Student-directed learning: MicroGlobalScope in the classroom

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Student-directed learningMicroGlobalScope in
the classroom

• Dejan Boskovic
• Biology teacher
• Elementary school Ivo Andric
• Belgrade, Serbia

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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.

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• 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.

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

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• Also, Science House Foundation provided us with
  platform for learning and presenting the results
• http//www.microglobalscope.org/

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Project

• 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.

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

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

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• 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.

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Science fair

• 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.

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• 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.

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Conclusion

• 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.

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Thank you for your attention