Inspiring Science Education

The Inspiring Science Education project (Large Scale Experimentation Scenarios to Mainstream eLearning in Science, Mathematics and Technology in Primary and Secondary Schools) aimed at contributing to the implementation of the “Digital Agenda for Europe” and in particular to Action 68 “Mainstream eLearning in national policies for the modernisation of education and training, including in curricula, assessment of learning outcomes and the professional development of teachers and trainers”, and to do so in line with the recommendations of the Rocard Report “A new Pedagogy for the Future of Europe”, that sets the basics for the introduction of the Inquiry Based approach in the science curricula of the Member States.

The Inspiring Science Education project aimed to design, plan and implement large-scale pilots to stimulate and evaluate innovative use of existing eLearning tools and resources (e.g. interactive simulations, educational games, VR and AR applications, modeling and data analysis tools, eScience applications, as well as, digital resources from research centres, science centres and museums) for scientific disciplines and technology, enhancing science learning in 5 000 primary and secondary schools in 15 European Counties.

The Inspiring Science Education innovation building methodology includes evaluation metrics and benchmarking activities, on the design and deployment of innovative Science learning practice and school organization change. The project used the proposed eLearning tools and resources, coupled with an evaluation framework, evaluating progress on learning achievements, based on the PISA 2012 Framework for the assessment of the problem solving competence of the students, teacher professional development and school organization change. This approach offered the basis for the validation of the introduction of technology-supported educational innovation in European schools, so that piloting and field testing results could be collated and analyzed systematically and then disseminated widely, thus ensuring real impact and widespread uptake.

Key outcomes of the Inspiring Science Education project:

• access to online, interactive tools and digital resources from all over the world that can be used for science teaching
• templates, scenarios and methodologies to support science teachers and teacher trainers in their drive to make their teaching more exciting, fun and relevant for students
• a platform that can be used by students and teachers alike to take science teaching beyond the classroom and into the realms of extra-curricular learning
• a variety of eTools and digital resources that provide opportunities for students to collaborate with each other (in or out of the classroom) or with others outside of the class
• ways in which students themselves can be involved in scientific research activities
• a strong support network for teachers.

Inspiring Science Education official project website.