Interviews
An educational journey that strengthened scientific competencies and built new collaborative networks
- December 21, 2023
- Publicado por: ACCDIS
- Category: News
Camp Explora VA! Natural Laboratories and Citizen Science:
Nature, birdsong and starry skies were the natural laboratories that brought Camp Explora VA to life! carried out by the Explora North Metropolitan Region Associative Project. For five days, 40 teachers, Early childhood educators and technicians from various disciplines strengthened their scientific skills, They learned new teaching techniques and established new collaborative networks.
"Explora VA Camp! Natural Laboratories and Citizen Science for Research and Innovation, It was made up of many enriching experiences. Through captivating talks, Interesting Workshops, Observations and group dynamics, Participants worked on the development and improvement of their technical and transversal competencies, Standing out among them: Teamwork, the ability to learn to innovate through creative experiences, Problem solving from multiple perspectives, the development of correct research questions and the ability to develop innovation and research activities or projects with a significant impact on students," explained Loreto Bornscheuer, executive coordinator of Explora RM Norte.
Natural Laboratories
During the meeting, The aim was for the participants to understand the multiple opportunities or environmental environments that surround them and to incorporate them into the different subjects of the school curriculum, strengthening the articulation between the various disciplines.
In this sense, Francisco López from Natura Educa of the Atkinson Ibáñez Foundation and his team were in charge of presenting a methodology called "Project Learning Tree", which provides tools to teachers to enhance learning opportunities in all subjects, using open spaces as educational resources.
"This field trip allowed me to realize how far we are in innovative activities with students, It completely breaks down the structure we're used to working with. I was able to see how to integrate all the nuclei and work on the transversal objectives with the students. I learned how to incorporate several disciplines into a single activity, Math, science, language and generate the innate curiosity that students have. Regarding the values worked on, I emphasize tolerance, Respect, Solidarity and teamwork, which is not only enough to explain them but to apply them," said teacher Jacqueline Urrutia, kindergarten educator at the Manuel Bulnes Prieto Renca School.
On the other hand, the team of the Network of Birdwatchers and Wildlife of Chile (ROC), They showed the fundamentals of citizen science and how these tools can develop initiatives in the classroom. Being Bird Watching, A good tool to generate knowledge and improve students' appreciation of science, explained Juan Salazar, ROC coordinator.
During this outing, Teachers grabbed their binoculars, downloaded the free eBird app and started their birding hike, accompanied by work aimed at formulating research questions about birds, which can be replicated in classrooms.
"The experience was amazing, The truth is that personally I am very urban and this type of activity makes you look at elements that have always been there, but for various reasons they are no longer so obvious and the same thing happens to students, Without a doubt, this birdwatching walk is something that we can easily apply in school, especially the fact of using an app, since children are so immersed in technology that it would be a good resource to captivate them and start a research project," said Héctor Oyarce, professor of Visual Arts and in charge of the liaison room of the Dr. Eloísa Díaz de Conchalí School".
The creation of a herbarium as a pedagogical tool, it was also another of the activities developed at the Explora VA Camp! This workshop was led by Dr.. Gabriela Valenzuela, Faculty of Science, Chemistries and Pharmaceuticals of the University of Chile, who, through two modules, contextualized the importance of herbariums and the scientific skills that can be enhanced by developing them in the classrooms, and then learn the method of harvesting, drying of plant species and making a herbarium.
Activities in the field, ended with NGO Neguén, who gave the participants the opportunity to recognize the interactions of their environment and invited them to ask themselves questions that promote the construction of new knowledge.
Citizen Science in Action
Throughout the day, The importance of formulating good research questions was highlighted, a fundamental element for the work in Citizen Science. This approach represents a way to generate new scientific knowledge, through collective research projects, Participatory and open.
In this line, the Dra. Nélida Polh, Director of Communications of the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity offered a talk and workshop on the Inquiry Methodology called Teaching Ecology in the schoolyard, "Which seeks to make us all feel empowered to do science, focusing on learning to ask research questions that are comparative, interesting and relevant to our environment and that in turn can be answered in the time that teachers have to work with their students," explained Neli.
In this context, teacher Francisca Cabaña from the Easter Island School in Independencia commented that this activity left her reflecting on her teaching work, "I questioned whether I've asked the right research questions all this time. This workshop allowed me to understand the link that the question should have with the action and the answer that I want the children to develop. Formulating good research questions contributes to the development of children's critical thinking and communication skills and also helps me as a teacher, To look for the right answers, the ones I really want to get to through well-asked questions. On the other hand, I would like to highlight the field trip, make observations and put ourselves in the students' shoes, It allowed us to come up with a response that was close to what they were asking us to do."
Another of the activities where the creation of good research questions was addressed was through a game called "A World of Questions", created by Carolina Ezquer, Marine biologist and co-founder of the game. This game is focused on teaching how to improve research questions based on concrete criteria, It is aimed at boys and girls from the age of 12.
As for the experience of learning to ask questions, through the game Professor José Luis Montecinos, of the Plato School of Quinta Normal, he highlighted "there is a contextualization of which in the schools there is a lot of talk, But it is little applied and has to do with the use of play for learning, This game was enjoyed, We had a good time and along the way we were able to expand our vocabulary, Understanding semantics, Follow instructions, collaborate, Contribute to teamwork, understand the instructions from the point of view of improving the question... It was certainly an entertaining challenge, I really enjoyed it."
Explora VA Camp! It doesn't end here, During the next year, two follow-up meetings will be held to learn how the implementation and experiences carried out in their classrooms went. The Explora North Metropolitan Region project, Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation is executed by the Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDIS) and led by the Faculty of Science, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Companies of Chile.