This is Mark.  

Mark is one of two STEM teachers here at Dumfries and Galloway Council. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. 

Mark’s role is to deliver lessons about this fascinating area of the curriculum and build the skills and knowledge of both primary pupils and fellow teachers – held at The Bridge in Dumfries, Stranraer College or in primary schools themselves. 

How does Mark do this? By using innovative technology and interactive challenges matched by his incredible enthusiasm for teaching, his passion for problem solving and technology, and his lust to support learners to use STEM to build skills needed for the future.  

Think Lego – used to learn about coding.  

K’nex – used to learn about civil engineering.  

Fire starting – (using flint and steel) used to learn about chemical changes.  

Robots – used to learn about mathematics. 

Imagine being in primary school and knowing you get to play with Lego, K’nex, Fire and Robots – THAT is exciting.   

Mark generates creative atmospheres where there is no such thing as a silly question – just learning through exploration, trial and error, in these region-wide programmes and sessions.

Think BIG, think FUN, and think ENGAGING. 

As a teacher, Marks taught in Wigtown Primary school and Lincluden Primary (where he still teaches on a Friday), spending the rest of his week as a STEM teacher working across lots of schools; also delivering sessions to fellow educators during teacher training events, in-service days or through the delivery of the project across the region. 

We asked Mark: “What do you prefer? Teaching a full primary class for a year, or teaching STEM fulltime?” and his answer was heart-warming. 

“I have always had an interest in all things technical and remember being inspired by my teachers at school. I have really enjoyed teaching STEM over the last year and half. Having the opportunity to engage myself in my own wider learning while teaching young learners and supporting fellow educators is an opportunity that I am grateful for. I see so many pupils engaging in this area every day and it amazes me – but more so it inspires me to head back to my own classroom where I get to watch a group of learners flourish and develop during a full year. Seeing a young person learn and grow is the reason I got into teaching. I hope to support every young person find their voice, enjoyment for learning, and realise their full potential.” 

There is an engineering focus to DG STEM this year following the publication of the ‘Engineering Kids' Futures’ report from the Institute of Engineering and Technology. Working with the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mark and the STEM team will be teaching pupils all about different types of bridges, before challenging pupils to design their own. Pupils will be provided resources (a bit like Lego and K’nex) so they can build prototypes, test them, and analyse their effectiveness. Better still, pupils can enter a competition to design their own bridges that ‘impacts positively on the wider school community.’

As someone who loved technology and PE at school, Mark’s eyes light up when he gives examples of how he sees STEM being used to support learning for sustainability; how simple activities can be taught in (or out of) class to explain how jobs in STEM can protect the environment for the future, which is another reason he advocates and appreciates the fundamentals behind outdoor learning for young learners in school. 

Mark tells us: “Outdoor learning improves child development, supports mental health and wellbeing, and promotes more inclusive and engaging learning – knowing this and seeing that the future looks evermore technologically advanced it seems logical and exciting to create learning opportunities for my class that supports and develops these skills. If it helps my learners to understand angles in maths by using maps and playing orienteering game, then let’s throw the doors open and get outside.” 

This secondment, alongside teaching his much-loved p4/5 class at Lincluden Primary School over the last year, has allowed Mark to build skills and knowledge that he looks forward to taking back into the classroom to teach the wider curriculum in new and creative ways. 

Best part of the job? “I love the reactions of the learners, watching them become engaged and excited about STEM. I love the ‘Oohs’ and ‘aahs’ you get – they can’t believe it when I create fire in class to explain chemical change. I love the excitement from learners when a robot kicks a ball purely because they have successfully programmed it to do so, using coding software. I have always been interested in science and technology, so being able to bring it to life using the fantastic resources we have – in such an inclusive and interactive way – brings me endless job satisfaction. I wish learners understood the impact they make on their teachers; they truly inspire us every day.” 

Mark, you create our next world leading scientists, expand the minds of mathematicians, and inspire our future engineers. You bring excitement to class, encourage out of the box thinking, promote working as a team and bring the world of STEM alive to all the learners and fellow teachers around you. The future looks brighter, more interesting, and technologically creative thanks to you.

Thank you from all the minds you expand every day.