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