Teaching Experimentation in Science and Technology Erasmus Project

Project Title

Teaching Experimentation in Science and Technology

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Natural sciences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context
Many international reports highlight the need for innovation in school Science teaching especially towards methodological aspect: so TEST project was born.
Thanks to previous valid and meaningful experiences, we created a solid partnership aimed at didactic research and at its immediate application in Science teacher training to have a high quality Science Education, also recognized at European level. Our proposal was created within the school network of Pisa and involves:
three university campuses: University of Western Brittany (ESPE), University of Malta (Science Education), University of Patras (Science Education)
Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa
Pisa Section of the National Association of Teachers of Natural Sciences
Regional School Office of Tuscany (Toscana USR)
Timesis Agency, expert in project evaluation
three School Institutes of Higher Secondary level.

Aims
The project promoted development, testing, implementation and dissemination of innovative methods in Science Education, strengthening cooperation between different prestigious institutions, to establish a profitable exchange of best practices in Science Education and teacher’ training and to promote the use of ICT.

Summary of main activities
I year
preparation of materials for tutors and experimenting teachers training
elaboration of materials for didactic experimentation
sharing and discussion of all materials
tutors training
II year
experimenting teachers training
first didactic experimentation in classes
experimentation report
didactic proposal review
III year
experimenting teachers training
second didactic experimentation in classes
monitoring and evaluation of the fallout of the trial on teachers and students
validation, dissemination and publication of designed materials
monitoring and evaluation of the project
Dissemination of results at local, regional, national and European level.

Results and impact
Output
1. dedicated web platform, for the exchange of communications between partners, the circulation of informations, the sharing of materials and research products and to disseminate the materials for tutors and experimenting teachers training;
2. methodological Manual that can be used during training courses and/or by interested teachers; it has been published in three languages (Italian, French and English) both on TEST platform and on Dissemination Platform, access is free;
3. proposals for didactic experimentation, complete with Kit of scientific material; all TEST materials have been published on the TEST platform and on the Dissemination Platform.

Training- A total of 193 hours of in-presence training were provided, plus several hours online.
Tutor -Tutors to be trained were selected among the teachers who had worked on scientific inquiry for at least three years. The training was focused on inquiry in-depth studies and evaluation.
Experimenting teachers- Teachers to be trained were selected among the teachers of the TEST school network (from kindergarten to secondary school), none had previous experience of inquiry. The training included seminars, set-ups, group work and a long reflective-active simulation of the chosen didactic propolsal under the supervision of the tutors who subsequently supported the teachers in the classroom experimentation. The training activities were conducted by the teaching managers and there were various opportunities for the exchange of trainers between TEST partners.

Experimentation
48 TEST courses of Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and Educational Robotics were designed and implemented in 125 classes of the various school orders (2894 pupils) and 2642 hours of experimentation were provided in the classroom ; Italy, which trained teachers of all school orders, involved a greater number of classes (96).

The impact that the project had on the involved subjects was good, the monitoring showed motivation and interest and the general perception was highly positive. To grasp the effects and repercussions of the training we can not only focus on the results of the questionnaires, but we will have to subsequently identify the changes actually triggered in the trained teachers and in the contexts in which they operate. TEST trained teachers, implementation of scientific inquiry, the rich educational material produced and the platform that will remain available to users will contaminate and promote new experiences that will give TEST sustainability over time

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 221212 Eur

Project Coordinator

Istituto Comprensivo L. Fibonacci & Country: IT

Project Partners

• PANEPISTIMIO PATRON
• TIMESIS SRL
• Associazione nazionale insegnanti scienze naturali Pisa
• SCUOLA NORMALE SUPERIORE
• LICEO STATALE E.FERMI
• UNIVERSITA TA MALTA
• Liceo Scientifico Dini