Good practices

Selected for piloting
Green Classroom - Pulheimer Bach
Working Group:Early Inquiry, Low Achievers in ScienceCountry:GermanyLanguages:Czech, English, GermanAge of students (target group/s):6-12Links, resources:http://www.erlebnispfad-pulheime...
The “Green Classroom Pulheimer Bach” is an interdisciplinary integrative teaching concept which employs a gradual competence building approach by utilizing an outdoor learning and teaching environment in the close vicinity of participating schools. The project was developed against the background of the European Water Framework Directive (EU-WFD). The study object is a small creek (Pulheimer Bach) which has been restored from a channel to a natural creek in the frame of the activities of the EU-WFD. The EU-WFD aims at achieving good ecological condition and good surface water chemical status of the European rivers. It has led to activities regarding water body restauration across Europe. These restauration activities are often accompanied by public participation projects. Thus, due to their direct impact upon the immediate living environment of the students, these activities lend themselves to integration into school programs.
Due to the geographic extent of the EU-WFD, the Green Classroom Pulheimer Bach can serve as a role model for schools which enjoy similar opportunities in their respective neighborhoods. Starting from the concept of analyzing complex man-environment interactions using a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education approach, with particular emphasis on science (here: Geography and Biology), the project has developed into a STEAM approach by integrating arts and music. This integrative approach reaches both, students with a particular interest in science as well as those with a particular interest in art. Often these two groups find little common ground and little overlap in interest. By addressing the same study object (Pulheimer Bach) in the frame of the different disciplines, additional entry points are provided, which motivate students to also look at the issue form the viewpoint of the less favored subject.
The core project started by integrating geography and biology classes. It was organized as an elective course and integrated as such into the regular school curriculum. The project goals of developing a didactical-methodological concept to utilize the opportunities of river restauration for competence building in schools is achieved using a five phase approach, with a) orientation and problem definition, b) analysis of the systems’ components from a geographical and a biological perspective using observation and experiment based approaches wherever suitable c) excursion d) project and experiment days and e) presentation in the frame of a school and learning festival. During the orientation phase, student groups explore the river according to their specific assignments. In phase 2 the scientific foundation is established in the coordinated geography / biology classes using a variety of different methods and approaches. Excursions to the nearby creek focus particularly on relevant research oriented issues such as the re-introduction of crawfish. These research oriented tasks lead to the formulation of recommendations to the responsible local authorities. In the given case, these students recommendations have in fact resulted in the successful re-establishment of a crawfish population in the Pulheimer Bach. Phase 4 leads to the documentation and presentation of the students’ results which are publicly presented in phase 5.
In the frame of high school education, the project integrates teaching activities at different grades, starting at grade 5 by building basic competences such as identifying the relevant elements of the system, continuing in grade 8 by further developing science competence (e.g. analyzing interactions of system components) and leading to advanced competences in grade 10 by analyzing and predicting the behavior of complex systems for instance. The repetitive engagement with the same study object and the different disciplinary perspective as well as the variety of methodological approaches used lead to an increased identification of the students with the object of study, a better appreciation of the mutual benefit of the different disciplines and an engagement of students with different aptitudes and interests. Low achievers in science are addressed by hands-on experience, group work and unconventional entry points (e.g. music / the sound of water). Early learners were initially included by starting the project in 5th grade. Now even kindergarten groups participate, so that a continuity of learning experience from kindergarten, through elementary school to high school is provided. Digital learning approaches are embedded through the use of digital media for documentation and presentation of the results.Strong points and opportunities:- Integrating different science disciplines and arts and music
- Continuous advancement of scientific competences through a grade overarching concept
- Local foundation in the immediate neighborhood of the schools
- Variety and mix of methods addressing different aspects of the system
- Experiment based learning with entry points of different student types (from low achiever to digital learner)
- Highly motivating through immediate relevance for local living conditions, group work and community participation
- Extensive collaboration with schools in the district
- Opportunities to address specific needs of low achievers
- Integration of early learning approachesLimitations:- Not every school has a river or creek in the immediate vicinity
- High demand for coordination and integration of different subjects and disciplinesAdded value with regards to the 3 topics of the MASS project:- Particularly suitable for WG 2 through repeated visits to the same sites from kindergarten onwards
- Very suitable for WG 3 through variety of approaches used reaching from different science disciplines to arts and music




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