Science education in iceland
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A presentation from a Scientix meeting held in Reykjavík September 26th. 2015 Credit to Birgir Ásgeirsson and Ester Ýr Jónsdóttir who presented with me from the NaNo project, and collaborators in research Gunnhildur Óskarsdóttir and Allyson Macdonald.
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Science education in iceland
- 1. Science education in Iceland: Status, challenges and projects Birgir U. Ásgeirsson, Ester Ýr Jónsdóttir & Svava Pétursdóttir Scientix meeting in Reykjavík, September 26 2015 #scientix #scientix_rvk
- 2. Structure • Icelandic educational system • Teachers education • STEM education/curriculum • Challenges in STEM • What are we doing?
- 3. 329.100 people 167 schools 30th August 2015
- 4. Educational system Age Type Financial Responsibility Compulsory 1-6 Pre-primaryschool Municipality NO 6-16 Primary school Municipality YES 16-19/20 Secondary school Government NO ≥ 19 Higher education Government NO ≥ 18 Adult/continous Varies NO
- 5. Teachers‘ education Age of students Type Education requirements by law 1-6 Pre-primaryschool M.Ed. 6-16 Primary school M.Ed. 16-19/20 Secondary school (General academic and vocational education) Bachelor in subject + M.Ed. or Master in subject + diplom in education ≥ 19 Higher education Ph.D. / None ≥ 18 Adult/continous None
- 6. Context for teaching science in Iceland • Standardized testing • From 2002 - 2008 • Long tradition of using textbooks • Only one publisher of science textbooks • Textbooks and 1999 curriculum were well- aligned • New materials for middle school after 1999 • Digital materials now provide teachers with more choice, even if material is in English
- 7. STEM education • National curriculum • Competnece based • Six fundamental concerns
- 8. Challenges in STEM Lack of science teachers • Science teachers About half are trained as science teachers Generally weak PCK
- 9. Challenges in STEM Teachers‘ isolation • Small schools, 157/167 fewer than 600 pupils Often only once science teacher
- 10. Challenges - facilities Image: http://www.ruv.is/frett/stytting-nams-hluti-af-tillogum
- 12. Challenges in STEM Out-dated resources
- 13. Learning materials 0 1 2 3 4 5 Textbooks Videos (online or DVD) Online educational resources Puplic learning resources Resources for practical work Teaching guides Handbooks Educational software (including apps in smart devices) Very often Very seldom
- 14. Physical resources 29% say there is no science room 24% say there is no outdoor classroom/area 1 2 3 4 5 Often Seldom
- 15. Challenges in STEM Lack of students
- 16. NaNO-project • The NaNO-project focuses on upper and lower secondary level science education in Iceland. – It is funded by the 2011 Birthday Fund, University of Iceland and other funds. • Project managers NaNO work with other specialists on – developing courses, a resource bank, Science Plaza (Náttúrutorg) and EduCamps.
- 17. Science Plaza and EduCamps
- 18. Perceived needs • I am the only science teacher in this school and have nobody to talk to • I learn most from talking to other teachers • It is ridiculous that we are each working in our own corner • This subject is difficult to teach, my knowledge is not strong enough
- 19. Aims of the Plaza – to strengthen science education • To increase cooperation between science teachers. • To establish a collection of teaching resources. • To facilitate increased professional development opportunities. • To support the use of ICT in science education.
- 20. Ester Ýr Jónsdóttir Birgir Ásgeirsson Svava Pétursdóttir Hafdís Ragnarsdóttir Margrét Júlía Rafnsdóttir Support for STEM from School of Ecucation Sjálfbærni
- 22. Teachers : • Ask questions • Give advice • Share resources • Discuss issues 400+ members Science teachers Trainee teachers University Institutions Community on Facebook
- 23. What demonstrations do you use when teaching chemical reactions and where do you get the materials? Many ideas and discussions about pupil reactions 13 comments, 15 ,,likes”
- 24. The word density has always disturbed me..... Discussion about the use and meaning of scientific concepts + guidance in using Facebook;)
- 25. Just saw a fun experiment on youtube, here is a link to instuctions to a lot of experiments , a handy website. Cool, to put a stopwatch on the projector if you are measuring heartrates with pupils
- 26. Menntakvika 2011 Any ideas for teaching nuclear energy to year 10? 13 replies. Material for a whole teaching sequence.
- 27. F2f activities • Meetings, Edu-Camps and workshops • Peer learning • Give access to expertise • Support community building
- 29. • Narrow themes/topics • Different target groups by school level • Participants contribute • Ideas and advice flow freely during events • Events held in schools = no cost • Contributions recorded and presented on the SciencePlaza Educamps
- 30. Impact from Edu-Camps • Courage and knowledge to do practical work. • Opportunities for peer learning and professional development. EduCamps have been great in all regards. It was good to meet other teachers and get good ideas. My participation has had a positive influence on me as a teacher, better teacher, better teaching. I have used these ideas with good results.
- 31. The webpage http://natturutorg • A necessary front • Growing content • User created “I have visited the webpage and used materials from it.”
- 32. Good to be able to go to the resource bank, that you do not have to look everywhere for resources and ideas and try to remember where this and that webpage is and so on…. I think it should be linked to all the ideas from the Edu-Camps and where teacher could share more ideas and pupil tasks. A resource bank with teaching ideas, worksheets and such
- 33. No longer paddling alone! Still lone canoers out there, active community too small Collaboration, cooperation, community of practice
- 34. Visits to companies and institutions
- 36. Courses • Teacher-students and in-service teachers