SAIS Resource Loan Library: Guide for Educators

2 days ago
3 min read

Looking to bring STEM to life in your classroom? The STEM Ambassadors in Scotland Resource Loan Library offers a wide range of physical kits and support to enhance your teaching experiences – completely free of charge!

What is the Resource Loan Library?

The Resource Loan Library (RLL) is a collection of resources designed to complement STEM Ambassadors in their volunteering. Educators can request physical kits alongside a STEM Ambassador to enhance classroom activities. These kits are easy to use and do not require any specialised knowledge, making them accessible for all teaching environments.

How does it work?

You can either request a kit through our MS Form or by email; both are attached in our FAQ below. When we receive your request, we will get in touch and ask you to create an activity on the digital platform if you have not already done so. This works like a short description of your activity, giving STEM Ambassadors helpful context.

You will then be able to view interested ambassadors and message them through the platform to discuss further details.

How can a STEM Ambassador support you?

STEM Ambassadors enrich the experience for your learners by providing real-life expertise, acting as relatable role models, and helping learners understand how STEM is applied in everyday careers and inspiring future pathways.

You do not need to request an ambassador to use a specific kit; instead, they can provide valuable context and insight to enhance your planned activity. For example, you may want to request a STEM Ambassador in the field of engineering to come into class and give a talk when you have requested K’Nex kits.

There’s also no need to limit yourself to in-class visits! STEM Ambassadors can add to your activity via an online presentation/Q&A as well.

The team are always happy to support the adding of planned activities on the digital platform and can advertise these to appropriate STEM Ambassadors via newsletters. Please get in touch if you have any questions that are not addressed in the below FAQs or if you need help: STEMAmbassadorsResourceLibrary@sserc.scot

Ready to get started? Explore available resources or submit a request today, and bring STEM to life in your classroom!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and helpful tips

How do I find out about resources?

All our available resources are listed on our website page here STEM Ambassadors in Scotland Resources

By filtering for “Physical” resources you will see all our kits that we can loan out. By clicking onto one you would like to know more about, a description of the kits along with a listed suitable age range as well as kit list will appear.

How do I request resources?

To request resources, you can fill in our MS Request form here

or you can email us at STEMAmbassadorsResourceLibrary@sserc.scot and let us know what kits you’d like to borrow, how many and how long for, along with posting details.

How do I request a STEM Ambassador?

To request a STEM Ambassador, you need to post an activity on the STEM Ambassador Digital Platform. First create an Educator or Youth Group Leader account on www.stem.org.uk

Add your activity to the platform, making sure to include your school in the “participating school” section; this allows accurate record keeping of a school’s activity (both for us and yourself!)

This step-by-step guide shows the process in more detail.

How do I receive kit?

We use Royal Mail (Click & Collect) services to post our resources.

Once we receive your request we will get in touch and discuss a suitable date for delivery to address indicated on the MS Forms or in request email.

Please keep the packaging materials for returning the kit.

How do I send it back?

We use Royal Mail (Click & Collect) services to return our resources.

We will get in touch around the indicated date on your request to see if you are ready to return the resources and discuss suitable date for pickup.

For pickup you must repackage the items as arrived and seal the boxes. The return labels will be emailed to you by our RLL team after booking, and you will be asked to stick these onto the boxes and leave them in a reception area (for School pickups) for the driver to collect.

Does it cost anything?

There is no cost associated with resource requests because the Resource Loan Library is funded by the STEM Ambassador programme. This does require you to add a request for a STEM Ambassador when you request a kit.