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Anne-Lotte Masson: The Junior Thesis as a way to reduce the gap between secondary and tertiary education Scientix European Conference, 6-8 May 2011, Brussels
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16-5-2011
Challenge the future
DelftUniversity ofTechnology
BRIDGING THE GAP: JUNIOR THESISAnne-Lotte Masson,
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Background
• Influence of science and technology on society is increasing• Not enough young people choose for a career in science• Effective and attractive science education is not easy to establish
(Millar 2006, Klop 2008)
• Millar, R. (2006) Twenty First Century Science: Insights from the Design and Implementation of a Scientific Literacy Approach in School Science. International Journal of Science Education, 28(13)• Klop, T. (2008) Attitudes of Secondary School Students towards Modern Biotechnology. Rotterdam, Erasmus University. PHD
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PhD thesis
• How can education activities be designed and organised:• to improve people’s concept of biotechnology? • to encourage people to critically evaluate science and technology
development?
Overall research question
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Research objectives
• Identify critical success factors in science education activity• Analyse effects of education activity• Design a measuring instrument to accurately measure fulfilling of
educational goals
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Case study
• Biotechnological application in developing country• Scientists provide ideas• Students carry out feasibility study as junior thesis• Winning project put to practice and visited by students
The Imagine… competition
www.foundation-imagine.org
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The Junior Thesis
• Final project based assignment• Interdisciplinary• ‘proof of competence’ of chosen curriculum
• Information skills• Research skills• Communication and presentation skills• Planning skills• Cooperation skills
What is it?
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Junior thesis
• Focus of explorative study• Literature on junior thesis• Interviews with teachers• Interviews with students
Problem in implementation?
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Preliminary results
• Interdisciplinary approach
• Practical assignment
• Opportunity to get acquainted to scientific practice
• Curriculum-specific ‘Proof of competence’
Original requirements
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Preliminary results
• Interdisciplinary approach• No longer required, still desired by teachers
• Practical assignment• Sometimes just following a predefined protocol
• Opportunity to get acquainted to scientific practice• Looking beyond the school valued and encouraged by teachers
• Curriculum-specific ‘Proof of competence’• Research skills most emphasised
• Teachers do not always feel sufficiently equipped to supervise junior thesis
Teachers view on the JT
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Preliminary results
• Interdisciplinary approach• Intrinsic in nature of projects
• Practical assignment• Experiment under supervision of scientist
• Opportunity to get acquainted to scientific practice• Students cooperate with scientists
• Curriculum-specific ‘Proof of competence’• Mentioned skills in evaluation criteria
• Teachers do not always feel sufficiently equipped to supervise junior thesis
• Supervision partly done by scientist
Teachers view on Imagine…
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Conclusion
• Junior thesis as a tool for bridging the gap? Implementation is not always reaching full potential
• The Imagine... competition offers a template for a good junior thesis
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Indications for further research
• Confirm and further examine problems with implementation junior thesis among larger number of teachers and students
• Interviews• Focus groups• Workshops
• Further examine critical factors within Imagine…• Interviews • Observation of participants• Intervention
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