Project Evaluation
The mascil comprehensive evaluation aims to provide us with answers to the questions: What is/was the project impact? Were project goal achieved? The evaluation also serves to point out critical issues involved in implementation measures aimed at making inquiry-based learning (IBL) more widespread and to broadly connect mathematics and science education to the world of work (WoW).
Dissemination
Dissemination is core to mascil. To be most effective, we incorporated dissemination strategies into the earliest planning stages of mascil and designed them prior to project begin.
Professional development approach of mascil
A substantial review (Joubert & Southerland, 2009) of research into what is effective in professional development highlights three key factors (i) it should be sustained over time and not a one-off event, (ii) that it is based on collaborative communities of teachers working together, and (iii) the development of subject knowledge is integral. mascil, therefore, is developing Professional Learning Communities that bring together teachers across schools to work together over time in collaboration to explore - in their classrooms - the implementation of inquiry learning approaches that connect to the world of work.
Hands-on mathematics
The team of the University of Education in Freiburg is cooperating with the training section of S. Siedle & Sons in Furtwangen. The team offers professional development courses for mathematics teachers which will take place in the company's vocational training workshop where usually industrial mechanics, industrial business managers, IT-system electronics technicians and electronics technicians are being trained. The courses start in September.
mascil midterm conference: `Educating the Educators`
mascil is hosting the conference which will take place from December 15th to December 16th 2014 at the University of Duisburg-Essen in cooperation with the DZLM (German Centre for Mathematics Teacher Education). Further supporters are the University of Education Freiburg, the University Duisburg-Essen and the EMS (European Mathematical Society). The deadline for registration is Friday, 28 November 2014.
Teamed up: vocational and secondary school teachers
At the end of this week the University of Education in Freiburg started its first mascil teacher training for secondary school teachers. "With our training we show mathematics and science teachers how they can initiate motivating learning processes based on real work experiences we got access to through our cooperation with several vocational school teachers", says Prof. Dr. Katja Maaß from the Institute of Mathematical Education in Freiburg.
Set-up of professional development toolkit
In December the project partners of mascil came together in Heraklion for their second project meeting. Next to the European Advisory Board meeting, a main focus was put on the introduction of the platform for teachers and the setting up of a professional development toolkit. Find out more in an interview with Marie Joubert from the University of Nottingham.
