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Science Literacy through co-inquiry based on informal & non-formal
learningSonia Pinto (UNEB-BR),
Silvar Ribeiro (UNEB-BR), Alexandra Okada (OU-UK)
weSPOT is an EC-funded Research Project under the Grant Agreement no. 318499 of ICT FP7
Programme in Technology Enhanced Learning
Keywords in this study• Scientific Literacy: being able to understand the role
of science and technology in our lives (AAAS, 1993)
• Co-inquiry: collaborative research projects based on scientific reasoning
• Non-formal learning: learning guided by people through their own communities and projects
• Informal Learning: learning guided by people through resources and networks provided by Educational Institutions
Key questions
How can we promote scientific literacy beyond schools and Universities (formal learning)?
• Can projects & communities of practice create opportunities for developing scientific literacy(non-formal learning) ?
• How useful are open educational resources and social networks (informal learning)?
Hypothesis
Empowering citizens for evidence-based thinking
• science and technology discussions in their daily life
• meaningful learning materials, • easy-to-use technologies • interesting projects • communities of practice
Theoretical Principles
Collaborative inquiry for developing key competencescolearners can interpret evidence, weigh up technologies, make informed judgements, and argue their views together (COLEARN, 2008, 2014)
Co-learners as co-investigators
• take the role of explorers and scientists
• are motivated by their personal curiosity
• are guided by self-reflection, peers and experts
• develop personal knowledge and scientific reasoning collaboratively
Inquiry.weSPOT.eu
• a European reference model for inquiry skills
• a diagnostic instrument for assessment
• Various tools: mobile apps, learning analytics, widgets, social media, open badge system
• Flexible Inquiry workflow linked to school legacy systems
Working Environment withSocial Personal Open Technologiesfor inquiry based learning
Case Study
The training programme on Digital Inclusion for
Telecentros.BR project supported by the Brazil
Government It is a non-credit online course for more than 450 young people from 16 to 29 years old who work at Telecentro.BR in different locations
DIGITAL LITERACY• Few people do not have computer at home (15%)
• All of them access internet (100%) from cyber cafés or
Telecentro.BR
• Most of them are users of Youtube and FaceBook.
• All of them have mobile phones and most of them with
Internet (70%) .
1st step questionnaires and interviews with 20% of the Telecentro.Br’s young educators
Case Study
INFORMATION LITERACY• 80% access online newspaper, and search for online
information.
• 65% access Wikipedia, but consider only one source of
information.
• 30 % share information in their social networks, access online
library and are able to download their course material.
• 10% is recognised in their networks as a knowledgeable person
1st step questionnaires and interviews with 20% of the Telecentro.Br’s young educators
Case Study
CITIZENSHIP LITERACY• 60% use government online services, and participate in social
movements.
• 40% gets information from public services such as job
opportunities and cultural programmes, or participate in political
movements.
• 10% share their opinions in the Brazilian Citizens Portal.
1st step questionnaires and interviews with 20% of the Telecentro.Br’s young educators
Case Study
Participants elaborated the research questions collaboratively with feedback of researchers:
• “What is main cause of environmental degradation in our
community?
• What would be the most effective environmental actions?
• What are the most relevant environmental inquiry projects?
• How does an environmental project support citizen
engagement?
2nd stepPilot study through Discussion Forumand FM online webconference
Key issues that might engage participants to develop their inquiry project:
• Common interests: “our communities are interested in
environmental protection”.
• Enjoyment: “It will be fun to increase our network with other cities
and countries”.
• Perceived usefulness: “It will be useful to learn a new application
with our mobile devices”
• Collective Purpose: “discussion using technology will be good for
our communities”
• Co-authorship: “Our project will be built collaboratively.”
Barrier
• Participants are not familiar with inquiry methodology
• Develop inquiry based projects take time
• Engaging communities will be a challenge for participants
Working Environment withSocial Personal Open Technologiesfor inquiry based learning
Further studies and final remarks
• We would like to integrate weSPOT and ENGAGE (Equipping the Next Generation for Active Engagement in Science) which offers collaborative learning for teaches and engaging materials for learners to talk and think
• Collaborative inquiry projects might be useful for increasing learners ’ engagement and understanding through software tools, mobile devices, and different resources offered in the European Projects weSPOT and Engage.
.
Challenges, Objectives & Results
Objective 1: To provide smart, adaptive inquiry supportChallenge 1: Lack
of inquiry skills
Challenge 2: Curiosity not
supported
Challenge 3: Construct personal conceptual
knowledge
Challenge 5: How to measure impact?
Challenge 4: Linking e-learning with inquiry
Objective 2: Bridge formal & informal learning activities
Objective 3: To link personal inquiry projects & everyday life to curricular
context & classroom teaching
Objective 4: To create an open source toolset
Objective 5: To evaluate impact & effects
Theory & Models
Requirements specification
Theory & Models
Diagnostic instrument
Inquiry courses & Templates
Mobile clientsServices
Evaluation reports &
publications
Integrated pilots set-ups
In Short...
• Started: October 2012• Duration: 3 years• Consortium: 9 partners
from 9 EU countries
weSPOT is an EC-funded Research Project under the Grant Agreement no. 318499 of ICT FP7 Programme in Technology Enhanced Learning
Contacts
COLEARN – Collaborative Open Learning Research Network
(founded at The Open University UK - KMI)
[email protected] [email protected]
wespot-project.euInquiry.wespot.eu
Colearn.open.ac.uk
