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.
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/