Newsletter #2 Latest update in open schooling initiatives
Dear reader, good morning.
Here we are again! This time with more stories, experiences and good-practices on open schooling.
On top of our in-depth interview - featuring the Open Science Hub project being developed in the rural community of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal -, we are introducing three new sections:
- Open schooling snapshots: short stories about open schooling, on-the-ground, moments, by practitioners
- In the making: a selection of noteworthy tools and methodologies for co-creation action or public engagement
- Tips and tops: suggestions of good reads and European-level events
And if you want regular news and updates of our journeys, follow @OStogether on Facebook and Twitter.
Enjoy!
In-depth: Open Science Hub - Portugal:
towards an Open Schooling ecosystem
From left to right: Ana Cristina Perpétuo, Paulo Langrouva, Ana Faustino
by Open Science Hub
It was a bright and warm springy afternoon in the village of Castelo Rodrigo, Portugal, when we met with Ana Faustino, project manager of Open Science Hub - Portugal, Ana Cristina Perpétuo, teacher, and Paulo Langrouva, Mayor of the Municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo.
Why did a small county in the interior of Portugal, close to the border with Spain, decide to make an investment on science, education and innovation, and to create an Open Science Hub in 2017? And which impact does it have on community development?
This was the perfect excuse for an open and informal afternoon that brought together three people, and three entities, with the same motivation and mission: to work together to provide the conditions for our children to become more creative and entrepreneurial, and to give them the space to dream. This will allow us to continue moving towards the development, innovation and well-being of our communities and of our territory.
Eva Roelandt is a doctoral student at the Centre for Sustainable Development at Ghent University. In SEAS project, she focuses on how Belgian schools and stakeholders outside the school can collaborate on local sustainability problems.
She shared with us one of her open-schooling moments:
"It’s 9 o’clock in the morning and I’m waiting for the group to arrive at the biodynamic farm. The mist rises 2 meters above the ground and little drops of water cling to the little plants in front of me.
Some minutes later eight children arrive who are happy to leave their backpacks in the boot of the car. One boy mentions he brought a pen in case he needs to write something down. It's not the first time they've been here..."
Our selection of noteworthy tools and methodologies for co-creation action or public engagement
Toolbox for co-creation journeys by SISCODE Target: Organisations or individuals interested in conducting co-creation activities Goals: To facilitate the design and implementation of co-creation activities, focusing on better understanding and prioritisation of the particularities of each context. Foundations: RRI, co-creation, citizen engagement Timing: An iterative process in 4 phases
Q. How does it promote innovation in education? SISCODE toolbox. Co-creation is an emerging methodology where relevant stakeholders are invited to actively take part in creating a service or product, or even a policy, from the problem definition to the implementation of the solution.
Q. An inspiring change the tool has boosted? SISCODE toolbox. This toolbox has successfully been used throughout the co-creation journey developed by our 10 co-creation labs. Together with citizens and relevant stakeholders, each of them has addressed a societal issue relevant to their local context (such as air pollution, an ageing population or circular economy) and they have prototyped and successfully implemented those solutions using tools available here.
Target: Science educators Goals: To design and facilitate meaningful and inclusive science learning activities and programs Foundations: Equity in science learning outside the classroom Location: Relevant for any non-formal science education space Timing: All ranging in time to suit many situations
Q. How does it promote innovation in education? System2020 Design Principles. The design principles hope to inspire educators and pedagogical coordinators with three thematic sections: For everyone, For experience, For growth. These areas focus on different elements within pedagogical and workshop design. Ultimately, these principles call you to design and develop your facilitation practice whilst focusing on issues around access, diversity and inclusion in science education, creating a workshop or programme that accomodates for all.
Q. What makes this toolkit so special? System2020 Design Principles. The toolkit is for designing science learning activities that take place outside the classroom, in spaces such as science centres, makerspaces, museums, galleries, and gardens. Alongside the design principles, the toolkit also includes case studies from non-formal learning organisations from across Europe to inspire your practice in the future.
Paulo Blikstein, Sylvia Libow Martinez, Heather Allen Pang and Kevin Jarrett gathered inspirational ideas, articles, and best practices from educators at the forefront of making and hands-on education
Katrien Van Poeck and Eva Roelandt from University of Ghent share their views and pose the urgent question in a new article about citizenship education. Are there tensions in global citizenship education?
Tools to cultivate long-termism in institutions: The Long Time Project is focused on finding new ways to help us care about the long-term future, so that we take responsibility for it in the short-term.
Events
2021 Ecsite Conference
9-11 June, Online
Registration open on 12 April Visit the website
Open Schooling together is a joint initiative of 9 projects funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Programme. It aims to raise awareness on the opportunities of open schooling and on the different methodologies to implement this concept.
Target: Organisations or individuals interested in conducting co-creation activities
Target: Science educators
