The use of web technology in science

education: the case study of ACARISS project

E Buselli1, A Francini1, S Marchi2, D Guidotti2, A Minnocci1,

L Massetti3, F Ugolini3, A Raschi3, L Sebastiani1

1Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna,

Pisa, Italy

2Aedit s.r.l.,

Pontedera (PI), Italy

3IBIMET-CNR,

Firenze, Italy

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward

Florence, 21-22 October 2013

The Acariss Project

University:

CNR-IBIMET (CNR – Biometereology Institute, Firenze)

SSSA (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa)

UNIFI (University of Firenze – Psicology Department)

Objective:

The project aims to link schools and research

centres and to improve and make more

appealing the study of scientific and

technological subjects in school.

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

The case study of ACARISS project will be presented, showing

how web technologies can support didactic projects.

Direct observation of phenomena, brainstorming and discussion,

classroom experiments.

Researchers and teachers collaborate to produce didactic

modules based on “Inquiry Based Learning”, with the aim to feed

students’ curiosity and stimulate learning by doing.

The Acariss Project

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Acariss network

The strength point of the project is the strong collaboration

between Researchers, Teachers and Students.

Teachers Teachers

Researchers Researchers Students Students

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

The web platform allows to establish a network between scientist,

teachers and students in a fast and easy way.

The ACARISS website

The ACARISS website (www.acariss.it) supports students

activities providing useful information and allows sharing

materials, experiences and solutions.

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Home

Events

Didactic activities

Schools

Meteorological

station network

Blog

ACARISS school network

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

ACARISS school network

The network of schools in ACARISS Project comprehend more

than 30 Secondary Institutes, 45 classes in total.

The schools are distributed on all the area of Tuscany Region, in

the provinces of Pisa, Lucca, Firenze, Prato, Livorno and Grosseto.

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

School year Junior High Schools Senior High Schools

2011/2012 17 classrooms of 5 schools 20 classrooms of 9

schools

2012/2013 32 classrooms of 8 schools 15 classrooms of 11

schools

The ACARISS didactic modules

Didactic Modules:

Carbon Cycle

Climatic changes

Soil erosion

Eutrophisation

Seeds germination

Phenology

Marine meteorology

Meteorology and Climatology

Simulation Models

Plants and pollution

Plants and e Salinity

Robotics

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Each Didactic Module is composed by guide materials for teachers:

images, photos, tutorials and video of scientific experiments.

All the content are accessible through school facilities, like the interactive

blackboard or LIM.

The ACARISS didactic modules

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Theory Tutorials for

experimental phase

Tables for data

acquisition

In the Blog section, students, teachers

and researchers can post comments

related to the activities.

The Blog is an interaction and

cooperation virtual place and it tracks

memory of the project activities.

The ACARISS Blog

About 300 posts was publicated in

two year project

(85 in 2011/12 and 213 in 2012/13)

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Each group of students has a username and password. They can

use the blog to share experiences with other schools, shows

photos and confronts their results.

The ACARISS Blog

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Teachers have access to additional resources

and can manage and correct their students’

post before on-line publication.

Encourage team work

The website

The website is a powerful means to link students and schools from

different geographic areas.

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Area Number of visits Pages viewed Average time

Province of Pisa 2738 7,74 00:05:47

Province of Florence 2327 6,17 00:04:21

Province of Lucca 812 6,50 00:05:28

Province of Roma 756 4,22 00:03:57

Province of Milano 650 3,70 00:02:56

Province of Livorno 295 3,90 00:02:45

Province of Napoli 176 2,23 00:01:32

Province of Genova 162 3,86 00:02:42

Province of Verona 85 2,38 00:02:36

The website

Distribution of the visits during 2012-2013

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

Classroom laboratories periods

Conclusions

The ACARISS website was a powerful means to

disseminate innovative methodologies to a large public.

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward – 21-22 October 2013

For teachers it is a source of information and materials

for class activities.

For students it is a “place” where share ideas and

exchange works.

For researchers it allows reaching a huge public

and receiving a feedback from the users.

The web has a great fascination on youngsters, which are digital natives,

allowing engaging students also on the scientific subjects.

Thank you for attention

Science education and guidance in schools: the way forward

Florence, 21-22 October 2013

Questions?