Strengthening links between secondary schools and universities: the case of Utrecht University Harrie Eijkelhof Faculty of Science Utrecht University

Outline Utrecht University & Faculty of Science Links before 2003 Faculty policy towards links with schools Links after 2003 Conclusions

Utrecht University & Faculty of Science

Links before 2003

Faculty policy towards links with schools

Links after 2003

Conclusions

Location of Utrecht

Utrecht University Founded in 1636 Broad university with seven faculties Medicine Veterinary Arts Social Science Law and Economics Earth Science Science 29 000 students (bachelor and master) 7 000 staf members www.uu.nl

Founded in 1636

Broad university with seven faculties

Medicine

Veterinary

Arts

Social Science

Law and Economics

Earth Science

Science

29 000 students (bachelor and master)

7 000 staf members

www.uu.nl

Faculty of Science Six departments Physics and Astronomy Chemistry Biology Mathematics Farmaceutical Science Computer Science Seven bachelor programmes (2700 students) 35 Master programmes (1200 students) 15 Research Institutes www.science.uu.nl

Six departments

Physics and Astronomy

Chemistry

Biology

Mathematics

Farmaceutical Science

Computer Science

Seven bachelor programmes (2700 students)

35 Master programmes (1200 students)

15 Research Institutes

www.science.uu.nl

Links faculty-schools before 2003 Chairs in physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology education Thirty years of curriculum development in mathematics and physics Outreach of laboratory experiments in chemistry and physics (mobile and at campus) Organisation of national two-day conferences for teachers Masterprogrammes Teacher training Communication and informal education Research and curriculum development

Chairs in physics, mathematics, chemistry and biology education

Thirty years of curriculum development in mathematics and physics

Outreach of laboratory experiments in chemistry and physics (mobile and at campus)

Organisation of national two-day conferences for teachers

Masterprogrammes

Teacher training

Communication and informal education

Research and curriculum development

Faculty policy towards secondary and bachelor education Increase the quantity and quality of bachelor students Improve the quality of bachelor education Contribute to high quality science and mathematics education at secondary school level: Curricula Professional development of teachers Increase the number of secondary teachers in science and mathematics

Increase the quantity and quality of bachelor students

Improve the quality of bachelor education

Contribute to high quality science and mathematics education at secondary school level:

Curricula

Professional development of teachers

Increase the number of secondary teachers in science and mathematics

New initiatives since 2003 Junior College Utrecht

Junior College Utrecht

Junior College Utrecht Cooperation between Faculty of Science and 26 schools in the Utrecht region Involves 100 students per year All science and math subjects taught at university (for two years, two days/week) Regular curriculum Chem, Bio, Math, Phys and much more additional topics participation in competitions research in university groups excursion to CERN School teachers and university staff involved

Cooperation between Faculty of Science and 26 schools in the Utrecht region

Involves 100 students per year

All science and math subjects taught at university (for two years, two days/week)

Regular curriculum Chem, Bio, Math, Phys and much more

additional topics

participation in competitions

research in university groups

excursion to CERN

School teachers and university staff involved

Outreach Activities JCU New modules first taught in College by experts Revised version trialled in partner schools Final version available for all schools in NL Professional development activities for teachers of partner schools Some modules will be taught at the university for a larger number of other students from partner schools

New modules first taught in College by experts

Revised version trialled in partner schools

Final version available for all schools in NL

Professional development activities for teachers of partner schools

Some modules will be taught at the university for a larger number of other students from partner schools

Examples of JCU modules Ice and climate Geoscience Complex currents Molecules in life Life cycle of stars Dynamic modelling Diophantic equations Particle physics http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =SEju70HOYQY

Ice and climate

Geoscience

Complex currents

Molecules in life

Life cycle of stars

Dynamic modelling

Diophantic equations

Particle physics

http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v =SEju70HOYQY

Main Experiences JCU Most students get excited by Junior College and start to make a real effort (so far usually not their habit) Students become more independent thinkers and gain a great deal of confidence College study climate very important: mutually stimulating 85% opt for a science and technology study (50% at UU, rest elsewhere) Schools incorporate JCU materials and experiences (if not: end of partnership)

Most students get excited by Junior College and start to make a real effort

(so far usually not their habit)

Students become more independent thinkers and gain a great deal of confidence

College study climate very important: mutually stimulating

85% opt for a science and technology study

(50% at UU, rest elsewhere)

Schools incorporate JCU materials and experiences

(if not: end of partnership)

New initiatives since 2003 Junior College Utrecht Participation in curriculum development in physics, chemistry, biology, math, NLT

Junior College Utrecht

Participation in curriculum development in physics, chemistry, biology, math, NLT

NLT (Advanced SMT) Aims: challenging science oriented students (age 16-18) showing current developments in science and technology in outside world offering view on science and technology careers Contributions from a variety of disciplines: Phys, Chem, Bio, Math, Comp Sc, Earth Sc To be taught by a team of teachers with a variety of backgrounds 60 modules developed by mixed teams e.g. JCU-modules www.betavak-nlt.nl

Aims:

challenging science oriented students (age 16-18)

showing current developments in science and technology in outside world

offering view on science and technology careers

Contributions from a variety of disciplines: Phys, Chem, Bio, Math, Comp Sc, Earth Sc

To be taught by a team of teachers with a variety of backgrounds

60 modules developed by mixed teams

e.g. JCU-modules

www.betavak-nlt.nl

New initiatives since 2003 Junior College Utrecht Participation in curriculum development in physics, chemistry, biology, math, NLT Participation in a national PhD-programme for 20 science and math school teachers DUDOC Masterclasses for pupils and teachers 30 students as school assistants Regional support centre for school teachers International summer school on science and math education research 17-21 August 2009

Junior College Utrecht

Participation in curriculum development in physics, chemistry, biology, math, NLT

Participation in a national PhD-programme for 20 science and math school teachers DUDOC

Masterclasses for pupils and teachers

30 students as school assistants

Regional support centre for school teachers

International summer school on science and math education research 17-21 August 2009

Future of linking schools - universities Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

Future of linking schools - universities Activities should be beneficial for all parties: School teachers remain up to date in their subject School curricula will become more dynamic

Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

School teachers remain up to date in their subject

School curricula will become more dynamic

Future of linking schools - universities Activities should be beneficial for all parties: School teachers remain up to date in their subject School curricula will become more dynamic Pupils are challenged by experiences at university Pupils are better prepared for higher education

Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

School teachers remain up to date in their subject

School curricula will become more dynamic

Pupils are challenged by experiences at university

Pupils are better prepared for higher education

Future of linking schools - universities Activities should be beneficial for all parties: School teachers remain up to date in their subject School curricula will become more dynamic Pupils are challenged by experiences at university Pupils are better prepared for higher education University staff remains up-to date on school teaching University staff could show enthusiasm for their fields University staff could learn from experienced school teachers

Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

School teachers remain up to date in their subject

School curricula will become more dynamic

Pupils are challenged by experiences at university

Pupils are better prepared for higher education

University staff remains up-to date on school teaching

University staff could show enthusiasm for their fields

University staff could learn from experienced school teachers

Future of linking schools - universities Activities should be beneficial for all parties: School teachers remain up to date in their subject School curricula will become more dynamic Pupils are challenged by experiences at university Pupils are better prepared for higher education University staff remains up-to date on school teaching University staff could show enthusiasm for their fields University staff could learn from experienced school teachers University students could participate in innovative teaching at schools University students could consider to teach in schools

Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

School teachers remain up to date in their subject

School curricula will become more dynamic

Pupils are challenged by experiences at university

Pupils are better prepared for higher education

University staff remains up-to date on school teaching

University staff could show enthusiasm for their fields

University staff could learn from experienced school teachers

University students could participate in innovative teaching at schools

University students could consider to teach in schools

Future of linking schools - universities Activities should be beneficial for all parties: School teachers remain up to date in their subject School curricula will become more dynamic Pupils are challenged by experiences at university Pupils are better prepared for higher education University staff remains up-to date on school teaching University staff could show enthusiasm for their fields University staff could learn from experienced school teachers University students could participate in innovative teaching at schools University students could consider to teach in schools Innovations in education depend on collaboration

Activities should be beneficial for all parties:

School teachers remain up to date in their subject

School curricula will become more dynamic

Pupils are challenged by experiences at university

Pupils are better prepared for higher education

University staff remains up-to date on school teaching

University staff could show enthusiasm for their fields

University staff could learn from experienced school teachers

University students could participate in innovative teaching at schools

University students could consider to teach in schools

Innovations in education depend on collaboration

Learning from each other National exchange promoted by Platform

National exchange promoted by Platform

Learning from each other National exchange promoted by Platform European exchange would be fruitful as we face common challenges

National exchange promoted by Platform

European exchange would be fruitful as we face common challenges

Learning from each other National exchange promoted by Platform European exchange would be fruitful as we face common challenges As we live in a common world we should share experiences across the globe

National exchange promoted by Platform

European exchange would be fruitful as we face common challenges

As we live in a common world we should share experiences across the globe

Learning from each other National exchange promoted by Platform European exchange would be fruitful as we face common challenges As we live in a common world we should share experiences across the globe This meeting should facilitate the start of new exchanges Let us face our common future together

National exchange promoted by Platform

European exchange would be fruitful as we face common challenges

As we live in a common world we should share experiences across the globe

This meeting should facilitate the start of new exchanges

Let us face our common future together