Lifelong Learning Programme

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Successful Experience and Good practices in Teaching Chemistry at Schools in the Czech Republic

Marcela Grecová, Zdeněk Hrdlička

Institute of Chemical Technology Prague
Prague, Czech Republic

[email protected]

Abstract

Educational system of the Czech Republic faces many problems and challenges not only in the field of natural sciences. However, successful experiences in chemistry teaching can be found. For example, students of primary and secondary schools who achieved great results in national and international competitions; teachers interested in lifelong learning; successful experts and their wonderful research; national and international projects promoting chemistry teaching; many excellent chemical high schools and universities; increasing support for ICT teaching (new portals with many educational resources for students and teachers) etc. Czech media and society do not talk enough about teaching and research successes. The paper tries to report on some successful examples of good practice that could help to improve students` attitude towards chemistry.

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Comments about this Paper

Your comments are welcome


Date: 2014.04.03

Posted by Darina Dolešová (Slovakia)

Message: The paper presents several types of support of teaching chemistry in Czech republic, starting with an analysis of the specific circumstances of the country. The paper is divided into five chapters, each commenting on one aspect of chemistry teaching and learning.Five chapters are:
- contests addressed to primary school pupils (attended by 5,000 pupils in 2013) and high school students , that led the winners to live experiences in the United States and Russia, and to study chemistry at the University;
- activities motivating teachers to update their training;
- new and of good quality magazines and educational textbooks;
- portals for students of all levels;
- projects funded by the Ministry of Education or by Universities or chemical
One of the main conclusions of the paper is an insufficient role of the media and a society impact on the education problems (not only chemistry teaching). In the opinion of authors it is very important to put more emphasis on successful experiences in teaching that could help to motivate students. I think the paper is more about factical information general in Czech republic and not about contrete succesful experiences in chemistry teaching in czech schools.

Date: 2014.04.01

Posted by Hüseyin Miraç PEKTAŞ (Turkey)

Message: The paper focus on “ how can we teach more?” . The problems of chemistry in Czech Schools are completely defined in this paper. The authors present very different policies in the paper. For example, life long learning, international competitions,succesful experiences, national and international projects , role of media etc … İf we provide these facts effectively, we can solve a lot of problems of chemistry education. İnferences of authors will contribute field of chemistry.

Date: 2014.03.30

Posted by Genoveva Ilieva (Bulgaria)

Message: The documents of the European Commission has expressed concern that there is a trend of decreasing level in the field of literacy and mathematical skills of students, and urged the Member States to take all necessary measures to improve the situation. The paper addresses some of the problems in the teaching of chemistry and environmental protection. It is necessary to reveal the importance of the tasks to grasp the point why they are studied. Science would be easier and more understandable for students, if focusing on how to learn if disciplines include understanding the principles.
By using this publication, the teacher can use the experience of the author. There is a possibility to avoid overloading with monotonous, unattractive material, and to provide time for reflecting on the content and reinforcing it. In order to attract students to work in class it would be better if possible the tasks to be presented on the background of demonstrations and chemical reactions.The tasks for the students to solve must be assigned in an attractive way. Non-traditional approaches can be used such as the situational approach.

Date: 2014.03.25

Posted by Petra Jasná (Czech republic)

Message: The main focus of this work is aimed at successful experiences of the educational system of Czech Republic in the field of chemistry education. The paper starts with presenting the current situation (not only in the chemical field) which the educational system is facing. The main body of this document is then divided into five subchapters and each of them describes some topic (with many examples) from the wide range of chemistry teaching.
The first chapter is aimed at pupils and students. It describes many contests and projects design to select those with the talent, or with the interest (to increase the general motivation of the students in this area) and it also presents their achievements which have been attained. Next two chapters are focused on the popularization of the science through projects designed for teachers and for the wider range of general public. Penultimate chapter mentions successful books and journals and finally the last chapter informs us about newly arised cooperations and establishment with promising national partners.
In the conclusion of this work authors emphasize how important these competitions and project are and how the whole situation could be remedied or helped through much more intensive media advertising.

Date: 2014.03.24

Posted by Valter Bennucci (Italy)

Message: The paper presents successful experience and good pedagogic practices in teaching chemistry at Czech Republich primary and secondary schools in the context of the European educational policy for development of key competences for the young people.
Problem-based approach, experimental work, project based activities and other innovative teaching methods and technologies are discussed as effective way to improve the students’ scientific literacy and motivation to study chemistry.
Chemistry teachers’ experience
in implementation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in
the educational process using multimedia presentation, videolessons, interactive materials and other, is described. The paper pay attention on the ways of popularization of the successful experience and practice in Chemistry teaching at Czech schools also

Even if in Czech Republic there are a lot of problems in education field, they try to diversificate methots and approachs to chemistry. This program is organized with a lot of strategies: as example some contests:
• “The Young Chemist contest”, nice example of a national, organized by University Pardubice. The contest is designed for elementary school pupils interested in chemistry. The competition was attended by 5,000 pupils in 2013. The first part of the contest is a test and written assignment. Successful solvers continue in the second part of the contest in labs and only the best of them continue in the national part. The best solvers of the third part were rewarded (a certificate of merit and material rewards) and national title of champion.
• “The Chemistry Olympics”. Primary and secondary school pupils/students can participate in international Chemistry Olympics. The idea of the International Chemistry Olympiad was developed in the former Czechoslovakia in 1968. It was designed with the aim to increase the number of international contacts and the exchange of information between nations. The 45th International Chemistry Olympiad was held at Moscow State University on 15 - 24th July 2013. The Czech team won four medals there ; three silver and one bronze.
• “Other contests”. There are organized many other successful contests; one of them is "Life and Chemistry”. Aim of this competition was to raise awareness of pupils, parents and the public in the field of chemistry and show the chemistry in a funny way.
Or teachers training
• “Chemistry Teachers Inventions Fair”. The fair is organized annually at high school in Tábor. Teachers themselves take part demonstrating their experiments they use when teaching. That ways they inspire each other. We consider all the participating teachers as an example of successful experience because they are motivated for lifelong chemistry activities to extend their skills and to improve their teaching of chemistry.
• “The Golden Amos (Comenius)” The Golden Amos is a contest designed for teachers and their pupils or students. Children vote for the best teacher. The mission is to popularize especially teachers, who, according to the assessment of children, contribute significantly to shaping the quality of relationships between educators and children.
Or innovative projetcs
• “The Talnet project”. This successful project for talented pupils, offering various activities, e.g. lectures, summer camps, international meetings, connection with experts. The main activity of the project is to search young people interested in natural sciences and engineering and to increase their interest. Talnet offers activities for those interested in science, technology and mathematics. This program is opened to every pupil, there is no pre-selection, nor are there any age restrictions. Activities’ difficulty level corresponds to high school students with above average interest in the field.
• “iForum”, a portal of the Charles University. The portal informs about current events at the university. It is focused on students but there is a lot of information for general public too. Its aim is to attract young people to science. For example, section named “Science at the Charles University” shows science topics in an attractive way.
• “Débrouillards club”. It is a movement that came to us from Canada and it is focused on after-school science activities. There are many Débrouillards clubs in the Czech Republic. One small special school joined the Débrouillards as a first special school. Children with study disabilities are inquisitive and interested in the experiments too. They focus on the activity itself, they do not seek answers on scientific questions, they do not solve the chemical formulas. This school overcame the barriers and chemistry is taught there as well.
• “The Czech Chemistry portal. The main aim of this portal is to inform students about new developments in chemistry. It is designed for primary school pupils as well as for secondary school and university students and graduates. The portal also provides online counseling, which eases establishing new contacts between students and professionals.
• “The STEP project”. Institute of Chemical Technology Prague organizes a project called “STEP” to popularize science, research and development and their results. It attempts to increase primary and secondary school students' motivation to study technical and natural sciences, and subsequently to be interested in work in the field of R&D. The project STEP wants to communicate science and technology to the target groups in understandable way and to develop cooperation among elementary and secondary schools across the Czech Republic.
• “Science for you”. The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic offers a project named Science for you. The project popularizes researches in a comprehensible form, organizes excursions and science festivals for students and the general public.
Or national networks
• “Technical Museum in Prague”, where the Department of Museum Pedagogy prepares illustrative and interactive educational programs for basic and secondary schools.
• Otevíráme, o.s. ("We are opening") – Project Science Café . It is a successful concept of science popularization based on meeting of scientists and public at informal places of cafés. It is currently held in more than 10 cities/towns of the Czech Republic.
• “The Czech Chemistry portal” organized by Univerzity of Pardubice - a club for children and youth (Citizens Association)
• “Q-club Príbram” is a club for children and youth (Citizens Association).



Date: 2014.03.12

Posted by Tereza Leonhardt (Czech republic)

Message: The paper focuses on positive examples and successful achievements in the field of chemistry education and presents the reader with a comprehensive review of the current state of Czech education in the field of chemistry. The review is divided into five chapters, each commenting on one aspect of chemistry teaching and learning. The first chapter deals with various competitions designed to select students with high interest in chemistry while further nurturing and rewarding their interest. The second and third chapters describe projects and activities for both teachers and students that focus on popularization of chemistry. The fourth chapter shortly comments on available journals and books, recommending two successful textbooks for chemistry teachers. The last chapter sums up newly established cooperation with various national organizations within the project Chemistry Is All Around Us – Network. The authors point out the fact, that Czech educational system has a long tradition in quality teaching, but has deteriorated in the recent years, due to socio-political reasons. However, according to the authors, the situation can be remediated with the help of various projects that help to popularize science and chemistry in particular. Such projects have been successfully implemented in the Czech Republic for many years and it is now only a matter of advertising them to the public to make them even more impactful. The paper serves such purpose, pointing out useful references for aspiring chemistry teachers, students and other interested members of the public.

Date: 2014.03.07

Posted by Enza Lucifredi (Italy)

Message: The paper describes diversified initiatives and activities, all aimed at increasing interest in chemistry and enhance the quality of learning , such as:
- contests addressed to primary school pupils (attended by 5,000 pupils in 2013) and high school students , that led the winners to live experiences in the United States and Russia, and to study chemistry at the University;
- activities motivating teachers to update their training;
- new and of good quality magazines and educational textbooks;
- portals for students of all levels;
- projects funded by the Ministry of Education or by Universities or chemical companies or private bodies intending to increase interest in chemistry or to identify talented young people to cultivate and enhance skills by conferences, summer camps, international meetings , contacts with experts.
In particular, the paper emphasizes the experience of the project Chemistry Is All Around - Network in the Czech Republic : the authors consider a real successful the cooperation that they have managed to establish with new organizations and schools during the last year .
The paper demonstrates the firm and unpublished determination of the government, teachers and experts, to enhance the reputation and competitiveness of the Czech educational system in decline in recent years for socio-political reasons, returning to the excellence for which it was known. All the latter through concrete and innovative initiatives.
The authors highlight some critical factors but also explain how they tried to overcome them :
1 – Teachers are aging: for this reason Czech Republic points on teachers’ motivation and training. In Tabor high school, the "Chemistry Teachers Inventions Fair" is organized every year: teachers participate by presenting experiments that use in their teaching . It was also established The Golden Amos (Comenius ), in which children vote for their teachers : the aim is to spread the example of teachers who contribute to the quality of relationships between teachers and pupils.
2 – In the country there is not proper choice of updated and of good quality chemistry texts. To remedy this, in recent years, two books of successful Czech authors were published. In particular " Chemistry for 8th grade of primary school" by Škoda and Doulík , that uses whiteboards and other ICT technologies, won a gold medal as the best text for primary school in Europe at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2008.
Children with disability of study focus too much on the practical activity and do not look for answers. They have difficulty with chemical formulas. The experience and the method of Débrouillards-clubs was exploited: they come from Canada and practice after-school activities in the field of science. They are very numerous in the Czech Republic and are useful to create a special school where chemistry can be taught to these less gifted children.
The document refers to Webchemie portal, a web portal aiming to support the teaching of chemistry, containing resources, articles, animations, tests and competitions relevant to teaching and learning.
The document is really exciting for the number and quality of the proposed and, above all, implemented.

Date: 2014.03.05

Posted by Luiza Wezyk (Poland)

Message: The document presents several types of support of teaching chemistry in Czech schools, starting with an analysis of the specific circumstances of the country. The attention of the authors is focused on successful experiences. They mention great results in national and international competitions, teachers interested in lifelong learning, successful experts and their wonderful research, national and international projects promoting chemistry teaching, excellent chemical high schools and universities and increasing support for ICT teaching. One of the main conclusions of the paper is an insufficient role of the media and a society impact on the education problems (not only chemistry teaching). In the opinion of authors it is very important to put more emphasis on successful experiences in teaching that could help to motivate students. In the context they emphasize the role of the project Chemistry Is All around Us - Network. The conclusions seem obvious but in my opinion, well identified.

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.

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