Non-formal Education Renewing Didactics in Science Erasmus Project

Project Title

Non-formal Education Renewing Didactics in Science

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Pedagogy and didactics; Natural sciences

Project Summary

According to the UN Secretary‐General’s Scientific Advisory Board, Science is critical to help meet the challenges for sustainable development as it lays the foundation for new approaches, solutions and technologies to identify, clarify and tackle global challenges for the future. Both in its scope of study as well as applications, science spans from the understanding of natural processes and human impacts thereon to the organization of social systems, the contribution of science to health and well‐being, and on ways to improve subsistence and livelihood strategies so as to meet the overriding goal of poverty reduction.

However, a growing distrust in science continues to spread among societies and this loss of trust can sometimes lead to dangerous consequences. For example, anti-vaccine movements are believed to have contributed to low rates of immunisation against highly contagious disease in countries such as Italy and Romania, which have both seen a recent spike in infections. During the project and the COVID-19 pandemic these issues have become more visible.Project Context

When people say they don’t like science, it is often because of a bad experience they had during the learning process. This “educational trauma” often turns into a rejective attitude towards scientific subjects and sometimes the scientific community. It’s important, then, to foster science education and improve the learning process.
Non-formal learning reveals itself to be a powerful tool in the field of education, but when it comes to science, the partners found there to be a distinct lack of non-formal learning methodologies for science education.

Based on the above context, the partners aimed to foster improvements in school science education, preventing disengagement in science caused through educational trauma. The aim was addressed through the following project objectives:
1) Develop new methods in science education that foster student engagement and inquisitiveness
2) Share and utilise best practices from Non-formal education within the school sector
3) Develop an active network of pedagogues with a commitment to innovation in science learning
4) Foster the recognition of the role of science in society and daily life

To fulfil the project objectives, a consortium of 6 diverse organisations worked together to develop, test, and disseminate two high quality intellectual outputs. Throughout the project there was a core team of circa 20 persons from the partner organisations, who contributed to the different stages of the project with specialised knowledge, skill and experience. As a result of well-functioning cooperation, the project resulted in the creation of:
– A physical and digital book containing detailed instructions for the delivery of 26 non-formal learning methods for teaching science in schools. The methods primary target group are school children aged 11-14 years old. The methods address topics covered by school curriculum within the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, geology and computer science.
– A series of 10 videos, that utilise current trends in social media and current debates to foster a broad recognition of the role of science in society
– An active forum of pedagogues who are dedicated to high quality and engaging science education. The forum currently has circa 140 members.
The new science education methods developed by the partners were tested during the project by 56 teachers and other pedagogues on 585 students and other learners.
A training course was organised in which 28 members, volunteers and staff of the partner organisations were given the opportunity to meet together and develop a complete understanding of the developed outputs, and a shared commitment to exploiting the outputs for maximum impact.
Physical multiplier events were organised in Romania, Turkey and Italy in which the outputs were presented to 96 relevant stakeholders who have expressed their intention to use and share the results of the project.

The project results have been highly commended by those who have engaged with and benefited from it. The project’s intellectual outputs, activities and visibility has created a sense of a surging movement and engagement in discussion and action for improved science learning. Students across Europe are already benefitting from an increased focus on how to make science education relevant and engaging.

At a local, national, and European level, if the population is fostering science it is automatically fostering sustainability, as science has a key role in the achievement of a sustainable world in every aspect. From green technology to medical innovations, science contributes to successfully addressing global challenges with a positive impact in everyday life. As such this project has contributed to the attainment of the EU2020 strategy and will continue to contribute to the EU’s social, economic and environmental ambitions, such as those within the EU Green Deal.

Project Website

http://nerdsacademy.eu/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 165468 Eur

Project Coordinator

INTER COLLEGE APS & Country: DK

Project Partners

• ZAGREUS
• ASOCIATIA DE DEZVOLTARE A EUROPEI PRIN TINERI – ADEPT
• InterCollege (UK) Ltd
• KOCAELI IL MILLI EGITIM MUDURLUGU
• UNIVERSITA DELLA CALABRIA