Science education networks and centres in Austria Peter Holub Pedagogical University Carinthia

Peter Holub Pedagogical University Carinthia BioEd 2008 Dijon June 2008

Science education networks and centres in Austria

Peter HolubPedagogical University Carinthia

peter

Distinguished Participants,I want to give you an overview on the actual situation of among the younger Austrian generation.During my short presentation you will learn about networks and centres which develop a growing influence on the improvement of science teaching but also on the significance of science and nature within the Austrian society.


Declining interest in science and nature

Lack off scientific and technical staff

Not enough science students

Missing science teachers

Several attempts to improve the situation

Success emerges slowly

Austria ain`t no Island

peter

Most European countries seem to be involved in similar problems concerning the basic science subjects and the interest in nature, especially in ecology.I have listed some of them on this sheet and I could add a bunch of additional problems which could also be responsible for the actual situation.


Innovations in Mathematics, Science and Technology Teaching

IMST analyzed the situation

IMST2 offered projects and support

IMST3 added Regional Networks

IMST4 will hopefully come up

IMST

peter

During the past years several activities have been started to increase pupils` interests in science.Imst developed step by step from an analyzing project to a meanwhile sophisticated initiative with various activities within our educational system.


Regional Networks (byJune 2008)

peter

The most successful part of IMST have been during the last years the "Regional Networks for Science and Mathematics"They are still growing and have, after first being mainly active in science education at grammar schools, now also reached the compulsory schools which makes them more efficient foryounger pupils.


Regional Network Carinthia

• Inner circle (3 persons)• Representative of the school government • Science Teacher• Coordinator, Head of science department of the

Pedagogical University Carinthia

• Outer circle (17 persons)• Coordinator• 16 Science teachers from different schools

peter

As an example for a network structure, I show you the organization of the Carinthian network. I know a lot about it, as I am the coordinator.The outer circle enables the integration of network outcomes in the daily school life and keeps contact with the government.The working group is the outer circle. Members of this group plan seminars, go to schools as advisors, are cooperating in working groups with the industry and develop different projects which can be offered to pupils at different ages.


Main Aims

• Development of a network and communication structure

• Cooperation with environment and nature promoting organizations • Adjusting science projects at schools • Improving the framework conditions for science teaching

• Cooperation with stake holders from policy, industry, science, and education

• Foundation of National and Regional science educational competence centres

peter

I have put a part of the main aims on this sheet. There are many other smaller activities within the network. Some of them rise for some month and are left behind more or less successfully. Others, which show more effectivity, are kept within the annual working process. As an example I want to mention the "science days", where during three days several hundreds of teachers, students and pupils can take part in seminars and lectures given by national and international experts.


Regional Science Center Carinthia

• 7 Science teachers working 85 hours a week

• Offering various seminars and continuous teacher training

• Adjusting ecologically organized schools

• Cooperation with nature conserving companies

• Consulting local governments in science and environment matters

• Close contacts to museums and science centres

• Starting research projects dealing with science teaching

peter

The Regional Science center in Carinthia was planned within the network activities and is now the institution where the network-coordination found an officcial home.As I am the head of this center, I can decide, which activities will be done by the center and which remain in the network.The main point is, that the centre is part of the Pedagogical University in Carinthia. This enables the teachers w´ho are working at the center, to use a suitable infrastructure, to organize a lot of seminars and to be active in research.


Main outcomes

• Biology by Team – 1st European Biology competition for teams -nominated for the German award for innovations in Sustainable Education

• Science days for teachers and for kids, annual tree days in March

• Participation in the EUSO - European Union Science Olympiad

• Research projects, financed by the central government

• Additional offers in science teaching for pupils at the ages of 4 to 19

• Generous sponsoring by Industry, Trade and Local Government

• Mentoring programmes for science students

peter

I add now a short overview on the main outcomes and finally a forecast concerning our next projects as some sort of conclusion and summary:


Next steps

• Establishing local and regional science education managers

• Connecting the Regional Networks to an Austrian network

• Close cooperation between Austrian, Italian and Slovenian teachers

• Organizing scientific exhibition tours

• Introducing primary students all over Carinthia to the world under the microscope

• Developing learning materials for biology lessons


References

• Konrad Krainer (2005b). IMST3 – A Sustainable Support System.Austrian Education News (Ed. BMUKK), 44, December 2005, 8-14. (Internet: http://www.bmukk.gv.at/enfr/school/aen.xml)

• Rauch, F./Schrittesser, I. Networks as Support Structure for Quality Development in Education

• Peter HolubRegional Network for Science and Mathematics Carinthia, Annual Report 2007

• Biology by Teamhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biology_by_Team

• IMST – Webpagehttp://imst.uni-klu.ac.at

peter

Finally I want to thank my colleagues from IMST, Kontad Krainer and Franz Rauch, for their references and I want to thank you very much for your attention.If there are any questions, please feel free to ask what ever you like and I will try to answer as far as it is within my possibilities.


Increasing the Acceptance of Natural sciences in Austria


Thank you for your attention

Peter Holub

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Science education networks and centres in Austria Peter Holub Pedagogical University Carinthia