Archive for Top Tip Blogs

Top 6 Science Websites for Schools & Pupils

By Tom Warrender · Comments (0)
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Here are a few of our favourite science sites where you can find free resources or opportunities to bring in science talks and events to your school.

1. Science Live
This site is a great place to look for science presenters, shows and workshops for your school. You can search by region, theme and much more. There is also impartial reviews from teachers so you can see if they are any good. Check out the site and our 5 star reviews here. ScienceLive.net

2. Centre of the Cell
One of our recent finds, this site is brilliant if you are trying to find resources on cells and alternative / different careers in the health service. The website has games, interactive resources, case studies of patients, a cellpedia with explanations of everything to do with cells and curriculum links. You can also book to visit the Centre of the Cell centre in London! You can also follow them on twitter @CentreoftheCell

3. Cosmonline
If you pick up the free metro newspaper (available on buses and trains), you may read a feature called MetroCosm which explains lots of physics stories such as space missions and nuclear physics. I know, tough going if you are reading it on the way to work in the morning. However the guy that writes and draws the feature (@Ben_Gilliland ) does a fab job of making it easy with simply pictures and explanations. CosmOnline is his website version of the articles and stories as well as resources and competitions for schools.

We also love this site as we are going to be a guest blogger for the site with our Physiology in Film blogs! These will explain anything physiology based that appears in a film, such as when Daniel Craig is poisoned with Digoxin in James Bond – Casino Royale.

4. Science Oxford & Science Oxford Next
If you are based on Oxford and the surrounding areas, these websites are for you. The provide STEM resources as well as run a public science centre. Our favourite part of their website is the LifeLab which is a careers resource for pupils to use to find different jobs in their favourite STEM subjects. There are profiles of real scientists and information on what they do, how they got there and how much they earn. You can also follow them on twitter @scienceoxford

5. I’m a scientist get me out of here!

This site is great resource which runs events several times a year where pupils have the opportunity to ask questions directly to scientists via a video link up. It is a bit like the X-Factor for scientists! All you have to do is visit the site and register for the next event. There are some great videos explaining how it all works and what it is all about. Follow them on twitter @imascientist

6. Classroom Medics & CrMTV & Blog

Ok, this is our own website and blog which you will probably already know about. BUT did you know we have a YouTube Channel called ClassroomMedicsTV ?

You can watch free videos on careers, science resources and post workshop activities for those that have used our workshops. We are constantly adding to the videos and have a lot of exciting plans for the next few months.

You will soon be able to download a PDF resource with lesson plans and links to videos from our main website. Keep an eye out for news on this! You can also leave us a comment below asking us to create a resource of video that explains something biological, medical,  health or career related and we will see what we can do. (our twitter address is @classroommedics )

Have we missed any great sites out? Let us know in the comments section below and don’t forget to like this blog on facebook and share using the twitter link below!

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How do I check for meningitis?

By Tom Warrender · Comments (0)
Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

A family friend had their child diagnosed with Meningitis this week, so i thought a blog on how to spot the signs of this very serious condition would be a good idea. It is either a bacterial or viral infection of the thin linings that covers the brain and spinal cord. These layers are called meninges, which is where the first half of MENINGitis comes from. The ‘itis’ part means inflammation. (This system works with most physiological terms with itis at the end. The part of the word before itis usually refers to a body part or organ eg Tendonitis = inflammation of the tendons. Physiology lesson over!)

These signs are for children, but are mainly the same for adults as well.

SIGN 1. RASH

This does not occur in every case as it is specific for certain types of bacteria. However, you need to look for a blotchy red / purply rash that doesn’t blanch when pressed with a finger or glass. The easy way to check is to role a glass over the rash and if you can still see it, it could be due to meningitis.

SIGN 2. LIGHT SENSITIVITY

Another symptom is photophobia or light sensitivity. So if your child is turning away from light or is upset under bright conditions, this could also be a sign.

SIGN 3. STIFF NECK

Because meningitis affects the linings that cover your brain and spinal cord, the inflammation can affect the linings as they pass down from the brain into the spinal in the neck. Any movement of the head and neck would irritate the linings and cause the feeling of stiffness.

SIGN 4. BRUDZINSKI’S SIGN

Again this is linked to the inflammation of the linings of the brain and spinal cord. This sounds very technical, but all you have to do lie your child on their back flat, and gently tilt their head forward with the chin towards the chest. If they flex their legs up bending their knees like this  /\  , they have a positive test and could have meningitis.

SIGN 5. GENERAL ILLNESS

Other symptons include headaches, fever & chills, decreased consciousness, drowsy, irritability, agitation and increased respiration rate.

For younger children and babies, they can have a fever with cold hands and feet, a dislike of being held as well as having an unusual cry.

The important thing to note is not all of the symptoms will appear so it can be difficult to spot. If you want more info, a great website is provided by the Meningitis Trust www.meningitis-trust.org

You should always consult a doctor or hospital if unsure. The number for NHS Direct is 0845 4647 and is open 24/7 365 days a year.

Don’t forget to share this blog on facebook and twitter!

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So you fancy running a marathon – Top Tips for running a marathon for the first time.

By Tom Warrender · Comments (0)
Sunday, April 17th, 2011

So you have just watched the London Marathon and have thought…. ‘I would love to do that, it looks like so much fun!’ All those people, the atmosphere, the colours, the race and of course ‘it’s all for charity mate’. So here are a few tips to set you on your way!

1. Go and drive 26.2 miles to see just how far it is so you can appreciate the enormity of the task. It is further than you think!

2. See your doctor to get a check up and the all clear as the training is very stressful on your body.

3. Plan well ahead and have a backup plan if you want to do London. Demand is very high and if you have not run a marathon before, it can be difficult to get an automatic place as it first timers are drawn from a lottery. There are usually lots of other marathons around spring and autumn as these are the optimal times for marathon weather!

4. An alternative is to run for a charity. You will have to raise a certain amount of money to get your London place. The amount can be quite high, and I have seen charity places with a value of £1500 attached to it. A quick Google search for charity places will lead you down the right path.

5. Start training well in advance and plan ahead. You should give yourself at least 6-7 months training time, if not more as a beginner.

6. The right trainers are essential. Don’t run in tennis shoes, gym shoes or the classic Nike cortez. Your feet will in bits and your back won’t be much better. Get a decent pair of running shoes, preferably from a running shop as these guys know what you need, JJB and Sports Direct don’t! You may pay a little more, but they will be worth it. Once you have them, you can buy them online in the future!

7. Go to your local running club and find someone to run with. There may be a beginners group you can join to help you get started and keep you going through the tough long miles of training. If you are not sure where you local running club is, check this site out: www.clubfinder.org.uk

8. Take a look around on running websites and running magazines for training guides for beginners. Search Google for ‘marathon training for beginners’. If you have never trained before start your training off with gentle jogs for 5-10minutes. Don’t be afraid to jog for 30seconds and walk for 30seconds. Just get started whilst looking for a training plan.

9. Look for shorter races throughout your training. Start with a 5km, then a 5mile, then a 10km, then a 10 mile, then a half marathon. They are lots of fun and can help you get used to preparing for an event.

10. Keep well hydrated before and after training. You really don’t need to take a bottle of water on short runs. You won’t die of dehydration and it is just extra weight to carry! Once you get into it, you will probably be able to run up to 10miles without a drink in training.

11. Do lots of stretching after your runs and expect aches and pains along the way. The most common are shin splints which feel like a burning sensation down your shins. Running on grass or softer ground when you first start can help prevent this until your bones are stong enough to cope with the roads.

12. And lastly, enjoy it! Running a marathon is a great achievement. I have run two marathons and they were amazing ……the next day however is not so amazing!

If you have any other suggestions leave them in the comments section below or at www.facebook.com/classroommedics and don’t forgt to share this blog on the usual places.

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Categories : General Physiology, Top Tip Blogs
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Tips for Revision – A parents guide.

By Tom Warrender · Comments (0)
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
This is a Computer Fundamentals class taking a...

Image via Wikipedia

Have your kids got exams coming up? Are you more stressed than they are? Don’t know how to help? Well fear not! Take a look at our top tips for parents to help you and your kids get through the exam season.
1. Give them their own space to revise in.
Having somewhere quiet and tidy for them to study in is key for success. If possible, set aside a room, or table for them to study at. This should be theirs for the duration of their revision.
2. When should revision start?
Revision for GCSEs and A-levels should start around February / March time. At the start this shouldn’t been too major, just reading notes or work for 30 minutes or so on an evening. We have designed a revision planner to help you and your kids revise you can download it by clicking on the following link REVISION PLANNER
I used to split my day into morning, afternoon and evening sessions and then revise for two of these a day. Each part of the day would be 3 hours long and was split into the smaller 30-50 minute sections. I would have at least an hours break doing something else between a morning and afternoon and evening sessions. It is key you have mini breaks as their brain needs a rest to absorb the info you have given it….this doesn’t mean an hours break, just a short break or 10-15minutes. If they are feeling HARD CORE they may even do some revision in all three sessions!
3. Keep the house as quiet as possible when they are revising
Ask your child when they are going to revise so you can keep the house as quiet as possible and try not to keep on disturbing them with drinks and snacks! They are only studying for short blocks and wont starve or dehydrate in that time!
4. Keep an eye on music, mobile phone & computer use during revision
Listening to music and using the computer to revise are not advisable. The brain has too many distractions if music is playing, the computer is on and revision is trying to take place. The best way for their brain to soak up all that revision is in golden silence! If they say it helps them concentrate….well I am sorry that usually isn’t the case as they (and I know I did) usually end up
singing along and changing tracks. Revision also goes a lot quicker with out distractions.
5. Help them plan their revision
Sit down with your child and our REVISION PLANNER to help them plan. Make a list of what they think they are good at and what they need help with. Keep subjects and topics together in one session and don’t switch between too many subjects in one day. Being organised is key. If they go to any clubs try and keep these in the plan as they will be a welcome distraction to revision!
6. Keep an eye on study groups
Just like music and computers, study groups may be suggested and seem like a good idea, and they can be. However it is not uncommon for revision to turn into a chat about other things. They are good for testing each other near the end of revision periods, but not general revision.
7. Sleep is important
Burning the mid night oil is not a good idea. Their brain needs time to re-wire itself and process all of the information that has been thrown at it in the day. 8 hours sleep at least is a must!
8. Don’t tidy their desk / space
If you think their revision area is a bomb site….DONT TIDY IT UP! Your child may have some system of piling notes together into topics. Maybe suggest that they tidy up at the end of the day and start with a fresh tidy desk in the morning.
9. Give them a treat / bribe at the end of day or week, or for exam results
Some parents agree to give rewards or treats, (although the rewards of good exam results leading to better jobs and future should be enough) a little encouragement can be useful. Agree these at the start and how they will be monitored. You may let them use the PlayStation, go on the computer, or take them to the cinema at the end of the week. I have even seen parents put prices on grades achieved! (eg: £20 for an A, £10 B, £5 for a C) Bribery is always useful!
10. Help them revise where possible
Ask them if they need any help with revision. You could time revision periods, mark multiple choice questions, read their work to check for spelling and grammar. Don’t do this all the time, but remind them every now and then that you are their to help if they need it, even if it is just for them to talk about a subject you don’t even understand! By speaking aloud they may all of a sudden understand something they didn’t before! Our brains work in very weird ways!
11. Trust them!!
Trust is really important. If you can help them plan you can see what they are going to do. Don’t keep tabs on them all the time, but ask how their revision on today’s topic went.
12. Buy them an exam pencil case
An exam pencil case should be see through and contain the following: 3 x HB pencils, rubber, pencil sharpener, 5 x black ball point pens, 5 x blue ball point pens, ruler, protractor, calculator. Don’t use fountain pens, they leak, smudge and can be difficult to read if written with a speed a the end of an exam.
Look out for our revision tips video on our YouTube Channel Classroommedicstv and don’t forget to subscribe to the blog! If you have any more tips or ideas, please share them in the comments section below! We would love to hear about your experiences.

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