Good practices

Selected for piloting
weSPOT
Working Group:Early InquiryCountry:Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Slovakia, United KingdomLanguages:EnglishAge of students (target group/s):13-14, 15-18Links, resources:http://portal.ou.nl/en/web/wespo...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...
Contact person information:Ellen Rusman
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WeSPOT, a European project, aims at propagating scientific inquiry as the approach for science education and teaching. The project focuses on inquiry-based learning which means that learners take on the role of an explorer and a scientist and are thus motivated by their personal curiosity. It lowers the threshold for linking everyday life with science teaching in schools by using technology.
The project offers a set of tools that can be used to implement scientific learning by means of IBL. Rather than a static model, the weSPOT IBL model is a dynamic one where all different inquiry phases are connected to each other and where reflection takes a prominent role throughout all the phases.
WeSPOT works with pilots using the weSPOT Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) model in 8 domains (Food, Biodiversity, Earthquake, Sea, Energy, School, Innovation, Economy).
In one of the pilots, students conduct research on how to build a colony on Mars, considering its planetary circumstances such as lack of oxygen.

To sum up, weSPOT:
(1) defines a reference model for inquiry-based learning skills,
(2) creates a diagnostic instrument for measuring inquiry skills, and
(3) implements a working, technology-enhanced, inquiry-based learning environment for science, which allows linking inquiry activities with school curricula and legacy systems.Strong points and opportunities:- broad approach to and practical support for implementing inquiry-based learning within the science domain;
- five European countries participating in the project, providing examples of how the weSPOT IBL model and toolkit can be implemented in science teaching.Limitations:No limitations identifiedAdded value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:This EU-project focuses on inquiry-based learning skills and activities and can therefore be very useful for MASS.Any prerequisites needed:- A computer & internet connection
- Enthusiastic teachers
- An environment that inspires students to ask a question




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:

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.

Subcategories

Pilot version

Final version