Science Starts at School

The innovative nature of this project is shown by the fact that it is directed to teachers with the aim of providing them with new skills regarding experimental teaching of science. And to be really effective it is necessary that the work starts at the early levels of education to promote interest in experimental sciences from an early age. Thus the project will have first and second cycle teachers as its priority targets. It will be based on the main needs and difficulties identified by the teachers in a survey already carried out by Erasmus+ training centres. Moreover, the fact that it will bring together teams from different countries with different experiences in the areas of education and science and different roles in the educational process will promote exchange of experiences and collaboration at institutional and transnational level. On the other hand, all contents will be developed in collaboration with the national and international partners and later validated by the teachers, which will allow better adaptation to the individual needs.

Enhancement of teachers’ competences is regarded as a key factor in the strategies deployed in order to strengthen scientific education. And the enhancement of teachers’ training is among the first actions taken by countries which pursue a national strategic framework for promotion of scientific education. Educators must understand that schools need to go beyond data and information accumulation and move toward generation of useful and applicable knowledge. In order to identify the real difficulties which science teachers face the training centres involved in this project made a survey to teachers of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles. The results showed that although they recognise the importance of experimental science teaching, the vast majority find many difficulties in its implementation. Lack of adequate educational resources was a limitation presented together with lack of training and inadequate teaching methodologies for the reality of today's children. It is also important to take into account that the Ministry of Education and Culture has stated that it aims at a curricular flexibilisation, granting schools autonomy in 25% of the curricula. The present proposal is in line with this reality: help teachers to implement renewed education in science and technology, both from the point of view of teaching methodology as well as the necessary scientific knowledge. Establishment of an international network to share and exchange information, innovative tools and experiences on non-formal learning methods in science and results of programmes already implemented and validated in the partner countries is expected to help teachers acquire new skills in science teaching, favour realisation of experimental activities and use new technologies. The fact that the project partners represent various actors in the education process can contribute to facilitate the transition between different levels of education and provide information on future scientific and technological studies or careers. Moreover, a bank of resources will be created (curricula, teaching actions, manuals…) and made available at the training centres/schools after project completion to be transmitted to other teachers/schools/regions/countries through realisation of new training activities.