Scientix is financed under the European Union's Seventh
Framework Programme for Research and Development
The Scientix observatory: online communication
channels with teachers and students – benefits
problems and recommendations
Dr. Àgueda Gras-Velázquez & Evita Tasiopoulou
European Schoolnet, Brussels, Belgium

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org
European Schoolnet (EUN)
Promoting the use of ICT
and digital technologies
in the classroom
Promoting the European
dimension in schools
Improving the quality of
education in Europe
Network of
30 Ministries
of Education in Europe
Three areas of interest:
 services to schools,
 research and innovation,
 sharing of learning resources

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org 3
EUN STEM Projects

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org 4
EUN STEM Projects

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European science and maths projects
Climate Change
Community
Response Portal

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http://scientix.eu

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Conference 2011
Workshops 2012
Portal
Scientix 1: 2010 - 2012

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Conference 2014
Workshops
Portal (disseminate
projects)
Scientix 2: 2013 - 2015
2

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Scientix observatory
Scientix National
Contact Points
Scientix 2: 2013 - 2015
Promote collaboration
between projects

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Chats and communities of practice
Chats
• Online
• Live (synchronous)
• Discussion / Q&A
between experts and
audience
• Length: 1 – 1h30’
• ≠ Webinars
“Communities of practice”
(Online discussion events)
• Online
• Asynchronous
• Discussion / Q&A between
experts and audience
• Length: hours – days –
weeks
• ≈ forums

ingenious-science.eu
inGenious
• Most significant project ever funded by European
Commission FP7 Science in Society programme
targeting education
• € 8.3 M – 50% from EC funding
• Unique consortium due to:
• Career focus
• Industry engagement

ingenious-science.eu
• Collecting practices / activities for schools from industry
• Pilot schools – test + evaluate practices  info for
new practices
• Webinars / chats: experts answering questions
from students
• Workshops, academies, summer schools for teachers
• Online Communities of practice / discussions
• Dissemination / information on careers in industry
• School – industry collaboration needs analysis
• Network of 1000 schools by 2013
• Setting up of STEM National Platforms
inGenious is partially supported by the European Commission’s FP7
programme – project ECB – European Coordination Body (Grant agreement
Nº 266622). The content of this document is the sole responsibility of the
consortium members and it does not represent the opinion of the European
Commission and the Commission is not responsible for any use that might be
made of information contained herein.
Activities
inGenious - ECB
http://ingenious-science.eu

ingenious-science.eu
Partners and associate partners

ingenious-science.eu

ingenious-science.eu

ingenious-science.eu

The DESIRE project has been funded with the support of the Lifelong Learning programme of the European Union. This document reflects the views
only of the authors, and the Commission, cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project no: 519133-LLP-2011-BE-KA4-KA4MP http://desire.eun.org/
STEM education projects:
dissemination strategy to reach teachers

The DESIRE project has been funded with the support of the Lifelong Learning programme of the European Union. This document reflects the views
only of the authors, and the Commission, cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project no: 519133-LLP-2011-BE-KA4-KA4MP http://desire.eun.org/
The European project DESIRE - Objectives
• develops models of diffusion & exploitation to ease the spreading of
science education projects results to teachers
• Identify the best practise dissemination models for project results
through exchange of practical experience
• make sure more teachers throughout Europe access inspiring methods
and tools they can integrate in their teaching practices.
http://desire.eun.org

The DESIRE project has been funded with the support of the Lifelong Learning programme of the European Union. This document reflects the views
only of the authors, and the Commission, cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Project no: 519133-LLP-2011-BE-KA4-KA4MP http://desire.eun.org/

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org
Attracting talented people to chemical
studies: Xperimania
20
About the project
Concentrating on chemistry and physics, Xperimania aims to boost young
people’s interest in science, which is a priority for Europe to remain a
knowledge-based economy fostering innovation. Xperimania helps students in
secondary school classes (pupils aged 10-20) and their teachers to understand
the wide variety of applications of chemistry, and how this fascinating
science has contributed to the evolution of many day-to-day items.
Participating in the following activities provides students with a unique
opportunity to stimulate their scientific and analytical skills [...]
2007
http://www.xperimania.net

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org 21
Xperimania V
• 4 chats
• 4 competitions
• Dissemination  thanks to inGenious
• Expected impact: 1600 students (minimum)
V

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org
2013
• 5 chats
• 6 school
visits
FuturEnergia:
aims to provide a
neutral platform
for discussion
and debate on
the benefits, pros
and cons of
materials that
contribute
towards energy
efficiency.

www.europeanschoolnet.org - www.eun.org

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Communities of practice
• Limited time.
• For quick answers  short CoPs or better online / f2f discussions.
• Teachers the audience? Get teachers to moderate
• Every project has forums… difficult to maintain
… your experience?
Table 2: Number of teachers
participating actively and posts
submitted in the fours DESIRE ODEs.

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Chats
• Audio from experts. Not from students (or even teachers…)
• Available afterwards.
• “Small” groups.
• Internet / equipment problems  then written.
• Language  2 experts talking very very slow…
• Tool used: Elluminate, Webex, …
… your experience?

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http://scientix.eu

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European Schoolnet Science - Programme Manager / Scientix project manager
Àgueda Gras-Velázquez, European Schoolnet, Brussels, Belgium
(agueda.gras@eun.org)
Takk
http://scientix.eu
More information
European Schoolnet – Business Intelligence Manager / inGenious Technical Infrastructure Manager
Evita Tasiopoulou, European Schoolnet, Brussels, Belgium
(evita.tasiopoulou@eun.org)