Development of common approaches to involvement youth into science and technical sphere - BeTech!
Kolarctic CBC project KO2071 BeTech!
Project description
School development experts and education policy makers have expressed their concern that young people do not apply for studies in mathematics and science, or in other subjects where these are applied.
This is the situation in the countries of Kolarctic region, as well as in many other industrialized countries. It leads to an undesired structure of competence among the citizens: a lack of experts in natural sciences.
This project will contribute to raising motivation of schoolchildren to learn science, via work with teachers and teaching methods. It will also contribute to raising interest towards business and industrial sector, via e.g. study visits.
Project descipition at Kolarctic https://kolarctic.info/projects-2/
More about Kolarctic: https://kolarctic.info/faq/
Main target groups:
- Young people aged 12-16
- School teachers
- Community leaders
- Enterprises representing scientific and technical sphere
BeTech! in Oulu
- Partner schools: Oulun Normaalikoulu and Laanilan yläkoulu
- Joint seminar: September 26th and 27th 2019
Project coordinator
Municipality of Alta, NorwayProject results
Be Tech! project article published 1.6.2020:
Teacher’s role is important in directing students’ attitudes towards science and mathematics
It is well known that while students’ interest towards school science and technology is quite high, their science and technology career aspirations have become alarmingly low especially in developed countries.
The complex structure of attitudes views attitudes as consisting of at least three distinct domains. Enjoyment for learning science can lead to positive feelings towards science related activities at school. Students’ positive attitudes towards science are visible when they are reading science magazines for pleasure and visit science exhibitions. Expose to evidence like ozone depletion may influence students’ beliefs about the importance of science.
Common features of students’ attitudes towards studying and learning science and mathematics in comprehensive and secondary schools in the North-Calotte region of Norway (Alta), Finland (Oulu) and Russia (Murmansk) were investigated. Data was collected by conducting an online survey for 581 students. Based-on results, our model consists three factors: the perception of the teacher, anxiety towards science and mathematics, and motivation.
The results suggest that most students are motivated to study sciences and mathematics. There were also gender differences in attitudes to students’ future studies and career plans. Most girls recognized the importance of these subjects for their future studies and careers, while boys showed more interest than girls in local career opportunities at industry.
Teachers have an important role in directing students’ attitudes towards science and mathematics. Students experienced that the teachers who use innovative teaching approaches both motivate and reduce anxiety in their learning process.
Article information:
Tomperi, P., Ryzhkova, I., Shestova, Y., Lyash, O., Lazareva, I., Lyash, A., Kvivesen, M., Manshadi, S., & Uteng, S. (2020). The three-factor model: A study of common features in students’ attitudes towards studying and learning science and mathematics in the three countries of the North Calotte region. LUMAT: International Journal on Math, Science and Technology Education, 8(1), 89–106. https://doi.org/10.31129/LUMAT.8.1.1369
More information about the article and research: Project Researcher Päivi Tomperi paivi.h.tomperi at oulu.fi
BeTech!-seminar in Alta 11.-13.2.2020
Second BeTech!-seminar took place in Alta 11.-13.2.2020. During the seminar participants explored for example fish herding and energy industry. On Thursday the participants got to know the Arctic University of Norway. On Friday 14.2. we visited Kiruna mine. From Oulu there was 44 young people, their teachers and subject theacher students participating the seminar.
BeTech!-seminar in Oulu 26.-27.9.2019
BeTech!-seminar brought together more than hundred young peolple and their teachers from Alta, Murmansk and Oulu. During the two days the participants visited for example Nokia, Science Centre Tietomaa, Oulu Mining School and FabLab. They also participated European Researchers' Nigtht on Friday.
Partners
Municipality of Alta (Norway)
University of Oulu (Finland)
The Arcic University of Norway
Murmansk Arctic State University (Russia)
Education, Innovation, Science and Research union "Socium+" (Russia)
Association of suppliers "Murmanshelf" (Russia)