Good practices
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 Working Group:Early Inquiry, Low Achievers in ScienceCountry:CyprusLanguages:English, GreekAge of students (target group/s):13-14Contact person information:Cyprus Center for Environmental Research and EducationThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Stage 1: Scenario It was approaching nightfall when the guard of the state library was doing his routine check on all the bookshelves before it was time for him to go home. Although he performed this routine check for almost 30 years, that night he noticed a closed trunk sitting on the lowest shelve of the library right where all the books about ecology were. He approached and opened it, and in there he found an old dusty book which was written in 1893. Today, this book is considered among scientists as a "treasure" because in it, the author - Theofrastos Diogenous, describes the ecosystem of the Mediterranean shrublands found in Cyprus. In the final chapter of the book he mentions: "According to the scientific data that i have studied, i believe that in the future, the natural environment of Cyprus will be very different. Rainfall will significantly decrease and water will be difficult to find. And when it does rain, the rainfall will be torrential and catastrophic. The temperature will increase and the climate most likely will change. All ecosystems will be different. It seems that the unknown organism "X" will be a threat for the future ecosystem of the Mediterranean shrublands. Stage 2: Inquiry Various questions were raised: What is this unknown organism X that the scientist was referring to? In what ways can this unknown organism x be a threat to the future ecosystems of Mediterranean shrublands? Could it be that the environmental conditions we are experiencing today are the same conditions Theophrastus Diogenous predicted in 1893? What role does mankind play in the issue being described above? Stage 3 : Decision-making Students’ task is to study the ecosystem of the Mediterranean shrublands as it is today and examine the changes that took place, in relation to the data that T.Diogenous provided in his published book in 1893. In order to complete your task, you are required to give factual answers on the above questions in order to solve the puzzle.Strong points and opportunities:• Utilizes "inquiry" as an educational methodology • Activates the motives of students • Raises the interest and participation of low-achieving students • Utilizes structured work sheets and integrates technology with complimentary electronic material consisting of videos, animations, population models-simulations etc. • Relates to the everyday life of students. • Relates to current events of everyday life. • Contains field work in order for students to collect actual (real) data. • Contains the execution of an experiment. • Contains play (game). • No need of previous knowledge. • Raises the self-confidence of students. • Cooperative Learning. • Uses population models. • It's in accordance with the methodology and philosophy of Next Generation Science Standards (NSTA,2013). • Students learn and apply scientific practices. • Helps students to: o Understand the nature of science o Learn the appropriate scientific methods scientists use to figure out an ecological problem. o Work as young scientists and experience first hand proper scientific practices. o Promotes concern and awareness about the environment.Limitations:• Structured inquiry The structured inquiry is considered that it has a level of weakness because it limits the degree of self-acting and ownership of students and teachers. However structured inquiry is considered the optimum educational approach if the teachers and students are not fully prepared to implement an open inquiry. • Somewhat long duration (5 χ 80΄)Added value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:• Activates the motives of students • Raises the interest and participation of low achieving students • Utilizes technology and can address digital learnersAny prerequisites needed:• No prerequisites needed. Only basic pre-knowledge | ||
Teaching materials
MASS project intends to identify, analyze, evaluate and disseminate practical tools and methods in teaching science which will effectively lead to arise students' motivation and acquire higher level of basic skills in science. We will explore what happens in science lessons at schools and increase the knowledge of good practice in teaching science in three research areas: Science for Digital Learners, Early Inquiry and Low achievers in Science (See more: Main topics).
Main project activities include:
1. Identification of the national examples of good practices
The initial phase of the project is to analyze the strengths, weaknesses and potential in the particular area of science education method in each partner country. It will include identification of good practices on raising students motivation for science on the national level. Examples identified will be collected in the online database.
See more: Good practices repository
2. Development of pilot teaching materials and testing phase
Findings from the research phase of the project will form the ground for development of the pilot version of educational materials in each Working Group.
Piloting stage of the project, with the involvement of target group, will raise the quality and exploitability of the products.
3. Development of the final version of teaching materials
Final version of educational products will be developed after summing up the piloting phase. They will be available in each partner language. The final project results will bring a change at the classroom level. Teachers will be aware of the key factor for motivation of their students to learn science. They will use a wide range of methods effectively and appropriately to the learning needs and preferences of their students. More teachers will be confident and successful in use such of methods. They will make teaching science more relevant and accessible to students.
Final products will be widely presented and disseminated during the Open Conference III in the middle of 2016.
Pilot materials
To help teachers to become empowered, skillful and self-confident, we work on:
- Study (recommendations)
- Examples of good practices
- Module of teacher training
- Hands-on lessons / tutorials
for Digital Learners, Early Inquiry and Low Achievers in Science.
If you want to help us to improve these materials by taking part in piloting, please contact leader of each Working Group:
Leonie de Vries (Digital Learners), e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lenka Pachmanova (Early Inquiry), e mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Daiga Kalnina (Low Achievers), e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or the MASS project partner in your country:
Czech Republic, TEREZA Educational Center
Lenka Pachmanova e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cyprus, Cyprus Center for Environmental Research and Education (CY.C.E.R.E.)
Chrisis Kleovoulou, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Estonia, Estonian Physical Society
Kaido Reivelt, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Germany, University of Cologne Geographical Institute
Astrid Hensel, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Greece, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Thalia Mavrakou, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Latvia, Children's Environmental School
Inese Liepina, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Netherlands, SME Advies
Bregje van den Brand, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Poland, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw Centre
Elżbieta Wołoszyńska-Wiśniewska, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.