Image taken from scienceacross.org
The tagline quoted above refers to the international project “Science Across the World” (SATW), which caught my attention when searching for a project that combines both of my subjects – English and Biology – and of course – new media.
What?
Science across the World is an internet platform that enables stundents from all over the world to work on similar science projects and exchange their reasearch progress and results.
How?
After having payed a one-time fee of 30€, a school has access to all the information and possibilities “Science across the World” has to offer. Teachers (or students) get to choose from a wide range of interesting research topics which are designed for every age group, fit most science curricula all over the world, and can be carried out in every country.
Topics include:
- Chemistry in our Lives
- Global Warming
- Keeping Heathy
- What do I eat?
- Plants in our Lives
- Biodiversity
After having decided on a topic, students and teachers can work with the provided information pages where they can find an introction to their topic and gather ideas for their own researches.
While working on their topics, students and teachers can get in contact with schools form all over the world, who are currently working on the same subject. The students can exchange their information by writing Emails, discuss on the SATW platform and create school webpages related to their topic. After having completed their researches, students can compare their results with other nations, which – in most cases – will be very interesting due to the different ways of living in other countries.
But even if there should not be another school currently working on the same subjects, students get to use the SATW platform, which provides several topic data and hotlinks.
Why?
- multicultural communication (in English, via the internet)
- multicultural exchange of research proplems/progress/achievements
- getting an insight into other cultures and ways of life
- getting an insight into actual scientific work and exchange between scientists
- independent work (own goals, own time management etc.)
- motivation
- introduction of the internet as information platform
- introduction of English as (scientific) lingua franca
- …
My opinion
I would not have chosen this project if I would not support the idea myself. I am positive that students would enjoy working on these up-to-date and intercultural topics, doing research themselves and communicating with students from all over the world. I truly believe that a project auch as “Science Across the World” would enhance every Biology class – and my students English abilities.
What I especially liked about this project was the use of the internet as a means to an end and not just to use new media because it’s “cool” and somehow demanded in the curriculum. Here, students actually use new media the same way it is used by scientists – as an infromation and communication platform.
Overall I can say that I would be happy to use such a device in my future classes, even if it is alot of work for both students and teachers. But I think it is definately worth it!
For more information click here.
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