Relevant initiatives

SEED – Science by Experiments through European Dialog

Colegiul National Simion Barnutiu

2007-2009

European

Yes

Comenius multilateral partnerships

SEED – Science by Experiments through European Dialog

Colegiul National Simion Barnutiu, Romania

2007-1-RO1-COM06-00350

Didactical resource

Science

Italian, Other EU, Romanian, English

Students

Natural sciences are mainly experimental fields and their study in the class must include experimental work combined with theoretical study. These are enriching the students' knowledge, their appetite is opened for searching the answers to different questions they have about their life and the environment. For these reasons a project idea emerged among seven European schools coming from six different countries: to join the human resources in order to create an experimental booklet, containing experiments done at natural sciences, booklet which could be used at the secondary level by any European school. The central idea of the partnership is linked to the way different schools are teaching differently the same subject. Comparing the curriculum of the partner schools gives an idea what type of experiments are conducted during the Chemistry, Physics and Biology lessons. Every school has a different approach of teaching a scientific subject, illustrating it with specific experiments which are not necesarily done by other schools. This common experience of all the involved partners should be used as a base for the ellaboration of the final product– a pedagogical tool containing different visions of how a certain subject could be teached through experiments.First the experiments done in the schools are identified, are discussed by the teachers than described (in English) using an agreed layout. Grouped in three chapters the elaborated sheets will be reunited in an experimental booklet applicable by all secondary schools at their science lessons. The students are involved in the elaboration and translation phase of the sheets and they are the target group as beneficiaires of the booklet. The end product is also awailable in electronic form as a software or as a webpage containing all the teaching resources. This will give the opportunity to the science teachers to cooperate during three years. A SEED (acronym of the title) will grow to become a fruit of the partnership

Strengths
Using experiments during classes and promoting the most successful ones
Creating an experimental booklet - a pedagogical tool containing different visions of how a certain subject could be taught through experiments
Involving students in the process of the elaboration and translation of the booklet
Linking experimental work with theoretical study (demonstrating the applicability of the theory)
Increasing students’ motivation to learn science by appealing to their natural curiosity
Empowering students in the process of elaborating the booklet
Accessibility of the product (online version of the booklet)
Weaknesses
No reference to the possibility of extending the content of the booklet beyond the lifetime of the project

Strengths
High transferability potential in the classroom
Enhancing students’ motivation by stimulating their curiosity
Creating an experimental booklet, containing most successful experiments done at natural sciences
Creating opportunities for science teachers to cooperate in order to create the booklet, which will promote the most successful experiments
Accessibility of the online version of the product
Reduce teacher’s time to prepare for classes (by providing suitable experiments to use during classes)
Weaknesses
Ways to give feedback on the use of the booklet (which would help teachers customize the given content to their own students)
Ways to extend the content of the booklet

Strengths
Attractive and accessible
Useful (experiments bring science closer to students, create solid links between science and life and illustrate the applicability of science into life)
Emphasis on experiments which are highly appreciated by students
Involving students in the process of the elaboration and translation of the booklet
Weaknesses
Ways to promote the booklet
Ways to extend the content of the booklet