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Date of publication Sep 20, 2007 Category: Commentary

From the perception of science to the design of teaching materials

by Laura Dumbrăveanu

To design teaching materials starting from the subject matter in Science field, from the contents of textbooks or by studying the syllabuses are regular practices within schools. The SEDEC project proposes concrete and innovative modalities of conceiving teaching materials starting from teachers perception of science and by talking with them about their ideas and needs regarding teaching Science. A deep discussion of the relationships between science education and European citizenship has been another important ingredient of this new process of didactic design.

Volume 6Issue 032007
Date of publication Sep 20, 2007 Category: Commentary

Debating as an educational method to science and citizenship

by Sara Calcagnini

If one of aims of science today is to respond to the real needs of society, it must find a new way to communicate with people and to be acquainted with their opinions and knowledge. Many science museums in Europe are adopting new ways to actively engage the public in the debate on topical scientific issues. The Museum of Science and Technology "Leonardo da Vinci" in Milan (partner of the SEDEC project) has thus experimented some formats for dialogue with teachers and with the public in general. Our experience shows that museums can be places where science and the public on the one hand and democracy on the other meet.

Volume 6Issue 032007
Date of publication Sep 20, 2007 Category: Commentary

School staff training: the opportunities offered by National Agencies in European countries

by Chris Souvlis

In 2007 the Life Long Learning Programme (previously Socrates) of the European Commission has started. The programme offers to teachers, educators and policy-makers of the education sector the opportunity to be funded for participating at various training courses organized in all EU countries by international networks and projects. The SEDEC course will be included in that list in 2008. The article shortly present how to ask for a grant.

Volume 6Issue 032007
Date of publication Jun 21, 2007 Category: Article

Museums for Science Education: can we make the difference? The case of the EST project

by Maria Xanthoudaki , Brunella Tirelli , Patrizia Cerutti , Sara Calcagnini

This paper addresses the role of museums in education in science and technology through the discussion of a specific project entitled EST “Educate in Science and Technology”. The Project puts together methodologies and activities through which museums can be used as resources for long-term project work. In-service training for teachers, work in class with learning kits or with materials brought in by a Science Van, and visits to the museum are planned and developed jointly by museum experts and teachers. The Project proposes a teaching and learning model which sees the museum experience as central and integral part of a teaching and learning process with more effective outcomes. The analysis of the Project activities and methodologies is based on the work carried out at the National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci, which perceives the learner (the visitor) at the heart of its educational methodologies and provision.

Volume 6Issue 022007
Date of publication Jun 21, 2007 Category: Commentary

The role of science centres and museums in the dialogue between science and society

by Paola Rodari , Matteo Merzagora

In a meta-analysis carried out in 2002, the two main associations of science centres and museums (ASTC, mainly US-centered, and ECSITE, mainly European) gathered all studies analysing the impact of science centres and museums on their local communities1. Four types of impact were identified: personal, social, political and economical. It was noticed that the vast majority of studies concentrated on the personal impact (that is, learning outcome, visitor satisfaction, etc.), while the latter three were largely neglected. The very fact of pointing this out, and many recent experiences - some of which are included in this commentary - show that there is now a shift of attention.

Science museums in a knowledge-based society
by Pietro Greco

The first kiss of science - From interactivity to dialogue
by Juan Nepote

Education, facilitation and inclusion - The tunisinian experience
by Adel Zouaoui

The science and society movement and the MUSE project
by Michele Lanzinger

The Lisbon post-its: how science-in-society issues were reflected in the last ECSITE meetings
by Paola Rodari and Matteo Merzagora

Volume 6Issue 022007
Date of publication Jun 21, 2007 Category: Commentary

Science museums in a knowledge-based society

by Pietro Greco

What is the role of science museums nowadays? If we want to answer this question, we need to understand the historical period we are living and what role(s) museums can play. We are undoubtedly at the beginning of a new age based on a new relation between science and society, a concept which has been explained and repeated by sociologists and economists over and over again and is confirmed by statistics.

Volume 6Issue 022007
Date of publication Jun 21, 2007 Category: Commentary

Education, facilitation and inclusion - The tunisinian experience

by Adel Zouaoui

Being aware of the fact that science is a decisive factor for development and individual well being and a citizen's right, no less important than all his other rights, Tunisia's new-Era initiated its Science City on 10 April, 1992. The purpose of such an institution is to disseminate science throughout the whole of Tunisia for the different categories of citizens and to help, in the context of dovetailing with the educational sector, youngsters get, from their earliest years, interested in science and its use.

Volume 6Issue 022007
Date of publication Jun 21, 2007 Category: Commentary

The science and society movement and the MUSE project

by Michele Lanzinger

For the purpose of this article, Science & Society (S&S) is referred to as that current of thoughts and those cultural initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue between research, scientific and technical output on the one hand and society on the other, so as to allow people to make conscious decisions about science and the sustainability of its developments. This concept underlies the elaboration of the MUSE cultural concept, the new Science Museum in Trent, Northern Italy.

Volume 6Issue 022007
Date of publication Jun 21, 2007 Category: Commentary

The Lisbon post-its: how science-in-society issues were reflected in the last ECSITE meetings

by Paola Rodari , Matteo Merzagora

ECSITE is the European network of science centres and museums (www.ecsite.net). The ECSITE Annual Conference, attended every year by several hundreds of professionals in science museums and science centres (870 at the last edition), and the ECSITE director forum, where full members of the association discuss on focused topics, are excellent observation points. Looking at what goes on in these meetings allows to track what is high on the agenda of the science-centre community, how the focus of interest moves, what are the main concerns of museum professionals.

Volume 6Issue 022007
Date of publication Sep 21, 2006 Category: Editorial

The world, out there

by Pietro Greco

The Royal Society published in late June a report entitled «Science Communication. Survey of factors affecting science communication by scientists and engineers». It is an in-depth survey on the communication addressed to non-specialist audiences that was carried out interviewing a wide and representative sample of UK scientists and engineers.

Volume 5Issue 032006

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