.
After graduation worked for 18 months at South Bristol
College as an AV technician, before joining BBC TV as a cameraman.
Worked on just about every type of programme for 10 years, ranging
from pre-recorded drama to sport, Outside Broadcasts and other assorted
live mayhem. Involved in running the dinghy sailing club, and set
up a part-time business producing wedding videos.
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Then the BBC made national cutbacks and I
moved into radio for a year.
Yes, a cameraman working in radio.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Then I returned to Bristol University for PGCE teacher training.
All this has come in really handy for training students in
sound and lighting operations for school events, and of course
for teaching light & sound topics.
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Whilst on my PGCE I created & taught a part-time adult evening
course entitled "Get the best from your video camera",
and ran a juggling club at my teaching practice school. There are
students who believe the rumour that I ran away from the circus to
become a science teacher...
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I was one of the trustees of the charity that runs the Curzon
Community Cinema in Clevedon, UK,
running the
web site, helping out with ushering from time to time, and
was one of their team of projectionists.
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I've written a fair bit of online revision and
exam material for the widely-acclaimed SamLearning
site, including nearly all of their "GCSE Science for
the 21st century" resources. Currently working on their
"Revise+ Science" project. |
 Since
early 2002 I've been working with Nelson
Thornes publishers on a variety of projects, including
the "Cut,
Paste and Surf!" series writing the Science book
and CD-ROM, and the Starter & Plenary CD-ROMs to accompany
their Spotlight
Science series of textbooks for Key Stage 3.
I also shot many of the video clips for the "Powerpack"
to accompany the Scientifica series of KS3 books, and worked on their Key Stage 3 course
"Fusion".
I've developed BTEC and IGCSE interactive resources for them,
and much else besides.
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I've written interactive whiteboard acitivites
for Collins
education for the 2006 GCSE science curriculum; and KS3
powerpoints and virtual experiments for the 2008 curriculum. |
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