Good practices

The GEOschools
Working Group:Low Achievers in ScienceCountry:Austria, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, United KingdomLanguages:English, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, SpanishAge of students (target group/s):13-14, 15-18Links, resources:http://geoschools.geol.uoa.gr/
The Project aimed to provide advice, teaching aids, instruments and other support for teaching geoscience in secondary schools. The GEOschools project brought together geoscientists from universities, teaching training institutions, schools, museums and geoparks. Its objectives are: (a) to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and school knowledge in the field of geosciences (b) to increase teachers' knowledge and students' interest in geosciences (c) to improve the didactics of geosciences in European schools and (d) to promote education for sustainable development. GEOschools research goal is to determine why teaching and learning of geosciences is declining in some European countries and to develop the "Geosciences literacy framework" based on survey on teachers' and students' interest in geosciences. The project also supports school-science collaboration by bringing teachers and practising geoscientists together in a variety of activities in geoparks, geotopes and museums as well as in the classroom.Strong points and opportunities: • The project supports innovative teaching of geosciences in secondary schools and raising awareness on geo-heritage.
• Research is performed on students' interests focused on analysis of the students' (aged 14-17) preferences towards selected geoscience topics.
• The selected topics reflected the geoscience content in school curricula.Limitations:No particular limitations are recognized.Added value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:The material produced in the framework of the project can help young people acquire not only the scientific knowledge but the basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship. With this understanding low achiever students may have a better chance to change to interested students.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