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Plugging into nature with new technologies

Funder: European CommissionProject code: 2016-1-RO01-KA219-024599
Funded under: ERASMUS+ | Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices | Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only Funder Contribution: 136,625 EUR

Plugging into nature with new technologies

Description

Through our initiatives we wanted to respond to the concern that children from all our schools do not experience nature as much as past generations and moreover they encounter difficulties in science classes. Since technologies are a demand of the 21st century we focused on the integration of technology into nature and science programs, incorporating interesting technologies into programs to engage children’s attention and interest. Our project aimed to promote the use of technology to increase kids' interest in and engagement with the natural world. We wanted to identify opportunities for digital technology to support children’s connectedness to the natural environment, thereby encouraging positive environmental attitudes in children, as well as healthy physical play. We also needed to innovate our curricula with a new actual theme - participatory science – in fact the implementation of CITIZEN SCIENCE as an elegant, efficient and engaging solution to the huge environmental problems we face in the 21st century.Our main objectives were to promote a responsible environmental awareness and increase understandings of science, leading to more positive attitudes towards STEM subjects. Bringing scientists, teachers and students together in partnerships have created lots of opportunities to explore new pedagogical approaches. The partnership consisted in the end of 5 European partners Romania, Spain, Czech Republic, UK, Italy Our target groups were students from 10 to 18 from all the five European schools and we addressed our project as well to the skilled students in STEM subjects, as for less skilled students to amplify or improve their competencies.Each partner brought its own experience and expertise to the project. All the schools took students of broadly similar age range.Our main activities have been:1. Create visual elements and ID of the project (logo, sociomedia, blogs, websites) 2. Prepare questionnaires and online surveys: based on 3 main aspects: How Can Technology Enrich the Nature Experience/ How kids are using technologies/ Impact of Technology. 3. Train teachers and students - teachers from the project have been trained by other teachers, specialists, scientists on the next main subjects:i. Deal with Bioblitz and Citizen Science in schoolsii. Managing iNaturalists iii. Virtual Curriculum (making & integration)iv. Naturalist expeditions step by stepStudents have been also trained on:i. Bio ID - Scientific Identification of plants, birds, mushrooms and dealing with species inventories - Students learnt how to identify and record the number of species they find in a certain area and document their findings using digital cameras using smartphone apps and/or field guides.ii. Macroscale Photographyiii. Writing scientific articles - Scientifical protocols- interpreting scientifical data;iv. Using iNaturalist v. Using Apps to explore NatureTeachers training have been made face to face in local schools or during the transnational meetings.4. Prepare Nature Chronicles - this activity aimed to investigate the meaning of nature for ancient people (and this according to the local legends, songs and fairy tales, and by exploring the exhibition, local gardens etc), interrelationship between the local people and nature evolution in the 21st century. We also wanted to investigate the impacts of a modern lifestyle and its activities on the ecosystem and biodiversity. Students and teachers made researches and compilations,preparing presentations.5. Organize Nature Challenges - Bioblitz and many field trips & naturalist expeditions6. Making Science More Attractive: researches and experiments - Students have conducted lab experiments Our approaches provided much more skilled students in different ways: 1. Using technologies helped kids to go outside for observation and active learning about local habitats2. We developed many authentic STEM learning materials to encourage the Science careers3. We have designed a pedagogical model of citizen science projects for schoolsOur project lasted 3 years and all the activities have provided the next results>1. Create methodologies regarding the integration of ICT into nature and science 2. Develop on-line/ virtual/Internet materials 3. Publications on researches and methodology at small scale- brochures,4. Training and events for teachers and studentsThe project offered us a deepen understanding of nature, we have challenged with new pedagogical approaches for the 21st century. Thanks to new tools we will constantly improve the nature study by using technology.

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