FROM THE POLAR REGIONS TO THE SCHOOLS: TEACHING TOOLS FOR EVIDENCE-BASED POLAR EDUCATION IN ITALY

• Main Authors: MACARIO, MADDALENA, INVERNIZZI, Maria Chiara, PARIS, Eleonora, Franco Maria Talarico
• Other Authors: Macario, Maddalena, Invernizzi, Maria Chiara, Paris, Eleonora, Franco Maria, Talarico
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: European Science Education Research Association 2013
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11581/363786

This research project aimed to promote innovative science education practices and methods in the Italian school on topics related to the Polar Regions. In particular, a series of teaching modules is proposed, based on the Inquiry-based learning approach, which is not widespread yet in Italy. The modules include complete full lesson plans in teacher- and student-version and multimedia resources like lab video-clips, mini video-lectures and smart board lessons. All the resources are inspired by international Polar Research and Education experiences, and based on scientific data from a case study regarding the Antarctic glacial system. In order to evaluate the educational effectiveness of the modules, the resources have been tested by a group of in-service teachers and their pupils. The testing allowed the characterization of each resource in order to evaluate their effectiveness and facilitate their use in the classrooms. Keywords: Earth Sciences, IBSE, Polar Sciences, polar education, teaching resources.