New Perspectives in Science Education

In occasion of the International Year of the Soil, the University of Camerino started a project carried out by science teachers now PhD students in “Teaching Earth Science”, in collaboration with some local schools in the Marche Region (Italy). The project is focused on topics dealing with the soil formation, mineralogy, characteristics, use and protection,  and aims at students in the age range 11-14 years.

The topic has been chosen also because, using the soil as “fil rouge”, it allows an exceptional interdisciplinary approach, giving the possibility to introduce Earth science topics (geology, geomorphology, climatology...) as well as other disciplines (biology, chemistry, technology, art...). The activities have been proposed  using the IBSE approach, which stimulates the formulation of questions and actions to solve problems and understand phenomena, contributing to stimulate active learning, to promote collaboration among students and to enhance students’ motivation, increasing knowledge and competences. In spite of its validity, in Italy and in the schools of the Marche regions IBSE is still scarcely used.

The  activities   were tested on several classes  with a class  as a control. In  the first activity  students were divided into groups, to cooperate in the investigation of an IBSE question, through the observation of four totems representing the formation over time of four different soils. Than paper-based information and guiding questions are given to answer IBSE question “ why are soils different?”. The activity ends with  practical work  and a discussion among the  working groups.  A  pre-test, a post-test, and a re-test (after some time)were given to pupils.

The results obtained from the questionnaires show that the students were very involved in all the phases of the activity and interacting between each other, even those more reluctant to school.  Using this activity they approached a topic usually not taught in schools and with a high level of deepening.

The teachers appreciated the interdisciplinariety of the project which accomplishes also the requirements of the school curriculum for students this age.