The COSMOS project
Working Group:Low Achievers in ScienceCountry:Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Sweden, United KingdomLanguages:Bulgarian, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, SwedishAge of students (target group/s):13-14, 15-18Links, resources:http://www.ea.gr/ep/cosmos/
The project aimed to give students more challenging and authentic learning experiences by creating a new experimental science laboratory and expanding the existing teaching resources. Main objectives of the COSMOS project were to develop a user-friendly online repository of both scientific and educational resources by unifying some existing educational tools and on-line materials for science teaching (Discovery Space Portal, and the educational repository of the Schools Observatory Project). The COSMOS project provides materials both for secondary and university level science teaching. The COSMOS Portal contains educational material in the form of educational content (photos, videos, animations, exercises, graphs, links) and learning activities (structured lesson plans organized according to specific pedagogical models complying with the IMS Learning Design specification). The "Go Observing" section offers an opportunity to create and develop new content based on astronomical observations that could be realized through the network of the COSMOS robotic telescopes. Through the Mobile COSMOS service the COSMOS Educational Content is also available for mobile phones (see http://www.cosmosportal.eu/cosmos/node/14461).Strong points and opportunities:• COSMOS provides experimental science opportunities in areas that are fascinating for students.
• The material available is in different formats that can be useful for integrating in the classroom.
• The potential to develop new content based on observations.
• The use of mobile phones to support educational content.Limitations:Demanding time-wise; difficulty to be linked to curricula.Added value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:The project offers a multitude of tools for the teachers digital library in an area that is exciting for all students in all countries and can attract the attention and facilitate the involvement of low achievers in science classes.Any prerequisites needed:PCs, internet connection, mobile phones (optional).




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.

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.