Context/backgroundTo get the European economy back on track the European Union needs to improve its performance in Research and Innovation, a “must” well underlined in the “Pocket Guide on a Europe 2020 Initiative”. The European research performances need to be boosted to master the many challenges ahead and to keep its place in the fast changing world. If the European companies are to remain competitive in the global economy the EU and national policies should focus on creating an environment that promotes tecnhnology, research and innovation. Human capital for research and innovation requires a highly skilled workforce whose education is grounded in sound science and critical reasoning skills. Many international reports identify the potential shortage of human resources in key scientific professions and call for modernizing science and tecnology teaching in schools. (Science in Europe, National Polices, Practices and Research-EURYDICE Report).Number and profile of participantsGeneration Innovation” aims to be a concrete response to these challenges improving the quality and efficiency of Science Education, making Mathematics, Science and Technology more attractive and promoting the knowledge triangle: education-research-innovation. Thanks to a synergistic partnership among four schools, used to cooperate with research centers, incubators, niversities, a better focus on the skills and competences required in the research and technological fields is ensured. Ionnovation and entrepreneurship in the different forms of learning are fostered to meet the goals of Europe 2020 and The Strategic Framework for European Cooperation in Education and Training.ObjectivesThrough European cooperation the partners aim to:- enhance students’ awareness and understanding of Science and Technology- support interest in science studies and related professions- fight the decline in innovation and, consequently, economic competitiveness- improving levels of skills- create and share common innovative teaching materials- increase competence in foreign languages- encourage the awareness of differences and similarities among students and that we are able to go beyond them- promote European citizenship among students and teachers- promote tolerance and respect towards other point of view Activities, - Methodology - ResultsStudents and teachers have the possibility of:- sharing and widening their knowledge, cooperating in planning and experimenting new teaching pathways in relation to contemporary societal issues; - exchanging best practices; - offering guidance measures to encourage more young people, particularly girls, to courses in the so-called MINT subjects (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology); - making students aware of the rights to the benefits of science and technology progress as one of the Human Rights; - launching a students’ science magazine as a place to meet, learn, discuss problems and how science can help to solve them; - carrying out a focused survey on students’ perception about scientists and how they study and use Science and Technology.- creating a rich spectrum of learning pathways/material and teaching environment, where Science and Technology are taught in context with an integrated approach, and new teaching techniques will produce positive attitudes towards Science and Technology, influencing future career choices. We are aware that attitudes to science acquired in school can determine a person’s relationship to Science and Technology in adult life. Impact and long term benefitsOn participant learners:- Raising pupils’ interest in Science and Tecnology subjects and consequently increase uptake of Science and Technology studies at upper secondary and tertiary education levels- Allowing students to see how Science and Technology are used, and bring a taste of working life into the classroom- Increasing students’ interest in pursuing Science and Technology careers- Enabling students to co-operate with peers from different countries- Contributing to respecting and valuing diversity- Preparing them for the challenges in a multicultural working world, which in turn leads to a sustainable societyOn teachers:- Improving the quality of Science and Technology teaching and teacher training- Increasing the international cooperation among teachers- Selecting and adapt OER didactical materials which will be used in CLIL activitiesOn participating institutions:- Providing students with new learning pathways- Revising and strenghening the professional profile of the teaching profession- Developing synergies and cooperation between education and higher education, research centers and world of work- Improving the European dimension in the school curriculum.
Context - Background The project “Innovative Generation ” has been submitted by a partnership of European secondary schools located in Belgium, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Spain in order to satisfy the following current education needs: - enhance students’ awareness and understanding of Science and Technology - support interest in science studies and related professions - fight the decline in innovation and, consequently, economic competitiveness - improve levels of skills - create and share common innovative teaching materials - increase competence in foreign languages - encourage the awareness of differences and similarities among students and that we are able to go beyond them - promote European citizenship among students and Teachers - promote tolerance and respect towards other point of view The initial analysis of the project was that to get the European economy back on track the European Union needs to improve its performance in Research and Innovation, a “must” well underlined in the “Pocket Guide on a Europe 2020 Initiative”. The European research performances need to be boosted to master the many challenges ahead and to keep its place in the fast changing world. If the European companies are to remain competitive in the global economy the EU and national policies should focus on creating an environment that promotes tecnhnology, research and innovation. Many international reports identify the potential shortage of human resources in key scientific professions and call for modernizing science and tecnology teaching in schools. Generation Innovation” aimed to be a concrete response to these challenges improving the quality and efficiency of Science Education, making Mathematics, Science and Technology more attractive and promoting the knowledge triangle: education-research-innovation. Thanks to a synergistic partnership among five schools used to cooperate with research centers, incubators, universities, a better focus on the skills and competences required in the research and technological fields has been ensured. Through the European cooperation the partners aimed to: -- sharing and widening their knowledge, cooperating in planning and experimenting new teaching pathways in relation to contemporary societal issues; - exchanging best practices; - offering guidance measures to encourage more young people, particularly girls, to courses in the so-called MINT subjects (mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology); - launching a students’ science and cultural magazine as a place to meet, learn, present lab activities; 5 issues of the magazine have been published (one more than planned in the application) - carrying out a focused survey on students’ perception about science and how they study and use Science and Technology. The survey involved about 186 students and techers. All the answers have been compared and anlayzed and graphically represented - creating a spectrum of learning pathways where Science and Technology are taught in context with an integrated approach, and aimed to promote a positive attitudes towards Science and Technology. 12 pathways have been created (2 more than planned in the application) The Impact and long term benefits of Innovative Generation project has been: On participant learners - Raise the pupils’ interest in Science and Tecnology subjects and consequently increased uptake of Science and Technology studies at upper secondary and tertiary education levels - Allow students to see how Science and Technology are used, and bring a taste of working life into the classroom - Increase students’ interest in pursuing Science and Technology careers - Enable students to co-operate with peers from different countries - Contribute to respecting and valuing diversity - Prepare them for the challenges in a multicultural working world, which in turn leads to a sustainable society On Teachers - Improve the quality of Science and Technology teaching and teacher training - Increase the international cooperation among Teachers - Select and adapt OER didactical materials which will be used in CLIL activities On participating institutions - Provide students with new learning pathways - Revise and strenghened the professional profile of the teaching profession - Develope synergies and cooperation between education and higher education As far as the mobilities are concerned, we were able to set up: - three Transnational meetings of Teachers, kick-off, intermediate and final meeting - students' mobility, 5 multilateral meetings of a total of 16 students for each partner were planned, actually the excellent cooperation between the partners, the careful control of the budget and the proper use of resources allowed to involve 137 students and teachers 37 more than planned in the application (+ 37%), which represent the real added value of the project.