Good practices

Engage
Working Group:Early InquiryCountry:Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, United KingdomLanguages:Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Lithuanian, Romanian, Spanish, SwedishAge of students (target group/s):13-14, 15-18Links, resources:http://www.engagingscience.eu/
The ENGAGE project is part of the EU Science in society agenda to promote more Responsible Research and Innovation’ (RRI). ENGAGE is about equipping the next generation to participate in scientific issues to change how science is taught. Traditionally students gain an image of science as a body of content, whereas RRI deals with uncertain areas of knowledge, where values and argument matter as much as facts. This shift is hugely challenging. ENGAGE focuses on a more inquiry-based methodology, which gives students opportunity for self-expression and responsibility for coming to informed decisions. This project aims to help teachers address contemporary science issues and applications relevant to students, to develop teachers’ beliefs, knowledge and classroom practice for ‘RRI’ and to provide students a strong foundation to engage in science issues that they will meet during their lives. It is mostly targeted in the fields of Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedicine, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Ecology, Energy, Environmental sciences, Information technology, Microtechnology, Nanotechnology, Nuclear technology, Physics and Technology. The project is organized in different stages in which the following tools are provided: (a) Learning materials, online courses and workshops as well as an online teacher’s community; (b) An experts’ toolkit of examples, explanations, anecdotes and activities to promote effective learning among students and (c) Open-ended projects to put teachers and students in contact with practicing scientists and to create partnerships. ENGAGE provides an online teacher community built around: Open curriculum materials and other learning resources, Massive Open Online Courses for teacher training and partnerships between schools who participate in science projects.Strong points and opportunities:• The multitude of tools the program offers, many of which support Inquiry Based Learning practices
• The readiness of the products to be used in the classroom depending on the students' needs and skills.
• The opportunities offered to contact practicing scientists.Limitations:No particular limitations are recognized. There are comments and suggestions regarding the evaluation of certain materials that are already implemented. The project has been operational since 2013 (and will be until 2016), thus the evaluaton is not comlepted.Added value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:The program offers important tools for the teachers' digital library in an area -inquiry Based Learning- where the availability of such tools is - according to the teachers' feedback- quite limited compared to other practices adopted in the classroom.Any prerequisites needed:PCs and Internet connection.




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