S-TEAM :
Science-Teacher Education Advanced Methods
This project is funded by the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme
About the Project
Getting the message
The S-TEAM project was initiated by the Norwegian University of
Science and Technology in Trondheim. It currently has 26
institutional partners in 15 countries.
The aim of the project is to enable the widest possible use of
inquiry-based and other innovative methods in science teaching
across Europe and beyond.
The main methods of dissemination which will be used by STEAM will be training events or reflective workshops, together
with materials for teachers and teacher educators including DVDs
or other media.
Our argument is that only through teacher education can new
methods be sustainably implemented in classrooms.
Teacher education includes not only the initial stages in college or
university but the continuing professional development or lifelong
learning of teachers. The same principles which apply to inquirybased methods should also be applied within teacher education.
These principles include:
• Problem solving
• Collaborative work
• Learning from mistakes
• Learning through dialogue
• Coherent argumentation
• Student autonomy
The project received a 14/15 evaluation in December 2008 and
we have now been invited to negotiations with a start date
expected to be in mid-2009
The Project Partners
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
France
Germany
Hungary
Israel
Lithuania
Norway
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
United Kingdom
TEMPLATE DESIGN © 2008
www.PosterPresentations.com
University of South Bohemia
University of Copenhagen & Aarhus
Universitet
University of Tallinn
Abo Akademi University, Helsinki University
University of Jyväskylä
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique,
Université Pierre Mendes-France
Université Rennes 2- Haute Bretagne
Friedrich Schiller University of Jena
Leibniz Institute for Science Education at the
University of Kiel (IPN)
Equally, the involvement of policymakers and their power to effect
change at a structural level is essential. Training events and
workshops are only useful if they are supported by continuing
development activities which connect teachers and their ideas,
and resources which enable them to implement their ideas inside
and outside the classoom.
Work packages
The work of the S-TEAM project is divided into ten
‘packages’, each with a particular function:
1. Management
2. Policy overview - an observatory of the interaction
between science and teacher education in Europe
3. Powerful learning environments: disseminating the
successful SINUS programme from Germany to the
other partner countries.
4. Teacher collaboration and its role in changing
science education.
5. Innovative methods in initial teacher education for
science teaching.
6. Professional development for science teaching
7. Argumentation in science teaching; structures
underpinning talk about science in the classroom
8. Scientific Literacies: engaging with the discourses of
science
9. Indicators - measuring our results
10.Media and dissemination: making sure our results
are widely known
The pedagogy of science education in any national context is
determined by a number of factors including:
• Curriculum design
• Assessment frameworks
• Teacher knowledge base
• Teacher education
• Research influence and dissemination
• Resources
• Prevailing social policies and attitudes
All these factors, and more, make up the pedagogical field of
science education in a national context. In order for there to be
change at a European level, a project such as S-TEAM has to
become part of the pedagogical field in a large group of countries.
Teacher education is the best way into the field, as a catalyst for
sustainable change.
Hungarian Research Teachers’ Association
Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
Kaunas University of Technology
Vilnius Pedagogical University
Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (coordinator)
University of Oslo
Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Mälardalen University
Gazi University
Hacettepe University
University of Bristol,
University of Leeds
University of Strathclyde
Networks
The S-TEAM project will connect to many of the key
networks within science education and teacher
education, including:
• The MIND THE GAP project (inquiry-based methods
for Science Teaching)
•European Science Education Research Association
(ESERA)
•European Educational Research Association (EERA)
•Association for Science Education (ASE)
Membership of the S-TEAM network
Teachers’ knowledge and skills in science
Pupils’ needs and feelings about science
Research evidence about science education
Economic demands for scientists
Inquiry-based science teaching is important but…
Teaching, learning and assessment need to be coherent
Teachers need to be convinced
Students need autonomy
Students need basic knowledge of scientific contexts/ processes
Science career recruitment can be increased if…
Student interest and employer interest coincide
Maths and science teaching work together
Students experience science as work
S-TEAM model
Governments’ aspirations for
scientific literacy
Ifs and Buts…
Scientific literacy through better teaching…if:
Teachers are confident
Students are engaged
Curriculum is open to change
Time and space are available
Teacher Education: the common factor
Estonia
Finland
European University - Cyprus
The underlying principle of S-TEAM, however, is that teachers
will be consulted and listened to, throughout the project. It is
simply not possible to effect large-scale change in the pedagogy
of science education without the full cooperation of teachers.
The Pedagogical field and European Science Education
We would like as many people and organisations as possible to
be part of the network. This includes science teachers, teacher
educators, schools, universities, science centres and
government education departments.
Although the formal partnership is now fixed, we invite you to
become an associate member. You will receive newsletters and
findings from the project and will be invited to participate in
workshops and other events.
.
Contact information
More information? Would you like to be on the mailing list?
Contact Dr Peter Gray (project manager)
graypb@gmail.com
Project coordinator:
Professor Geir Karlsen
Norwegian University of Science &
Technology
Geir.karlsen@plu.ntnu.no