Context Many international reports highlight the need for innovation in school science teaching especially towards methodological aspect: so TEST project was born. Based on previous valid 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 comprehensive schools Network ASTRA of Pisa and involves: three university campuses: Écoles supérieures du professorat et de l'éducation (ESPE), Faculty of Education University of Malta, University of Patras (Panepistímio Patrón) - Department of Science Education the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa the Pisa Section of the National Association of Teachers of Natural Sciences the Regional School Office of Tuscany (Toscana USR) Timesis Agency, expert in project design and evaluation three School Institutes of Higher Secondary level. Aims The project aims to promote the development, testing, implementation and dissemination of innovative methods in science education, to strengthen cooperation between different prestigious insitutions, to establish a profitable exchange of best practices in science education and teacher' training and to promote the use of ICT to enhance learning, teaching and training. Activities I year preparation of materials for tutors' training and experimenter teachers' training preparation of materials for didactic experimentation sharing and discussion of all materials publication of a handbook on the implementation of the new method in science education II year didactic experimentation in classes of designed materials evaluation of the didactic experimentation elaboration of tools for the evaluation of students skills III year conclusion of didactic experimentation 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. Output 1. web platform built using a programming language that aims to be accessible in compliance with the W3C standards and principles of both the 2004 Stanca law and WCAG 2.0 and the provisions of the Guidelines for the Web sites of Public Administrations 2. Manual implementation of the methodology in a paper and in a PowerPoint presentation to be used during face to face meetings; publication of the material on the website to complete the online training. 3. Material for teaching experimentation, completed by scientific material Kits, and published on the digital platform where the routes will be completed by: LIM whiteboard material, videos, models to simulate phenomena, 4. innovative tools for checking the skills acquired by students, also in digital form. Method Inquiry is an educational approach that satisfies both the nature of the epistemological structure of scientific disciplines and all studies on science teaching and learning; it is based on firsthand and hands-on experiences for students' acquisition of relevant scientific skills. A deep quality teachers' training is fundamental to implement this didactic strategy, for the gradual appropriation of the meaningful method, with an operative and laboratorial work with interactive materials. Results and impact Expected results are: disseminating a new science teaching strategy; enhancing skills of tutor and experimenting teachers; developing theoretical sinergically linked laboratory experiments in line with national school curriculum; building of a database; diffusion of the didactic material produced. Impact and effects of transnational cooperation will be: experimentation of innovative solutions, identification of joint approaches, establishment and strengthening of transnational networks. Developed synergies will be: Thematic: TEST project addresses the same themes. Operational: TEST project is functionally integrated. Strategic: TEST project is propedeutic to an intervention on a larger scale. Long-term benefits TEST pursues, as a general goal, the realization of mainstreaming activities targeted to trigger processes of integration, dissemination and transfer of models and results. It will promote experiences, methods and training techniques tested in order to strengthen and to last over time the pilot center of experimental sciences of Pisa, creating a database of material always upgradeable on the web platform that will remain available to users, schools and involved partners.
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