Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

Instituto Superior Técnico

Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais

Alberto Cabral Ferro

alberto.ferro@ist.utl.pt

SummarySummary1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

2. Project Components and Strategy

3. Teachers training program

4. Challenges for the Future...

Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

Motivation… Motivation… how involvement startedhow involvement started

19961996 Number of high school students choosing Science, particularly Materials Science, is dropping

Ciência Viva – challenge and opportunity for researchers involvement in initiatives for Science spreading and promotion of learning through experimentation

1st involvement with high school students

Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

Motivation… Motivation… how involvement developedhow involvement developed

1st Ciência Viva Forum – challenge to focus on basic educationUniversity Policy – supportive or neutral towards

initiativePrivate Motivation – family, pleasure, achievement

Ciência Viva and Other Policies Primary School teachers reactions and dedication

Interaction of students with the project in the classroom

Project parenthood and stands…and stands…

Let’s play with Materials1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

19971997

19981998 tilltilltodaytoday

Project Development – milestonesProject Development – milestones

19971997 1st Ciência Viva Project financed

19981998 1st teachers training course at IST

20012001 1sts teachers training courses at primary schools

20022002 Project financed by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

20032003 1st Protocol with Municipalities

Let’s play with Materials1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

Project DevelopmentProject Development ::schools, teachers and studentsschools, teachers and students

19971997

19991999

20032003

20052005

10 schools

20 schools

55 schools

60 schools

30 teachers

120 teachers

260 teachers

280 teachers

600 students

2500 students

5500 students

6000 students

Let’s play with Materials1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

Project DevelopmentProject Development : – (5 years Σ):: – (5 years Σ):

FinancingFinancing

TrainingTraining

SchoolsSchools

StudentsStudents

ExperimentationExperimentation

300 000 € direct investment (60% Ciência Viva)

450 teachers trained 670 training hours 12 500 teachers.hour training

85 involved

15 000 children involved

5 000 hours in the classroom 95 000 children.hour in the

classroom

Let’s play with Materials1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

the project todaythe project today

• 6 professional monitors

• 280 teachers

• 45 schools with experimental kits

• 60 schools involved

• 6000 students

• 11 experimental activities in the classroom

Let’s play with Materials1. Let’s play with Materials ... since 1997

ScienceScienceTechnologyTechnology

with Materialswith Materials

2. Project Components and Strategy

Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

Multiple....Multiple....

...learning...learning

Scientific....Scientific....

...Experimentation...Experimentation Technical....Technical....

...achievement...achievement

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

• to question• to trace• to observe• to measure• to register• to discuss• to be rigorous• to understand• to make• to concludeS

cien

tific

Exp

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xper

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nLet’s play with Materials

2. Project Components and Strategy

• Mathematical calculus• Problem resolution• Construction of graph and tables• Reading and understanding of texts• Studying prominent Scientists• Research work• Art work• Group work etc

Mul

tiple

Lea

rnin

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ultip

le L

earn

ing

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

• use of tools• selection of tools• motor coordination• control over equipment• understanding operation

manuals• understanding security

rules and behaviour• building skills• achievement

Tec

hnic

al A

chie

vem

ent

Tec

hnic

al A

chie

vem

ent

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

Vamos Brincar aos Materiais

the child. the actorthe child. the actor

Experimentation is carried out by the childExperimentation is carried out by the child

Each five student team develops autonomously the activity, his Each five student team develops autonomously the activity, his results are confronted with other team’s results.results are confronted with other team’s results.

A diversified and prolonged activity, occupying at least one full A diversified and prolonged activity, occupying at least one full day work, is proposed to the class.day work, is proposed to the class.

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

In a

ctio

nIn

act

ion

building equipmentsbuilding equipments

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

Consulting texts, analysing resultsConsulting texts, analysing results

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and StrategyIn

act

ion

In a

ctio

n

making objectsmaking objects

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and StrategyIn

act

ion

In a

ctio

n

Measuring and determiningMeasuring and determining

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and StrategyIn

act

ion

In a

ctio

n

the teacher. the directorthe teacher. the director

The teacher is the key element in the The teacher is the key element in the classroom.classroom.

The success and fulfilment of an activity depends on The success and fulfilment of an activity depends on teacher’s performance. In the classroom the teacher teacher’s performance. In the classroom the teacher

co-ordinates and guides the action.co-ordinates and guides the action.

Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

the monitor. the right armthe monitor. the right armThe monitor is the teacher’ right arm, he The monitor is the teacher’ right arm, he

helps himhelps him

The monitor help in the classroom is a key aspect to enrol the The monitor help in the classroom is a key aspect to enrol the teacher in pursuing these practices in his daily teaching.teacher in pursuing these practices in his daily teaching.

The monitor support is very important to developThe monitor support is very important to develop

teachers self-confidence and autonomy.teachers self-confidence and autonomy.

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

Physical Resources for the classroomPhysical Resources for the classroom

• Texts:Texts:• Activity Manual and support textsActivity Manual and support texts

• Activity report sheetActivity report sheet

• Questioning…Questioning…

• Experimental kits Experimental kits (5 per classroom)(5 per classroom)

• Proposed parallel activitiesProposed parallel activities

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

Vamos Brincar aos Materiais

With

RigourRigour

...and...and

...humour...humourIn a

ctio

nIn

act

ion

In a

ctio

nIn

act

ion

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

Vamos Brincar aos Materiais

... rigour...

Not that way

Neither this way

Yes, like this

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

... humour...

Let’s play with Materials2. Project Components and Strategy

Vamos Brincar aos MateriaisLet’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

3. Teachers training program

Objective: Teachers qualification/ability to work with the project in the classroom

1. knowledge of the addressed subjects – science teachingscience teaching2. readiness and self-confidence to use project laboratorial

and technological ‘hardware’ – technique teachingtechnique teaching3. ability to develop a scientific experimental research environment in the classroom – pedagogical coachingpedagogical coaching

Let’s play with Materials3. Teachers training program

Challenge: “Teachers know nothing about science, no nothing about mathematics, and primary school teachers have to teach everything. The teacher grabs a book but his insecurities are immediately caught by the children, they are very smart”

Leon Lederman in Gazeta de Física 23, 4 (2000) referring to Chicago situation

Let’s play with Materials3. Teachers training program

self-confidence self-confidence promotionpromotion

abilities abilities development development

demonstration demonstration of feasibility of feasibility

and motivationand motivation

establish autonomyestablish

autonomy

Let’s play with Materials3. Teachers training program

Standard training Course: - 20 teachers – 4 groups of 5 teachers - 25 hours – 5/6 activities – average 4 hours per activity- each team of teachers act as a student team

Work is developed in a classroom environment using the Work is developed in a classroom environment using the laboratory and technical hardware available to the students.laboratory and technical hardware available to the students.

The experience and enrichment accumulated during project The experience and enrichment accumulated during project development is brought to the training section.development is brought to the training section.

The Science component of the activities is further explored to The Science component of the activities is further explored to ensure teacher self-confidence and understanding.ensure teacher self-confidence and understanding.

4. Challenges for the Future......

• Ensuring more financing

• Establishment of coordination teams

• Reinforcement of monitor team

• Improve yield of teachers training effort

Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

Vamos Brincar aos Materiais

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Let’s play with MaterialsVamos Brincar aos Materiais

thanks for your time and attentionalberto.ferro@ist.utl.pt