“INSPIRING SCIENCE – comprehensive support for contemporary developments in science education”

Workshop

Bangkok, Thailand

13th – 15th March 2013

Rationale:

It has long been recognised that teaching science in context motivates students and helps them appreciate the relevance of science; that using inquiry-based approaches helps to develop the critical and creative thinking of students; that using 7E or 5E learning models can help to construct the students understanding of the concepts of science; that using active teaching and learning approaches can develop students personal capabilities and key skills; and that scientific enquiry should be an integral part of the learning experience of students in science to develop their scientific capability. However teachers have found it challenging integrating all of these philosophies into their learning programmes as there are few teaching resources available to support their integrated implementation, and teachers are thus expected to develop their own resources. Science teachers have thus wanted pragmatic support to achieve these educational aims. The Inspiring Science project developed from the successful upd8 wikid and How Science Works programmes in the UK has provided that support to schools across Thailand over the past year through the use of comprehensive context-based teaching resources.

About the Workshop:

This workshop will introduce participants to the Inspiring Science project, philosophies and the teaching and learning approaches and comprehensive freely available teaching resources developed to support the teaching of the M1-3 (lower secondary) science curriculum in Thailand through the implementation of context-based, inquiry-based teaching and learning; 5E learning cycle; active teaching and learning; scientific enquiry; authentic assessment; and the teaching of science through the medium of English (where appropriate). It will also introduce the participants to how all the philosophies are implemented and integrated into a single learning experience. The workshop will provide participants with a hands-on experience of the wide range of teaching resource units available for the teaching of all strands of the M1-3 (lower secondary) curriculum. It will also provide Thai participants with the opportunity to share experiences of developing and using the teaching resources in Thailand with colleagues from Myanmar and Cambodia; and for colleagues from Myanmar and Cambodia to explore how Inspiring Science could be adapted to support science education developments and needs in their countries.

Objectives:

At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to

Adopt context-based approaches to teaching and learning across a whole teaching unit to inspire and motivate students

Implement the 5E learning cycle effectively to construct the conceptual understanding of students

Use inquiry-based approaches to develop critical and creative thinking Integrate scientific enquiry into teaching and learning, and effectively facilitate and

develop students’ scientific enquiry capability Integrate all the above philosophies and approaches into a single context-based

learning experience Take away comprehensive resources that put all the philosophies effectively into

practice and that can be adapted and developed to their teaching contexts Use the teaching resources for the teaching of science through the medium of

English (where appropriate) Share experience of developing and using the Inspiring Science resources Discuss the adaptation of the approaches and resources to support developments

and needs in their countries

Strategies/Approaches:

In this hands-on, minds-on workshop participants will work in groups of 5. Each session will introduce the philosophies through hands-on exemplar activities, engage participants in reflection, sharing ideas and feeding back, and question and answer.

Workshop programme:

13th March 2013

09.00 Registration

09.45 Opening Ceremony

10.00 Introduction to the Inspiring Science philosophies and comprehensive support for teachers

10.40 Coffee/Tea

11.00 Context-based teaching and learning

12.30 Lunch

13.30 5E learning cycle and inquiry-based learning I

15.00 Coffee/Tea

15.30 5E learning cycle and inquiry-based learning II

17.00 Conclusion

14th March 2013

09.00 Integrating scientific enquiry I

10.00 Coffee/Tea

10.30 Integrating scientific enquiry II

12.30 Lunch

13.30 Facilitating and supporting the development of students’ scientific enquiry capability I

15.00 Coffee/Tea

15,30 Facilitating and supporting the development of students’ scientific enquiry capability II

17.00 Conclusion

15th March 2013

09.00 Integrating all the philosophies into a single learning experience

10.30 Coffee/Tea

11.00 Sharing experiences of developing and using the approaches and resources in Thailand

12.30 Lunch

13.30 How could the Inspiring Science model be adapted and developed to meet the needs of science education in Myanmar and Cambodia

15.00 Coffee/Tea

15.30 Next step planning Presentation of certificates

16.30 Presentation of certificates and Closing Ceremony

17.00 Conclusion

Introducing the Workshop Facilitator:

Mark Windale is Principal Lecturer in Science Education and Director of Business Development at the Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University. Before taking up his post at the university 17 years ago he was a biology and science teacher in 5 secondary schools, holding posts of increasing management responsibility, culminating in a senior management post. Mark is an expert in Active Teaching and Learning. He has been responsible for running national continuing professional development (CPD) and curriculum development projects in the UK, South and South East Asia, the Middle East, and former Soviet Union countries, to support pedagogical change, the move towards student-centred teaching and learning and the teaching of science through the medium of English. He has been involved in more than 30 national and international CPD, curriculum development and research projects focussing on the development of active teaching and learning, problem solving and thinking skills, personal capabilities and key skills, scientific investigation and enquiry, the use of ICT in teaching and learning, 'How Science Works' and leadership (both in students and school middle and senior managers) as a project director, writer, CPD provider, and researcher. Mark is currently working with OBEC and the British Council on the Inspiring Science project in Thailand.