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PUBLICATION INFORMATION

TITLE OF PUBLICATION

STEP - STEP TOWARDS THE POPULARIZATION OF RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY

NAME OF AUTHOR(S)

Hana Bartkova, Jitka Svatosova

NAME OF PUBLISHER

PIXEL

YEAR OF PUBLICATION

2013

LANGUAGE OF PUBLICATION

English

PUBLICATION TYPOLOGY

Conference Article

TARGET GROUP OF PUBLICATION

School Directors, Young People, Researchers, Teachers, Policy Makers

SIZE OF THE PUBLICATION

1 - 2 pages

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS

One of the main objectives of the project STEP is to popularize science, research and development and their results. It aims at those who are interested in Research and Development (R & D) and students' motivation to study technical and natural sciences on elementary and secondary level, and subsequently interested in work in the field of R&D. Project STEP wants to communicate science and technology in understandable way to the target groups and develop cooperation among elementary and secondary schools across the Czech Republic.

Project STEP consists from nine key activities, described below. These activities can be summarized as follows:
A) Activities aimed at popularizing research and development and its benefit to the society (KA2, KA5, and KA9)
B) Support for systematic work with students in the area of introduction to the area of research and development (KA1, KA3, KA4, KA6, and KA8) and
C) Optional activity-service training in the field of research and development, popularization and communication and dissemination of research results into practice (KA7).

Project key activities:
KA1 – Lecture of Modern Science
KA2 – Science in the arena
KA3 – Seminars for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers
KA4 – Science Popularization Educational Materials for Teachers and Students
KA5 – Excursions
KA6 – Science Competition
KA7 – Workshops for Scientists and Journalists
KA8 – summer Science Camp
KA9 – Science Fairs and Lectures

Projects´ objectives are achieved by allowing the audience to look at R&D in an attractive way, entertaining but still highly effective. Effective tools to increase interest in R&D are to enable the target group to obtain practical experience from working in the R&D fields and to experience elements of scientific (laboratory) work. At the same time it is necessary to motivate scientists to popularize research and train them in the communication and popularization skills that are necessary for improving their communication with both the public and media. One of the main goals is to attract/motivate talented candidates to study technical and science high schools, which are intended to achieve through the deepening of contacts with primary school pupils and secondary school students who are interested in R&D work during the popularization events.

REVIEWER’S COMMENTS ON THE PUBLICATION

Students often know courses such as chemistry, physics, and biology only as subjects based on memorization, precepts endings terminology and measurement equations. Thus, pupils quickly lose their interest. This way of teaching is definitely not motivating for further study and subsequent work in R&D fields. Pupils and students mainly focus on social science, which do not put so much emphasis on mathematics and the ability of logical and abstract thinking. Technically oriented universities are generally considered as difficult to study. Difficulty prevails over attractiveness of the field and a good future professional career. Without practical demonstrations and opportunities to try by simple experiments (“how things work”), it is difficult to understand natural relationships and regularities.

The publication under review could be noticed in all three topics of CIAAN project, i.e. Students`motivation, Teachers` training and Successful experiences and good practice because the project STEP is composed of many key activities which have various aims and thus also various target groups. However many of them are are aimed at students and teachers. KA1 - Lecture of Modern Science is an example of successful experience. It is a sample lesson of science (mainly chemistry and physics) containing many experiments (some of which can be performed by students themselves). The lesson is conducted in interactive and funny way, however it is not just a piece of funland but the aim is to educate the students nonviolently. I believe that the only guarantees of quality development of our society are educated young people, both in social, natural and technical science.

WHERE TO FIND IT

http://conference.pixel-online.net/npse2013/common/download/Paper_pdf/374-ESM11-ABS-Bartkova-NPSE2013.pdf

NAME OF THE REVIEWING ORGANISATION

Institute of Chemical Technology Prague

Comments about this Publication

Your comments are welcome

Date: 2014.04.11

Posted by Jana Veverková (Czech republic)

Message: The project STEP described in this paper focuses on the popularization of research and technology and on the ways of students’ motivation to study technical and natural sciences in the Czech Republic. One of the key activities is the work with the chemistry teachers and pupils/students at elementary and secondary stage of education.

The paper brings up the answer to the question ‘why the young people choose not to pursue career in science and technology’.

The idea of presenting the science in the form the students have never encountered before can lead into a boost of curiosity for the subject. Also this positive influence can show an increase in the confidence in students ability, capacity and skills to do so.

It was suggested to improve the communication with the media; the stories of the successful people in the field of science are interesting and exceptional, moreover the inventions help our lives.

It would be really interesting to have detail information about the particular actions which could be implemented not just into the school curriculum in the Czech Republic as this is the issue across Europe.

Date: 2014.04.09

Posted by Helena Strýčková (Czech Republic)

Message: Paper named STEP - Step towards the Popularization of Research and Technology was represented by Ms. Svatošová and Ms. Bartková at International conference New perspectives in science education.
The paper describes project STEP which aims at all ages, elementary and secondary schools with a focus on research and development. There are many activities offered to students and their science teachers (Lecture of Modern Science, Science in the arena, Seminars for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers,Science Popularization Educational Materials for Teachers and Students, Excursions and many more).
I really wonder that there were involved more than 1,600 persons from elementary and secondary schools
(pupils, students and teachers). I agree with authors that nowadays, it is valid more than ever, that it is important to awaken pupils\' interest in science. The publication shows nice experience with successful project at ICT Prague. I find it very useful and relevant to the CIAAN project.

Date: 2014.04.03

Posted by Mária Fabianová (Slovakia)

Message: Publication describes a project STEP which aims is to increase the interest in students in the Czech Republic in Research and Development. Objectives of the project STEP is to popularize science, research and development and their results.
Project STEP consists from nine key activities: 1. Lecture of Modern Science, 2. Science in the arena, 3. Seminars for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers, 4. Science Popularization Educational Materials for Teachers and Students, 5. Excursions, 6. Science Competition, 7. Workshops for Scientists and Journalists, 8. Summer Science Camp, 9. Science Fairs and Lectures. This 9 actions are related to three target areas/sectors; one relevant to scientific achievements, one relevant to understanding the principles of research and development by students and teachers and one relevant with the dissemination/diffusion of scientific achievements among schools. This STEP project can increase the students’ interest and motivation toward chemistry and it can help the students to understand chemistry better. It can bring innovative didactical approach because students often know courses such as chemistry, physics, and biology only as subjects based on memorization, terminology and measurement equations. The authors of the publication propose a specific strategy for their country but we are in Slovakia very near to Czech schools system and this project is very good inspiration for our teachers.

Date: 2014.03.28

Posted by Niki Rapti (Greece)

Message: This publication refers to a topic of primary importance regarding the “status” of the chemistry class (and other science subjects in upper secondary school. More specifically, it points out the need to refresh and update the curriculum of the course with topics from modern/recent scientific research via a process of science popularization. In this way, less emphasis should be given to rote learning and to mathematics which are two elements that tend to turn students away from studying chemistry. In fact, this is perhaps the only way to convince students for the usefulness of engaging in scientific research and inquiry, ie via providing a direct connection of the school with the social impact of the scientific achievements, making it possible for the students to connect these courses (physics, chemistry, biology but also math) with everyday life applications. This is the only route to erase the myth of a closed scientific community composed of “crazy” scientists and motivate and attract the most talented students to the study of some science-related subject and to work in the area of research and technology development.
The authors of the publication propose a specific strategy for their country (project STEP - Czech Republic) comprised of 9 actions (KA1-9), which are related to three target areas/sectors; one relevant to scientific achievements, one relevant to understanding the principles of research and development by students and teachers and one relevant with the dissemination/diffusion of scientific achievements among schools. The actions involve visits in tertiary education institutions, workshops with scientists and reporters, seminars for the teachers, lectures, etc.

Date: 2014.03.25

Posted by Diane Condon (Ireland)

Message: This publication describes a project called STEP which aims to increase the interest in students in the Czech Republic in Research and Development. There seems to be a decline in interest in this area for several reasons. One would be the perception that science subjects are difficult in University. I would imagine that this is a real problem across Europe. Another reason seems to be the approach to teaching Chemistry, Physics and Biology in schools in the Czech Republic. It is a very learning based approach without practical demonstrations. This is given as a reason that students lose interest in these subjects. I find this very interesting as we in Ireland are awaiting new syllabi in Chemistry and the other science subjects at senior level in secondary school. This would include a practical component to final exams. This might increase interest in these subjects and improve the uptake of them in secondary schools.
STEP is aimed at both primary and secondary students and their teachers. Some of the details of what they are introducing are outlined and include seminars for teachers, excursions, competitions, science camps, science fairs and lectures. I would have liked a bit more information on each of these so they could be implemented by others as a way of increasing an interest in science. I also would have liked more information on the results of making these available to both students and their teachers. All of these suggestions seem to be done outside the classroom.

Date: 2014.03.05

Posted by Margarita Fytrou (Greece)

Message: One of the main objectives of the project STEP is to popularize science, research and development and their results. It aims at those who are interested in Research and Development (R & D) and students\' motivation to study technical and natural sciences on elementary and secondary level, and subsequently interested in working in the field of R&D. Project STEP aims at communicating science and technology in an understandable way to the target groups and develop cooperation among elementary and secondary schools across the Czech Republic. Project STEP consists from nine key activities: 1. Lecture of Modern Science, 2. Science in the arena, 3. Seminars for Elementary and Secondary School Teachers, 4. Science Popularization Educational Materials for Teachers and Students, 5. Excursions, 6. Science Competition, 7. Workshops for Scientists and Journalists, 8. Summer Science Camp, 9. Science Fairs and Lectures.
The lesson is conducted in interactive and funny way, however it is not just a piece of fun-land but the aim is to educate the students nonviolently. I believe that the only guarantees of quality development of our society are educated young people, both in social, natural and technical sciences.
I think it can increase the students’ interest toward chemistry and it can help the students to understand chemistry better. In addition, I think it proposes an innovative didactical approach because students often know courses such as chemistry, physics, and biology only as subjects based on memorization, terminology and measurement equations. Thus, pupils quickly lose their interest. This way of teaching is definitely not motivating for further study and subsequent work in R&D fields. Finally, the teaching resource which is described is useful for Greek secondary school students because Greek students are unaware of many practical applications of chemistry in industry and in everyday life.

National Reports on successful experiences to promote lifelong learning for chemistry The national reports on chemistry successful experiences to promote lifelong learning for chemistry are now available on the related section of the project portal. The reports presents examples of successful experiences in the partner countries and the results of testing of ICT resources with science teachers.