2010 Intel ISEF Ed Academy

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Ana MatiasEducation ConsultantIntelEmail: anamatias@lfchannel.com

António TorresEngineer/TeacherFelgueiras Vocational SchoolEmail: atorres@epfvirtual.com

Moreira da SilvaAdministrator’s Board MemberYouth FoundationEmail: jamoreiradasilva@hotmail.com

Tito FilipeTeacher/PTE Coordinator atMaria Lamas SchoolEmail: titofilipe@esmlamas.edu.pt

Portugal’s Ed Acad 2010 Team

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Educational Environment• Portugal’s Educational System

• Population: 10,627,250• In 2007/2008, for both public and private sector, there

were:– 175,919 teachers employed– 1,802,819 pupils– attending 12,356 schools

• Compulsory school age is 6-15, comprehending elementary and middle school.

• Secondary school, from ages 15-18 is not mandatory but necessary to access the higher education system;

• In 2008/2009, 373,002 students entered the higher education system.

• Math & Science are compulsory subjects in the national curriculum to age 15.

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Science FairsWhat is the status of Science Fairs in your area?

How many science fairs are held?

Since 1992, the Youth Foundation: http://www.fjuventude.pt/ is the organizing entity of the National Contest for Young Scientists and Researchers: http://jcientistas2010.netparceiro.pt/index.htm.And since 2005, they also organize the “Mostra Nacional da Ciência”, a national scientific exhibition reserved to present the best works of the Contest. Young students (15-20 years old) can win monetary prizes, materials and participations in International Contests, (i.e. EUCYS and Intel ISEF). The number of submitted projects has increased over the last years.

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Science FairsWhat is the status of Science Fairs in your area?

The “Ilídio Pinho” Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, organizes the annual “Ciência na Escola” event: http://fundacaoip.locais.net/pt/actividades/premios/ , going on its 8th edition in 2010. In 2009, were presented 321 projects from 141 schools. Participated more than 600 teachers and around 1000 students from kindergarten to secondary school.

The “Ciência Viva” Centre in Estremoz organizes the “Congresso Nacional Cientistas em Acção” event: http://www.estremoz.cienciaviva.pt/destaques/congresso.asp , going on its 5th edition in 2010. Students and teachers from primary to secondary school can participate with their projects.

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Science FairsWhat is the status of Science Fairs in your area?

The Youth Foundation is the entity chosen by the European Commission to welcome the 22nd European Contest for Young Scientists Final in Lisbon - Electricity Museum, September 24th to 29th. http://www.lisboa.eucys2010.eu/«In September 2010, we intend to excel the success achieved in 1998, receiving in Lisbon over 90 projects accomplished by more than 200 young scientists from all over Europe» (Youth Foundation managing director), also expecting guests from Japan, China, South Korea, USA, Canada and New Zealand.

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Science Fairs, math and science curriculum

What are the three biggest obstacles you face? – Do teaching practices support project based learning?

One of the mandatory areas of the curriculum across all levels is the “Project Area”, created specifically to improve students knowledge through projects;

– Research as part of the curriculumIn primary school, the MoE stipulated 2,5hours/week of Experimental Teaching of Science;Started in 2006, The MoE defined a Plan for Science Teaching, reinforcing the CPD of teachers in this area (specially primary school teachers);The high school curriculum was changed in 2007, adding more 45min/week to core disciplines in order to increase the practice component;

– Organization and management: Is there district/community/government support?The Ministry of Education and its several Departments constitute the bigger support to these kind of initiatives;Other supports come from public and private corporations although it’s not always easy to get all the sponsorship needed and funds contribution;