Area of Science, Geography, Computer Science and Mathematics Education
index.html.en - index.html.en
Projects
EU Project "STEM-PD-Net"
Dealing with an increasingly complex reality in class is a development which has accelerated in the last years and puts high demands on teachers. Thus, teachers need support through professional development (PD) activities to adopt new integrative methods. This need is particularly pronounced in STEM teaching (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), since STEM is a field in which all pupils, including migrants or those from disadvantaged backgrounds, should acquire appropriate skills in order to ensure their participation in work and life.
Nowadays, the need for high-quality STEM teacher PD and the promotion of approaches that allow teachers to deal with complex classroom realities has been recognized. This can also be seen in policy documents and reports such as the science education report (Science Education for Responsible Citizenship, European Commission 2015). It is also evidenced by the recent trend in Europe to establish PD centres to promote STEM teacher PD. However, these PD centres were not connected to each other and did not exchange experiences. Hence, the aim of the European Network of STEM Professional Development Centres (STEM PD Net) is to strengthening the position, work and knowledge base of STEM PD centres across Europe: through transnational exchange and mutual learning in a stable European PD centre network, through linking research with practice, through developing ready-to-use guidelines and reference materials for STEM PD providers. This will also contribute to improving the quality and relevance of STEM teacher PD on a large scale.
That is the essence of our project STEM PD Net, funded by Erasmus+ KA2 (Key action for ‘Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices’). The project is coordinated at the International Centre for STEM Education (ICSE) of the University of Education Freiburg, Germany.
The quality label „Regional Educational Competence Centre (RECC)“ is awarded to regional competence centres in the field of subject-specific education that fulfil certain criteria (see IMST). In Tyrol this quality label has been awarded to the Competence Centres for Didactics of Mathematics, Geometry, Physics, Biology, Geography, and Economics as well as German and Multilingualism. The Competence Centre for Didactics of Biology as well as Geography and Economics are exclusively organised by the University of Innsbruck. All other centres are collaborations between the PH Tirol and the University of Innsbruck.
Trees in urban areas have a number of important functions. However, they are also exposed to various stress factors such as heat and drought. CITREE aims to develop a monitoring instrument for urban trees based on band dendrometers that are used for measuring the trunk circumference and the growth of the diameter. This provides all citizens with the possibility to engage in the monitoring process, and get to know more about how trees actually grow.
Research Objectives
Develop an appropriate dendrometer system
Develop an appropriate database
System testing and optimisation
Installation in selected cities
Funding
bmwfw, TCS 01/001, PI: Stefan Mayr, Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck
INQUIRE is a three-year project that focuses on inquiry-based science education (IBSE). The project is funded by the European Union under the 7th Framework Programme and involves 17 partners from 11 European countries.
There are 14 botanical gardens involved in the project, all of which have developed a one-year IBSE-teacher-training course. Experienced institutions, such as Botanic Gardens Conservation International and two renowned universities – Kings College, London, UK and the University of Bremen, Germany – provide consultation and advice.
The objective of these courses is to attract more teachers to inquiry-based science education in order for the idea to be passed on to thousands of students. The content of the courses focuses on the loss of biodiversity and climate change – the major global issues of the 21st century according to the scientific world. The INQUIRE website supports the project by providing information and teaching materials and promoting dialogue between project partners and teachers.
The aim of the INQUIRE-project is to give teachers the possibility to practise, develop and improve their inquiry-based science education methods and reflect upon their own teaching practices. - For more information, see:
(2012 – 2015) that gathers and processes the results and experience gained from numerous European projects in the field of science and maths didactics. By connecting research, practice and politics, this project aims to promote inquiry-based learning, gather innovative learning methods and spark students’ interest in science.
Mascil (mathematics and science for life) aims to promote inquiry-based learning in primary and secondary schools. The project pays special attention to connecting the STEM subjects’ teaching methods to the world of work. The project has also developed teaching materials, created an e-learning platform, and provided advanced training Courses.
