The sailboat is ideal to support multidisciplinary education, and the marine environment around the sailboat is an open laboratory for studying life sciences. However, collaborations between sailing associations and schools on a long-term educational project are sparse. We can make the same observation regarding the partnership between schools and research centres. Such collaborations, when existing, are isolated and rarely sustainable initiatives. An international sailing association, a leading research centre, a region and a secondary school joined their forces in an ERASMUS + strategic partnership to address these needs. They are developing the foundation for a new educational tool to provide a tangible link between research, education and sailing. This so-called “The Pedagogical Sailboat” tool consists of three components: A virtual environment (Pedagogical modules related to the sailboat); Prototypes (elements of the sailboat used in school), and a real sailboat that turns into a classroom for practical work. The Pedagogical Sailboat has three pedagogical functions: scientific, technical and social. The consortium will develop a repository listing the competencies of a sailboat based on the secondary education curricula of the several countries (e.g. Belgium, Spain and Slovenia) where it will be implemented. A collection of three educational modules will be developed to demonstrate the functions of the Pedagogical Sailboat, based on a common theme: The sea pollution by microplastics. The first module will allow acquiring the needed skills concerning the scientific culture as defined by the PISA survey; students will then be able to apprehend scientific reference articles. The second module will stimulate thought and sound decision-making on technological issues affecting the lives of citizens; students will develop an instrument for sampling microplastics in shallow sea waters. Within the third module, students from the social education sector, will develop a proposal for a mobility project in the frame of citizen sciences for Belgian pupils in social difficulty to collect microplastics with a sailboat; The realisation of the mobility project is outside the scope of the project and will be done , as part of the social cohesion plan of the city, in collaboration with a secondary school in Spain. The project will enable teachers to work with high-level researchers and improve their knowledge of the scientific process which will also benefit students. The Repository of Competences will provide sailing clubs and associations with a framework for launching collaborative partnerships with secondary schools. Such educational projects will foster the acquisition of skills through practical application. This project will lay the foundations of the Pedagogical Sailboat concept by developing its virtual part. The adventure will continue with the development of prototypes and a full-size Pedagogical Sailboat. The long-term objective is the creation of a multi-sectoral European exchange program in the context of sailing, education and research. The "Erasmus Maris" will include a transversal priority: The protection of the marine environment. Those who want to be part of the adventure will have free access to all the developed resources available on the project website.
The decline in the number of students who choose scientific careers after completing their secondary education is a serious issue in Europe. Nevertheless, young people are very interested in current scientific discoveries, noticeably those addressing pollution and climate change. One reason for this paradox is that students beginning secondary school see science formally taught at school as less attractive. On the other hand, several studies have shown that students' access to real research projects (e.g. citizen science) increases the possibilities of improving their interest in science. The general objective of the "Pedagogical Sailboat" project is to lay foundations that facilitate the interaction between scientific research and education (both formal and non-formal). The sailboat was chosen because it can support the acquisition of multidisciplinary skills and the marine environment around the sailboat is an open-air laboratory for studying the life sciences. Besides, the sailboat is a strong motivating factor for youth as it generates a feeling of freedom and adventure and conveys an environmental message. Ayam Sailing Europe, an international sailing association, coordinated this project in partnership with a leading research centre, a regional administration and a secondary school. The consortium has developed a competency framework listing the scientific, technical and cross-disciplinary skills that make it possible to carry out a citizen science campaign onboard a sailboat. The scientists provided the educators with practical information on the skills required to develop each phase of the scientific research process. The sailors described the technical competencies which make it possible to navigate with a sailboat (e.g. use of nautical charts, use and maintenance of the onboard electric systems and simple machines ...). The teachers identified the correlation between all these competencies and the corresponding types of learning in the school programs. As an implementation of the competency framework, three pedagogical modules (scientific, technical, and social) were developed with a common theme: the pollution of aquatic environments by microplastics. The scientific module enabled students to acquire a good understanding of a scientific article and extract relevant information. The teachers and their students joined a team of researchers during a microplastics’ sampling campaign. Students from the technical education system learned how to build a microplastics sampler (manta net). Researchers in their future scientific campaigns will use this instrument on board a sailboat. Social studies’ students prepared a mobility project aimed at accompanying and guiding children with specific needs during a scientific campaign aboard a sailboat. The students were able to understand all the facets of project preparation by carrying out a feasibility study and presenting it to their municipal administration who then agreed to provide funding. The purpose of this mobility trip is to encourage special needs’ children to be as independent as possible in learning situations and to open up new horizons for them. This project enabled teachers from different disciplines to participate and develop an educational project collaboratively and cooperatively. The teachers worked with researchers who helped them improve their knowledge of the scientific process, which also benefited the students. The Ayam Sailing Europe association will further develop this project in order to empower teachers to go deeper into the scientific research process (co-created citizen science). This will be done in collaboration with stakeholders from scientific research and secondary education.