Science Fair
Science Fair is a non-formal form of Education, which is widely used by school units in an attempt to cultivate positive attitudes towards the Natural Sciences. It is universally known as Science Fair.
As an institution it started in Cyprus in 1995. The first science fairs were organized in primary schools in Nicosia, as part of the assessment of students in the course of Science Teaching at the University of Cyprus. Each student instructed a child to participate in a science fair.
The organization began to take a different form and dimension with the appointment of the first graduates of the University of Cyprus in primary schools.
Non-formal forms of education include any organized educational activity aimed at learning beyond the framework of the classroom and, at times, the curriculum defined by institutionalized education. The Science Fair event is a form of non-formal education. Other forms are the educational programs of the natural science museums and the activities of school groups.
Participation in a science fair is an incentive for children and contributes to the creation of positive attitudes towards both the science lesson and the exploration of the natural world. Through the whole process, children's familiarity with the nature of science is ensured, that is, the development of epistemological proficiency, and the understanding of various concepts is enhanced. In addition, the development of oral speech is promoted and co-operation, creativity and aesthetic education are cultivated. Finally, the science fair is an opportunity for parents to engage in the whole learning project.
Participation in a science fair is an incentive for children and contributes to the creation of positive attitudes towards both the science lesson and the exploration of the natural world. Through the whole process, children's familiarity with the nature of science is ensured, that is, the development of epistemological proficiency, and the understanding of various concepts is enhanced. In addition, the development of oral speech is promoted and co-operation, creativity and aesthetic education are cultivated. Finally, the science fair is an opportunity for parents to engage in the whole learning project.
The experiences acquired by children are of primary importance and are easily appreciated by parents, who, in this context, can and want to assist the school effort.
What is ostensibly held at a science fair is the involvement of visitors in interactive activities designed by children and the demonstration of experiments, constructions and tasks of children related to various science topics. This causes criticism, which usually focus on the loose connection of the event with the curriculum or the connection of the festival with entertainment events rather than the learning work done. The teaching material is part of the program "the Science Fair as a means of cultivating investigative skills", implemented by the Learning In Science Group at the University of Cyprus over the last decade. The aim of the program is to utilize the science fair as a non-formal activity for the cultivation of scientific thought and in particular exploratory skills.
What is ostensibly held at a science fair is the involvement of visitors in interactive activities designed by children and the demonstration of experiments, constructions and tasks of children related to various science topics. This causes criticism, which usually focus on the loose connection of the event with the curriculum or the connection of the festival with entertainment events rather than the learning work done. The teaching material is part of the program "the Science Fair as a means of cultivating investigative skills", implemented by the Learning In Science Group at the University of Cyprus over the last decade. The aim of the program is to utilize the science fair as a non-formal activity for the cultivation of scientific thought and in particular exploratory skills.
The program combines the three forms of learning: formal, informal and non-formal and involves parents creatively in the learning process.
From September 2005 the program was officially adopted in the science curriculum in Primary School with the publication of three textbooks:
Constantinou, C. P & The Learning In Science Group (2004). Science Fair as a means of cultivating investigative skills.Teacher's Book.
Nicosia: Ministry of Education and culture of Cyprus.
Constantinou C. P., Papaeuripides, M. & The Learning In Science Group (2005). Science Fair as a means of cultivating investigative skills. Student Book.
Nicosia: Ministry of Education and culture of Cyprus.
Constantinou, C. P., Kyriazi, E. & The Learning In Science Group (2005). Science Fair as a means of cultivating investigative skills. Research Booklet.
Nicosia: Ministry of Education and culture of Cyprus.
According to the approach developed in the framework of this program, the festival of Science is the culmination of a long effort, where children carry out collaborative research in which they plan experiments, collect data and give answers to certain questions. In the end, at a special school event the children present their findings and prepare an interactive activity, in which they teach some aspects of the results of their investigation to children, teachers and parents who visit the event.
Technology Fair
The Technology Fair is a structured educational mechanism that aims to develop problem solving skills and cultivate positive attitudes of students and teachers towards invention and technology.
In the context of the technology fair, students undertake investigation into a technology related problem. They follow a specific course and propose solutions related to constructions or processes. Students are guided and encouraged in the performance of their work by teachers.
When the students 'work is completed, then the school organizes the school event "technology fair" during which the students present the constructions, the posters, which describe in detail the course they followed, and an interactive activity, which aims to involve the public in a problem solution process. Interactive activities are also organized by students and are relevant to their subject.
SCIENCE ON STAGE
The science on Stage program is an innovative action involving 29 European states including 25 member states of the European Union. The organisation of this program is the EIROforum (European Intergovernmental Research Organisations forum), which includes the following 7 scientific research organisations in Europe: CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research), ESA (European Space Agency), ESO (European Southern Observatory), EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory), EFDA (European Fusion Development Agreement), ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility) and ill (Institute Laue-Langevin). The program is supported and funded by the European Commission.
The program started in 2000 as Physics on Stage and after three successful cycles of activities evolved into Science on Stage to include the other disciplines of Science. It is addressed to all European science teachers in secondary education with a view to strengthening efforts to renew students ' interest in Science. These efforts are considered necessary since there has been a decline in the interest of young people in Europe to learn and engage professionally in the areas of science vital to the economy and society. Also, the program aims to cultivate the consciousness that we are part of a large and unified community, as well as to create opportunities for international contacts through which those involved in education will be informed about new, innovative ways of disseminating information about science and the direct connection of Science with our daily lives.
In particular, the activities of the program are focused on four areas:
to recognize and reward teachers who try to devise innovative teaching methods to enhance students ' interest in Science
the dissemination of innovative teaching methods that will be highlighted in all science teachers
to create incentives for more teachers to get involved in the effort to upgrade science teaching to make it more accessible and attractive to students
the direct connection of Science with our daily life to make it more understandable to the wider public.
Cyprus participated in Science on Stage for the first time in 2005.
the dissemination of innovative teaching methods that will be highlighted in all science teachers
to create incentives for more teachers to get involved in the effort to upgrade science teaching to make it more accessible and attractive to students
the direct connection of Science with our daily life to make it more understandable to the wider public.
Cyprus participated in Science on Stage for the first time in 2005.
The implementation of the program was undertaken by The Learning In Science Group at the Department of Education of the University of Cyprus.
The Coordination of the programme has been undertaken by a twenty-member committee with representatives from the University of Cyprus, the Ministry of Education and culture, the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, the Research Promotion Foundation and the Frederick Institute of Technology.
Sponsor of the program is the newspaper O Phileleftheros.
Activities
Each state participating in the programme determines its own activities but at the same time participates in a large competition which is initially held at national level and in a second phase takes on European dimensions. The competition concerns innovative and interesting work of Science and technology teachers from secondary education, such as teaching approaches, constructions, models, experiments and innovative educational material in printed or electronic form (video, CD-Rom, software, simulations, internet use etc.L.).
In Cyprus, the main activity of the Science Programme is the Pancyprian competition for Education in Science and Technology, which will be held every 18 months. The first competition was held at the University of Cyprus on October 8, 2005. The events included two independent task competitions. One competition was attended by science professors and the other by design and Technology professors, all from Secondary Education. In addition, teachers ' work outside the competition was presented on a wide range of topics related to Science and Technology.
The subject areas for the science contest (2005) were: a) Einstein (100 years of relativity theory), B) environment (P.Allah. climatology, Oceanography, energy), C) astronomy and Space, D) The Life Sciences (P.Allah. health, biotechnology, genetics), and e) science and technology in our lives (P.Allah. new technologies, products and services). The work in the design-technology competition focused on two topics: A) energy, and B) automation.
In the context of the two competitions, a presentation of the work was made by the competing teachers. The evaluation of the work in each category was carried out by a three-member committee consisting of members of the Cyprus Coordinating Committee of the science at the forefront program, based on predetermined criteria. The work judged by the committees to be the most worthy was awarded. The first prize winners in the category of Natural Sciences will have the opportunity to participate with their work in the pan-European competition Science on Stage-Science for Humanity that will take place on 21-25 November at the premises of the CERN research center in Geneva, Switzerland. In the category of Design-Technology teachers with the best work were awarded with sums of money. The first prize was worth £400, the second £200, and the third £100.
The event was open to the public and guests had the opportunity to attend the presentations and discuss with the contestants about their work.
The second Pancyprian Science and Technology Education Competition will take place in November 2006 and will be unified for all teachers in the specialties of Biology/physiognomy, Physics, Chemistry and Design-Technology from Secondary Education. The deadline for submission of proposals for participation in the competition is 16 October 2006. Up to three teachers who will be awarded the first prize in the competition will have the opportunity to represent Cyprus in the pan-European competition that will take place at the Institute Research Centre Laue Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France, in April 2007.
