Hemda – A Unique Model of Science Education

Tel Aviv-Yafo’s Innovative Center for Science Education & Excellence

A PROJECT OF THE TEL AVIV FOUNDATION

Meeting the evolving needs of the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo through the establishment of Social Services, Educational,

Cultural, Environmental and Innovation projects.

HEMDA Center for Science Education, serves as the scientific arm to all high schools in Tel Aviv-Yafo. HEMDA has its own, specially designed campus for science education. HEMDA assumes the responsibility of teaching Physics, Chemistry and/or Computational Science to 9th to 12th grade students according to the Israeli curriculum, preparing them for Matriculation Examinations and much beyond. HEMDA is not a high school – it is a science center that serves 18 high schools across the city. HEMDA is not an enrichment center – It teaches chemistry and physics for all advanced level students in a deeper, wider and more engaging way than any regular school. HEMDA is resting on highly qualified teachers (most of them Ph.D.s) in 18 cutting-edge, well equipped laboratories. The educational concept of HEMDA is built on integrating theoretical studies with experimental work. Traditional separation between classes and laboratories is broken: teacher's demonstrations and hands on experiments for students, many of them computer controlled implementing the results in models and simulations. The unique model of HEMDA results in many advantages for the students: special program for 9th grades aiming at science-learning motivation and skills through specially designed experiments; worldwide unique program for excellent students named "computational Science"; excellence classes for in-depth physics; enrichment courses and special projects; a variety of workshops, books for the benefit of country-wide students and developing new experiments. During 2016-2017 academic year, 2000 students from 18 high schools attend HEMDA every week marking a record in its 25 years history. THE NEED

Physics at HEMDA Physics is a science dealing in understanding the world around us and allows us to figure out "how things work" – from the tiniest atomic nuclei to the great black holes collapsing in the centers of galaxies. Physics is a fundamental topic at the base of the exact and natural sciences, as well as advanced technologies. The greatest breakthroughs in those fields were based on methods and theories developed by physicists. The study of physics helps the students develop scientific thinking: study of natural phenomena, forming a theory and testing it through experiments. It also gives the student intellectual tools such as constructing an argument, testing it with scientific (experimental) tools, learning deductive processes and making use of different methods of showing results: verbal, mathematical-analytical, graphic and various methods of presenting errors. These unique insights are given to the students through frontal classes that are combined with many hands-on experiments and demonstrations in class. This combined approach is at the core the teaching methods in HEMDA. These skills are essential tools for the students in dealing with the mechanisms of everyday reality (mechanics, electricity and magnetism, radiation and matter). Further, studying physics at 5 units level is a doorway to enrolling in prestigious programs of various universities. It is mandatory for all students of the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology). Studying engineering and electricity in all of Israel's faculties, as well as enrolling in medical schools, require high level of knowledge in physics. High tech firms welcome holders of postgraduate physics degrees. 1,100 students in 47 groups from 18 high schools grades 10th-12th in Tel Aviv-Yafo attend HEMDA every week for physics studies. Chemistry at HEMDA

Chemistry – the discipline in which all physical and biological sciences interact – is introduced at HEMDA, accordingly, with a rich program that integrates theory and experimental work.

Our students begin their journey into chemistry with hands-on experiments that enables them to master the basic tools of chemical research. During the first of our 3 year program, we visit an environmental recycling center, a diamond museum and nature's most fascinating laboratory: the Dead Sea. Our students also construct an artifact to be displayed in Israel's largest 3D periodic table. During their second year, our students deepen their chemical understanding and begin to plan and conduct their own experiments, using computerized sensors. We continue our field trips with a visit to a Karst cave and a cement plant. The third and final year of the program is dedicated to advanced topics and a final experimental study. Some of the projects involve daily chemical processes, such as hair bleaching or preventing colorful stains during boundary. Others deal with pure-science topics such as spontaneous pattern formation (see image). Our field visits culminate in an environmental study of the Yarkon River. 400 students in 12 groups from 12 high schools grades 10th-12th in Tel Aviv-Yafo attend HEMDA every week for chemistry studies. Computational Science Program at HEMDA The program of Computational Science was initiated and developed by a group of HEMDA's teachers in 2002 with the goal of providing outstanding, creative, high school science students with tools for solving scientific problems, using a computer. Computational Science is a 3 year (10th to 12th grade) interdisciplinary scientific field, and is taught at the highest level for matriculation examination, recognized by all universities. Computational science harnesses the computer to solve problems that cannot be cracked in any other way. The program integrates specific scientific fields with mathematical concepts and skills using the computer as a scientific tool. The computational scientist constructs simulations, studies them and compares them with empirical data. The method being taught in project base, uses a ‘team model’ approach. This project brings together a group of students to initiate an assignment which they work on and are evaluated as a team. Students work in small research teams, gaining the experience and skills required for science and technology projects. In the last 16 years, almost 1000 Computational science students who studied this program, integrated in the university and high tech industry in Israel and abroad. Professor Haim Harari, former president of the Weizmann Institute remarked, "I regard this program as the means of promoting excellence and the expansion of scientists horizons for the best of our students." 10th to 12th grade 120 students in 6 groups from 9 high schools in Tel Aviv-Yafo attend HEMDA every week - for Computational science studies. "Arrow Project" – Science for the Young at HEMDA Starting in 9th grade, science oriented students study quantitative and qualitative science at HEMDA. The syllabus of the Arrow Project was developed at HEMDA about 16 years ago as part of four years of

studies ending in Matriculation Examination and is occasionally adapted according to the emerging needs in science studies at high school. The teachers of the program are HEMDA's regular teachers. The exposure to science at this early stage, mixed with hands-on experiments, demonstrations and unique activities (competitions and work-shops), triggers motivation and provides skills for future science studies. These studies lure the young students into choosing science as their major subject in the years to come in high school. Studies are also accompanied by in-depth mathematics integrated in classes. Studies take place in the cutting edge HEMDA's laboratories with demonstration equipment for the teachers and hands-on experiments for all the students. Low-tech experiments are deliberately chosen at this stage so that the students develop their intuition in the subject matter before they are exposed to the sophisticated computerized experiments in the following years. The students are encouraged to take part in competitions, workshops and are exposed to young scientists. 9th grade 360 students in 15 groups from 16 high schools in Tel Aviv-Yafo attend HEMDA every week – for the Arrow Project.

The Class of Excellence at HEMDA

The common knowledge is that bright high school students should find answers for extra curiosity, fast learning abilities, special cognitive skills and extra analytic mathematical abilities – within universities: meaning joining courses and gaining points for academic degrees while still attending high school.

We offer another model of challenging those students. HEMDA, being a center for science teaching for all high school students in Tel Aviv-Yafo - according to the syllabus and beyond, has issued a new program for excellence class (top 22 students). The idea is to gather excellent students into one class and teach them physics following a unique pedagogic approach, special didactic ways and personal treatment .

This class enables the students to learn physics with sophisticated mathematical tools, deepening their theoretical and experimental interdisciplinary basis. We teach them advanced topics that are not in the regular syllabus. The students take part in special experiments, getting exposure to cutting edge science topics. Projects are guided by HEMDA's teachers with cooperation from universities and research hospitals. Team work is encouraged but every student is treated differently . At the 11th grade the students receive an introductory course in elementary particle physics and take part in a 4 days seminar at the Large Hadron Collider located at Cern, Switzerland .

During the 12th grade, the students take part in a science 3 days seminar at the Weizmann Institute- designed especially for them.

Establishing the "MAKERS" Lab at HEMDA HEMDA founded a unique program for the development of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship for science students. The program goals are to encourage independent work driven

by the learner’s sense of responsibility. The program enables genuine learning motivated by inner drive and supported by teamwork to integrate science and technology. What is the ‘Makers’ Approach’? The "Makers Movement" enables each person to create sophisticated technological products, translating ideas into reality through working in workshops with emphasis on digital fabrication: drafting plans, 3D printing and laser cutting. This movement engages in all areas of design and fabrication and programming through artistic design and requires entrepreneurial and interpersonal skills. Integrating the "Makers" Approach at HEMDA

The makers approach at HEMDA enables students to apply their theoretical and practical knowledge gained in the classroom and the laboratory to “make”, innovate and develop the confidence of creativity. A Makers' Laboratory serves as our educational tool to provide students with an arena for action – in the realm of the physical and the realm of ideas. This is a “different kind of pedagogical set-up,” the first of its kind in Israel’s educational system, a set-up which enables the students to think “outside the box” and develop personal projects supported and accompanied by the professionals on HEMDA’s staff. Israel has earned the name “start-up nation.” We firmly believe that the stage we are proposing by planning this program will make HEMDA graduates the next science and technology leaders in Israel. Science Literacy as Culture at HEMDA HEMDA, the Center for Science Education in Tel Aviv-Yafo has established a center aiming at engaging the public with scientific issues, initiating a fruitful dialogue between research scientists and lay members of the community and raise the awareness to scientific dilemma. A far-reaching revolution has now made science a focus of cultural discourse in the western world. The public is hungry for knowledge and wishes to know more about science and to be involved in. People have realized that science has an impact on their way of life and even on their very existence. Issues such as global warming, GMO, genetic editing, are now at the center of the public discourse. However, in the last few years, following health and environmental crises, feeling of fear from some of the advances and distrust began to emerge. On the other hand, the scientific community is now ready to open-up and establish bridges with the general public. Scientists realized that in order to continue with their costly research, which is primarily funded by governments and private donors, they must receive public legitimization. Society's relationship with science is in a critical phase. Science today is exciting, and full of opportunities. Our center is a unique venue for promoting dialogue between scientists and society. The Center brings controversial issues and current medicine and science topics to life through a continuous program of events for adults. Over 15,000 members of the community attended HEMDA in the last 16 years and took part in our "science as culture" activities.

ABOUT THE TEL AVIV FOUNDATION

The Tel Aviv Foundation, chaired by Mayor Ron Huldai, partners with donors from around the world to meet the evolving needs of the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo. The Tel Aviv Foundation has generated momentum to the city and proudly serves as a beacon of progress, elevating the city’s quality of life through innovation, education, the arts, sports, social services, and the

environment. Responsive and purposeful, the Foundation provides for the needy and creates opportunities for a better future for all the residents of Tel Aviv-Yafo. The Foundation was

founded in 1977 and has established more than 800 projects to date, raising over $700 million worldwide.

By matching contributions dollar-for-dollar and by allowing donors to designate their funds, the Foundation ensures accountability, promotes collaboration between donor and recipient,

and strengthens the bond between the Diaspora and Israel.

To learn more about the Tel Aviv Foundation please visit:

www.telavivfoundation.org