The ENGAGE project from 2014-2020 was funded by the EC and led by the Open University with 11 countries including Brazil. It aimed to increase student interest in science and develop inquiry skills for responsible research and innovation through open education resources using science news topics. The resources were created collaboratively by science education researchers and teachers. They were used in Brazil to engage students in science lessons that were fun, discussed socio-scientific issues, developed purposeful science knowledge and skills, and informed views to act responsibly in the world. Feedback from Brazilian teachers found that students enjoyed learning science through these resources and developed important skills for their future.

1. Contact: ale.okada@open.ac.uk
https://www.engagingscience.eu/en/

2. The research project ENGAGE (2014 – 2020) was funded by EC and
led by the Open University with 11 countries including Brazil to
increase students’ interest in science and foster inquiry skills for
Responsible Research and Innovation - RRI
In ENGAGE, Science Education researchers with teachers create
Open Education Resources (OER) using “science-in-the-news”
Our aim is engaging science students to:
• enjoy science with “fun”
• discuss socio-scientific issues relevant to their life
• learn science knowledge with purpose
• develop scientific skills
• act in the world responsibly with informed views
Engaging Women in Science
SCIENCE-IN-THE-NEWS
GM FOOD IN BRAZIL

3. at the heart of everything that matters
Looking to the Future
Building a curriculum for social activism
Derek Hodson
principles
for science action

4. Why do science educators engage with ?
“We want students to be great citizens, how do we embed that social context in
science? I’ve just taken the context of every ENGAGE lesson and just plotted it in to
schoolwork”. Science curriculum designer
Okada (2019)

5. Engaging Girls in Science with ENGAGE OER
GM decision Game using slides GM decision Game using Augmented Reality

6. Brazilian Teachers attended – a professional development course with the OU team

7. “ENGAGE is very useful to support students with the basic scientific skills
that are really essential for survival. They enjoy learning science with fun
and develop their thinking with others. And that’s what’s critical. They
look forward to coming to class.” Science teacher and researcher
Okada (2019)
Why do science educators engage with ?

8. Brazilian students from Bahia, Pernambuco and Ceara using OER for engaging students in Science

9. Brazilian students from Bahia, Pernambuco and Ceara using OER for engaging students in Science

10. a. Girls organized a conference about GM
engaging Brazilian with science educators
for their families and friends
b. Girls created their own images to
represent what they learned about GM
decision
c. Girls created their own games to play in
the school
d. Girls were interviewed for a TV
programme to talk about
“GM sign” that they developed for deaf
people
Engaging girls in Science - outcomes
GM

11. https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Z5R3Od_5NvNA_aL3EenL-N_ybKQ
ENGAGING SCIENCE with Open Schooling
teachers from Brazil
Brazilian Teachers at the Open University
ENGAGE Conference

12. “The Open University works really well for adults because they’re doing it
because they want to do it. They have desire to further their learning.
But children do as well and I think that’s overlooked a lot of the time.
People assume that you’re an adult, you tell kids what to do. They don’t
know what’s best for them. And you have to walk them through life.
But actually they have ideas of their own and they have questions that they
want to answer of their own”. OU student and science teacher
Okada (2019)
Why do science educators engage with ?

13. References
Okada, A.(2016). Engaging Science: Innovative Teaching for Responsible Citizenship. ENGAGE. Milton
Keynes: The Open University UK.
Okada, A.(2016). Innovative Teaching for Responsible Citizenship: Policy Report. The Open University.
Website: Engagingscience.eu
Okada, A. and Sherborne, Tony (2018). Equipping the Next Generation for Responsible Research and
Innovation with Open Educational Resources, Open Courses, Open Communities and Open Schooling: An
Impact Case Study in Brazil. Journal of Interactive Media In Education, 1(18) pp. 1–15.
Okada, A. (2019). Educ“action” through open schooling for meaningful and fun learning
International Conference of Education - RRI Brasil Seminar. PUC-SP, SEP 2019