CASTME AWARD SCHEME 2005

Commonwealth Association of Science Technology and Mathematics Educators (A Commonwealth Association, funded and supported by the Commonwealth Foundation)

1.  The Scheme

An award offered by CASTME for a project, which conveys the social and human context of science, technology and mathematics.

2.  Eligibility

Teachers and officials (advisers, inspectors, etc.) working in primary, secondary and tertiary education are eligible to enter. 

Individuals or groups may submit projects.

Projects should be based on practical work carried out in a commonwealth country.

Only one project can be accepted in any one year from any individual or group.

Projects previously submitted to CASTME may not be re-submitted.

3.  Topics

There are no set topics for the competition.  Reports of work carried out by the teacher or official should be based on personal experience and should include a substantial account of teaching and/or other educational work, such as curriculum development or programmes of teacher training.

Projects based on ideas, proposals or general arguments, which have not been tried out in practice, are not acceptable.  Each project must be the original work of the entrant and must not have been published previously.

4.  Publishing

CASTME reserves the right to publish winning entries in their journal or associated publications either in part or in full.

If a substantial part of a project is being published or submitted as a thesis, this should be mentioned on the entry form.

It is not possible to return the projects.  It is advisable to keep a full copy.

5.  Awards

The Awards will be as follows:-

                        First Prize                 £500

Second Prize             £400

Third Prize                £300

Up to two prizes of £100 for special mention entries.

Alexander Prize         £300

6.  Judging Criteria

Judging is based on the following criteria:

• evidence of the social relevance of the project
• evidence of originality and creativity
• evidence of evaluation of the idea or material in use
• evidence of use in practice and cost effectiveness
• standards of presentation, organisation and structure of the report
• overall impression of the project

7.  Presentation of Projects

The project must be written in English.  Examples of pupils’ work and other supporting materials do not need to be in English.

The project may be word-processed, typed or written on A4 or quarto sheets of paper. 

Copies which can be stored electronically in their entirety, can be sent by email.

The project should not exceed 10,000 words in length.

Photographs and other illustrative material should be included wherever relevant, together with any evidence that shows that the ideas have been effective in practice.  Pupils’ work may be included but cannot be returned. Pupils’ work need not be translated into English.

Reference should be made to the source of information or of original experiments whenever this is necessary for a proper assessment of the project.

8.  ASE/CASTME Award : The Alexander Prize

This award is specifically for women educators working under difficult conditions.  The award is named after the Alexander family who worked in science education in many commonwealth countries for over 50 years.  It is supported by the ASE, the UK Association for Science Education.  In addition to the general criteria of the main CASTME Awards, the Alexander Prize will be awarded to a woman or group of women who has made a significant contribution to encouraging the scientific, technological or mathematical education of girls or women in a situation of scarce resources.

The prize is awarded annually and is for £350.

All appropriate entries for the main CASTME Awards will be automatically considered for the Alexander Prize, using information given on the back of the entry form.  Alternatively, applications for the Alexander Prize may be made in the form of an essay explaining the reasons for the nomination, which may be of the author herself or of some other woman or group.

9.  Submission of Projects

Projects must be sent with the entry form to arrive before 30 September 2005.  Entries that arrive after the closing date may be considered by the judges or entered for Awards in 2006.

Projects should be sent to CASTME Awards Co-ordinator, LECT, 7 Lion Yard, Tremadoc Road, London, SW4 7NQ, UK, or sent for 2005 entries, by email to mjnbrookman@yahoo.co.uk

Receipt of the project and entry form will be acknowledged and you will be given a registration number.  No further action will be required from the person submitting the project.

The results of the Award will be announced in November 2005.  You will be informed of the results.

It is not possible to return your project.  It is advisable to keep a full copy.