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PUBLICATION INFORMATION

TITLE OF PUBLICATION

VELETRH NAPADU UCITELU CHEMIE / CHEMISTRY TEACHERS INVENTIONS FAIR /

NAME OF AUTHOR(S)

Martin Konecny, Eva Trnova, Petr Koloros

NAME OF PUBLISHER

Masaryk University, Faculty of Education

YEAR OF PUBLICATION

2013

LANGUAGE OF PUBLICATION

Czech

PUBLICATION TYPOLOGY

Report

TARGET GROUP OF PUBLICATION

School Directors, Teachers

SIZE OF THE PUBLICATION

1 - 2 pages

DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS

Article ¨Chemistry Teachers Inventions Fair¨ was published on the journal Comenius (Komenský). The journal was founded in 1873, now it has been the oldest pedagogical journal, which presents papers, experiences and ideas, reports, reviews of books and a number of other insights focused on education from the Czech republic and from abroad.
The introduction of this article deals with the issue of low students’ motivation. It is necessary to look for new motivating factors. Based on this fact, the Chemistry Teachers Inventions Fair was organized. At the beginning of this idea was Mr. Martin Konečný, who was followed by representatives of universities. The first Chemistry Teachers Inventions Fair was held in 2012, attended by 48 teachers from different parts of the Czech Republic. Teachers were interested in the following topics: news from the field of chemistry, suggestions for experiments and how to popularize difficult topics of curriculum.
The fair consisted of two parts. Firstly, teachers took an excursion in polyester fibre factory and then in selected universities. Secondly, they spent time at Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina in Tábor. Teachers’ lectures and demonstrations were focused on practical work and experiments in schools, for example how to include experiments in teaching, how to find motivational elements, how to use domestic experiments and much more. New maturita (leaving exam at secondary schools) was also widely discussed. Teachers themselves took part demonstrating their experiments they use when teaching. That ways they inspired each other. According to the organizers, the teachers were very active and willing to cooperate. A common walk through the historical center of Tabor was surely nice enrichment for each participant.
During the two-day fair, the teachers have passed very packed program. Discussion of key problems and good practices in teaching was an important part of the fair. Since the fair was very successful, the organizers decided to repeat the fair in 2013.

REVIEWER’S COMMENTS ON THE PUBLICATION

Students are losing interest in chemistry, therefore their teachers have to find new ways. It is very useful and important to improve the current state. The article describes one chemistry teachers’ fair, where not only organizers were active, but also teachers. The teachers, who participated in the fair, introduced their own lectures and experiments too. Any exchange of teachers’ experience is very necessary.
Czech school system of nowadays does not offer much funding for chemistry experiments. It is necessary to find new experiments, which will be affordable and still motivating for students. Home science experiments could be an interesting example of low-cost, safe and interesting option. They were one of many interesting contribution on the fair. New maturita was also very nice and useful topic which still brings a lot of confusion and concern to students and to their teachers.
I admire courage of the teachers, who showed their own experiments to experts and colleagues on this fair. After their exhibition the participants discussed the experiments. For some teachers it could be difficult, but on the other hand very beneficial.
Teachers from small villages or small schools have less opportunity to visit places like factories and universities, even though that it can help them to stay in contact with current development in chemistry. The organizers of the fair focused on this issue too.
The article evaluates the fair as very useful, enjoyable for all participants and teachers, feedback from them was positive. Therefore, my deep admiration goes to Mr. Konečný who intended the fair and also to Mrs. Čtrnáctová, Solárová, Trnová and participated teachers, who helped him to realize his vision. This article describes surely an example of a good practice.
The Comenius online journal is addressed to experts and teachers. It offers some other topics from the field of chemistry teaching. Publisher of the journal is Faculty of Education, Masaryk University. Each article is based on practice and experience.

WHERE TO FIND IT

http://www.ped.muni.cz/komensky/index.php/reportaz/26-veletrh-napadu-ucitelu-chemie

NAME OF THE REVIEWING ORGANISATION

ICT Prague

Comments about this Publication

Your comments are welcome

Date: 2014.04.09

Posted by Helena Strýčková (Czech Republic)

Message: The paper describes nice cooperation between teachers, educators and experts at one chemistry teachers invention fair. The fair was attended by 48 teachers from different parts of the Czech Republic.The event consisted of two parts.
Science teachers showed demonstrations of their experiments. Teachers’ experiments and demonstrations were focused on practical work in schools. There was also an excursion to the polyester fiber factory.
The paper describes that there was also interesting discussion focused on science teaching as well as on news from the field of chemistry.
The publication offers opportunities for the use of the scientific achievements of chemistry in school education. An online magazine Comenius published by the Faculty of Education at the university is presented. This magazine offers many interesting topics and practices in the science teaching.
I agree with Rositza Dimkova that the combination of pleasant and attractive experiences in tandem with good organization and good practices are closely related to the demand for new motivational factors. And I also agree with Valter Bennucci that the difficult moment could be to find courage to show my own work. I find this paper as a very interesting and useful.

Date: 2014.04.01

Posted by Rositza Dimkova (Bulgaria)

Message: The post is interesting as it describes the unusual form of cooperation between teachers, educators and business - Fair chemistry. A visit the factory for polyester fibers, discussing of scientific literature and university laboratory and news from the field of chemistry allows teachers to familiarize themselves with the technological characteristics of production and developments in chemical science, which would further enrich the studied chemistry material at school. Some of the teachers showed demonstrations of their experiments. Although quite difficult for some teachers who work in smaller schools, poorly equipped labs all more or less have to activate and motivate their students. The available experiments and available materials are listed below:
plain candle, plastic deformation in hot oil . All are accompanied by lots of photos and videos. “Chemistry in the pool \'\' and ”Cosmetics by nature .\'\' are also worth mentioning.
The publication shows that the proposed methods are relevant and up to date with the new requirements for successful motivation. The use of ICT at all levels and stages Fairs activities and programs is displayed. They stimulate and facilitate the contacts and communications and are a prerequisite for the exchange of information and good practices.
The publication offers opportunities for the use of the scientific achievements of chemistry in school education. An online magazine Comenius published by the Faculty of Education at the university is presented. There are many interesting topics and practices in the teaching of chemistry.
This post is very useful because it represents unpopular chemistry and teaching it through an event - a two-day fair. The combination of pleasant and attractive experiences in tandem with good organization and good practices are closely related to the demand for new motivational factors.

Date: 2014.03.30

Posted by Radka Krasteva (Bulgaria)

Message: The paper describes an organized exhibition of inventions for chemistry teachers in the Czech Republic. On a number of occasions teachers have visited a factory for polyester fibers and some universities and demonstrated chemistry experiments out of their personal experience in order to exchange good practices, so as to increase students\' interest in the science of chemistry. This is a way to illustrate the difficult topics from the educational content by using interesting chemical experiments in the process of teaching and implementation of innovations in the field of chemistry. Most of the teachers, especially in smaller settlements would not be able to visit factories and modern businesses to get acquainted with modern technology and chemical industries. The same goes for going to the universities and their laboratories. For such teachers these observations would be helpful as long as they present the practical side of the academic material at school. Such practice helps teachers to keep up with new teaching methods and to develop their own ways to apply this knowledge in the classroom. Through the personal experience of the teacher gained from visits to various scientific institutions, certain innovations in the field of chemistry can be successfully incorporated into school education. I hope Bulgarian teachers will have the chance to exchange experience with colleagues from other schools and similar opportunities to learn about the latest scientific advances and their application in practice through organized meetings and visits for teachers.

Date: 2014.03.04

Posted by Valter Bennucci (Italy)

Message: This article describes a moment of interaction among teachers; in fact they organized an event where showed their experiments to the collegues. The event consisted of two parts. Firstly, teachers took an excursion in polyester fibre factory and then in selected universities. Secondly, they spent time at Gymnázium Pierra de Coubertina in Tábor. Teachers’ lectures and demonstrations were focused on practical work and experiments in schools, for example how to include experiments in teaching, how to find motivational elements, how to use domestic experiments.
I think that It could be important, for teachers, to discuss lectures and show their own experiments to experts and colleagues. This interection could bring us to improve our didactic, giving new ideas in lab activities.
At the beginning, a teacher had the idea of this “fair”, then he was followed by representatives of universities. The first Chemistry Teachers Inventions Fair was held in 2012, attended by 48 teachers from different parts of the Czech Republic. Teachers were interested in the following topics: news from the field of chemistry, suggestions for experiments and how to popularize difficult topics of curriculum.
For me, the difficult moment is to have courage to show how we work in lab.
It’s possibile to take on a didactical module by lectures, experiments, guided tours, starting from the basis till the more recent discoveries. An example could be:
- Lectures on carbon chemistry and polymers
- experiments on polymerization
- guided tour in a polyester fibre factory
This event could be organized during the Festivalscienza.

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.