Evaluation

The Pandemic Prevention Debate Kit was funded by The Royal Institution, UK Research and Innovation, and the Reckitt Global Hygiene Institute.

The Kit asks the question: Were all treated fairly?

The Kit was disributed from January 2022, and evaluated in July 2023. Continue reading →

The Climate Warming (Ban Flying) Debate Kit was funded by the Royal Institution, IBM, Lloyd’s Register Foundation, and UK Research and Innovation. It was produced alongside the CHRISTMAS LECTURES Zone, in partnership with the 2020 RI CHRISTMAS LECTURES series: Planet Earth: A User’s Guide.

The Climate Warming Debate Kit asks the question: Should flying be banned for ten years?

The Kit was distributed from March 2021, and evaluated during December 2021 and January 2022.

Summary:

• We estimate that at least 221 Debate Kits have been used with students.
• Feedback from teachers who have used the Kit is highly positive. Teachers value the ways in which the Kit links to the curriculum, provides varied perspectives around the issue, and encourages students’ lateral thinking.
• Every teacher responding to the feedback survey, reported that they intend to use the Debate Kit again.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant and ongoing impacts on schools and teaching. Teacher feedback across our projects indicates a need to focus on the core curriculum due to lost time from school closures, students isolating, and navigating changing restrictions. This is reflected in feedback we have received which indicates that many teachers have not yet had time to make use of the Kit.
• 75% of teachers who told us they haven’t yet used the Kit report that they intend to use it in the future.

Read the full report [PDF] ❯ Continue reading →

The Food Hygiene Debate Kit was funded by e-Bug and Safe Consume.

The Kit asks the question: Is it safer to eat at home or out at a restaurant?

The Kit was distributed from June 2020, and evaluated during December 2021 and January 2022.

Summary:

• We estimate that at least 308 Debate Kits have been used with students.
• Feedback from teachers who have used the Kit is consistently positive. Teachers value the ability of the Kit to encourage critical thinking and appreciation of others’ opinions.
• 94% of teachers responding to the feedback survey, reported that they intend to use the Debate Kit again.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant and ongoing impacts on schools and teaching. Teacher feedback across our projects indicates a need to focus on the core curriculum due to lost time from school closures, students isolating, and navigating changing restrictions. This is reflected in feedback we have received which indicates that many teachers have not yet had time to make use of the Kit.
• 57% of teachers who told us they haven’t yet used the Kit report that they intend to use it in the future.

Read the full report [PDF] ❯ Continue reading →

The Self-Driving Cars Debate Kit was funded by the Institute of Physics, the Royal Institution, and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. It was produced alongside the CHRISTMAS LECTURES Zone, in partnership with the 2019 RI CHRISTMAS LECTURES series: Secrets and lies?

The Self-Driving Cars Debate Kit asks the question: Should our town centre be for self-driving cars only?

Through our evaluation we have learnt:

• We estimate that at least 515 Debate Kits have been used with students.
• Teachers valued the Debate Kit. Teachers report that the Kit has encouraged debate and respect for each other’s opinions. Teachers value the way in which the Kit “puts STEM learning in a real-life context”.
• Kits have been used across a range of age groups from KS2 to KS5, and with adult learners.
• Reception to competitions were mixed. 21 entries were received for the KS2/3 competition to design a road sign, however no entries were received for the KS4/5 competition to report on the debate.

Read the full report [PDF] ❯ Continue reading →

The Unisex Toilets Debate Kit asks the question: Should schools make all their toilets unisex?

The Debate Kit was funded by the Royal Institution and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. It was produced alongside the CHRISTMAS LECTURES Zone, in partnership with the 2018 RI CHRISTMAS LECTURES series: Who am I?. Continue reading →