Let’s play with Materials
Vamos Brincar aos Materiais
Instituto Superior Técnico
Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais
Alberto Cabral Ferro
[email protected]
Let’s play with Materials
Vamos Brincar aos Materiais
Summary
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Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
Project Components and Strategy
Teachers training program
Challenges for the Future...
Let’s play with Materials
Vamos Brincar aos Materiais
1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
Motivation… how involvement started
1996
Number of high school students choosing Science,
particularly Materials Science, is dropping
Ciência Viva – challenge and opportunity for
researchers involvement in initiatives for Science
spreading and promotion of learning through
experimentation
1st involvement with high school students
Let’s play with Materials
1.
Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
Motivation… how involvement developed
1997 1st Ciência Viva Forum – challenge to focus on basic
education
University Policy – supportive or neutral towards
initiative
Private Motivation – family, pleasure, achievement
1998 Ciência Viva and Other Policies
till Primary School teachers reactions and dedication
today Interaction of students with the project in the
classroom
Project parenthood
and stands…
Let’s play with Materials
1.
Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
Project Development – milestones
1997 1st Ciência Viva Project financed
1998
1st teachers training course at IST
2001
1sts teachers training courses at primary schools
2002 Project financed by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
2003
1st Protocol with Municipalities
Let’s play with Materials
1.
Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
Project Development :
schools, teachers and students
1997
10 schools
30 teachers
600 students
1999
20 schools
120 teachers
2500 students
2003
55 schools
260 teachers
5500 students
2005
60 schools
280 teachers
6000 students
Let’s play with Materials
1.
Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
Project Development : – (5 years Σ):
300 000 € direct investment
(60% Ciência Viva)
Training
450 teachers trained
670 training hours
12 500 teachers.hour training
Schools
85 involved
Students
15 000 children involved
Experimentation 5 000 hours in the classroom
95 000 children.hour in the classroom
Financing
Let’s play with Materials
1.
Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997
the project today
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6 professional monitors
280 teachers
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45 schools with experimental kits
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60 schools involved
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6000 students
11 experimental activities in the classroom
Let’s play with Materials
Vamos Brincar aos Materiais
2. Project Components and Strategy
Science
Technology
with Materials
Let’s play with Materials
2.
Project Components and Strategy
Technical....
...achievement
Scientific....
...Experimentation
Multiple....
...learning
Let’s play with Materials
Scientific Experimentation
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Project Components and Strategy
to question
to trace
to observe
to measure
to register
to discuss
to be rigorous
to understand
to make
to conclude
Let’s play with Materials
2.
Multiple Learning
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Project Components and Strategy
Mathematical calculus
Problem resolution
Construction of graph and tables
Reading and understanding of texts
Studying prominent Scientists
Research work
Art work
Group work
etc
Let’s play with Materials
Technical Achievement
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Project Components and Strategy
use of tools
selection of tools
motor coordination
control over equipment
understanding operation
manuals
understanding security
rules and behaviour
building skills
achievement
Let’s
play
with
Materials
Vamos
Brincar
aos Materiais
2.
Project Components and Strategy
the child. the actor
Experimentation is carried out by the child
Each five student team develops autonomously the activity, his
results are confronted with other team’s results.
A diversified and prolonged activity, occupying at least one full
day work, is proposed to the class.
Let’s play with Materials
Project Components and Strategy
In action
2.
building equipments
Let’s play with Materials
Project Components and Strategy
In action
2.
Consulting texts, analysing results
Let’s play with Materials
Project Components and Strategy
In action
2.
making objects
Let’s play with Materials
Project Components and Strategy
In action
2.
Measuring and determining
Let’s play with Materials
2. Vamos
Project
Components
and Strategy
Brincar
aos Materiais
the teacher. the director
The teacher is the key element in the
classroom.
The success and fulfilment of an activity depends on
teacher’s performance. In the classroom the teacher
co-ordinates and guides the action.
Let’s play with Materials
2.
Project Components and Strategy
the monitor. the right arm
The monitor is the teacher’ right arm, he
helps him
The monitor help in the classroom is a key aspect to enrol the
teacher in pursuing these practices in his daily teaching.
The monitor support is very important to develop
teachers self-confidence and autonomy.
Let’s play with Materials
2.
Project Components and Strategy
Physical Resources for the classroom
• Texts:
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Activity Manual and support texts
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Activity report sheet
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Questioning…
• Experimental kits (5 per classroom)
• Proposed parallel activities
Let’s
play
with
Materials
Vamos
Brincar
aos Materiais
2.
Project Components and Strategy
In action
With
Rigour
...and
...humour
Let’s
play
with
Materials
Vamos
Brincar
aos Materiais
2.
Project Components and Strategy
... rigour...
Not that way
Neither this way
Yes, like this
Let’s play with Materials
2.
Project Components and Strategy
... humour...
Let’s play with Materials
Vamos
Brincar
aos
Materiais
Vamos Brincar aos Materiais
3. Teachers training program
Objective: Teachers qualification/ability to work
with the project in the classroom
1. knowledge of the addressed subjects – science teaching
2. readiness and self-confidence to use project laboratorial
and technological ‘hardware’ – technique teaching
3. ability to develop a scientific experimental research
environment in the classroom – pedagogical coaching
Let’s play with Materials
3.
Teachers training program
Challenge:
“Teachers know nothing about science, no nothing about
mathematics, and primary school teachers have to teach
everything. The teacher grabs a book but his insecurities are
immediately caught by the children, they are very smart”
Leon Lederman in Gazeta de Física 23, 4 (2000)
referring to Chicago situation
Let’s play with Materials
3.
Teachers training program
abilities
development
self-confidence
promotion
establish
autonomy
demonstration
of feasibility
and motivation
Let’s play with Materials
3.
Teachers training program
Standard training Course:
- 20 teachers – 4 groups of 5 teachers
- 25 hours – 5/6 activities – average 4 hours per activity
- each team of teachers act as a student team
Work is developed in a classroom environment using the
laboratory and technical hardware available to the students.
The experience and enrichment accumulated during project
development is brought to the training section.
The Science component of the activities is further explored to
ensure teacher self-confidence and understanding.
Let’s play with Materials
Vamos Brincar aos Materiais
4. Challenges for the Future......
• Ensuring more financing
• Establishment of coordination teams
• Reinforcement of monitor team
• Improve yield of teachers training effort
Let’s play with Materials
VamosVamos
Brincar
aos
Materiais
Brincar aos Materiais
end
thanks for your time and attention
[email protected]