Student-directed learning:MicroGlobalScope in the classroom

Dejan BoskovicBiology teacher

Elementary school “Ivo Andric”Belgrade, Serbia

Introduction

• During the past few years we were working on our main goal which became the brand of our school –making projects for science popularisation.

• As a teacher of natural science I am facing problems with large lesson plans which do not alow much time for developing some of the important student skills such as observing, analyzing, reasoning and initiative.

• Science House Foundation, our colaborator, provided us with technology for microscoping.

• Also, Science House Foundation provided us with platform for learning and presenting the results:

http://www.microglobalscope.org/

• Within each class students were given to choose what to microscope related to the specific topic. Also, students had to find a way how to introduce and incorporate their findings into the lesson unit.

Project

• For example, pupils conducted the experiment with rose petals to explain the changes in nature caused by pollutants.

• Most importantly, the students themselves choose what to learn. They decided which parts of the lessons are worth more attention.

• Their findings are presented in the form of blog posts. Each article was like a small lesson with the corresponding micrographs and movies. They also commented on other student's results.

• Students wanted to share their experiences in working with the microscope with other children. That is why we participated in the international festival of science in our city.

Science fair

• This inspired us to organize a school science fair, with less visitors and participants than the international festival of science, but it was more beautiful because it was ours.

• I can not claim that students have improved they knowledge and that they would have learned less using conventional way of teaching. What I know is that they gained some new skills and had the joy of participating in the mentioned activities.

Conclusion

Thank you for your attention