New Perspectives in Science Education

Edition 13

Accepted Abstracts

AVOQUIM: Olympiads and Contests to Improve the Venezuelan Education in Science

Alessandro D. Trigilio-Paci, Ghent University (Belgium)

Amalia J. Torrealba-Sanoja, Asociación Venezolana de Olimpiadas de Química (AVOQUIM) (Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of)

César A. Urbina-Blanco, Ghent University (Belgium)

Abstract

AVOQUIM, the Venezuelan Association for Chemistry Olympiads (Asociación Venezolana de Olimpiadas de Química) was created in 2006 as a civil association whose mission is to detect and support talented young students and improve the chemistry education in Venezuela. In its beginnings, AVOQUIM was developed to give continuity to the OVQ (Venezuelan Chemistry Olympiads), but in the last 10 years it has also served as support to the educational needs of the country. Among its activities, there are workshops, competitions and didactic resources for students and teachers of basic education. Here we present an overview, highlights and results of four of our regular yearly programs. 1.The Venezuelan Chemistry Olympiad: it detects talented young students and guides them towards the study of chemistry within a framework of human values. It is aimed at high school students and consists of three tests: two theoretical and one experimental examination. The tests are "Olympiad type" problems, in which the contents of chemistry are linked to real life. To solve them, students need to put in practice their skills on reading comprehension, mathematical reasoning, and interpretation of tables, graphs and charts. The winners of the OVQ subsequently participate in the selection and training process for international chemistry events. 2. Ludic-experimental contest “Know the Periodic Table of the Elements”: a 10 years old program whose participants are grouped into teams composed of a third-, a fourth-, a fifth-year high school student, and a teacher. It is divided into 4 stages: chemical language, periodic properties, an experimental activity dedicated to a family or a chemical element, and a creative test. All stages are based on the study of the periodic table. 3. Crystals Growth Competition: it has been held for 4 years now, the teams consist of three third-year students and a teacher; the competition follows the guidelines of the international crystal growth contest. 4. Storytelling Contest: “I am the Chemical Element…”:  this activity aims to promote writing skills, illustration, and the first approach to chemistry of students in 5th, 6th, and 7th grade, who create stories written in Spanish using the chemical elements as the central theme. Since 2019, AVOQUIM works as an advisor for two new Olympiads for secondary level: 1. the Youth Science Olympiad (Olimpíada Juvenil de Ciencias, OJC), that uses an interdisciplinary approach focusing on thematic axes; The first edition featured cocoa beans, which are an internationally recognized premium Venezuelan export product;  2. The Youth Oil and Gas Olympiad, (Olimpiada Juvenil de Petróleo y Gas, OJPEGAS), which will be held every year at the secondary level starting from 2020.

Back to the list

REGISTER NOW

Reserved area


Media Partners:

Click BrownWalker Press logo for the International Academic and Industry Conference Event Calendar announcing scientific, academic and industry gatherings, online events, call for papers and journal articles
Pixel - Via Luigi Lanzi 12 - 50134 Firenze (FI) - VAT IT 05118710481
    Copyright © 2024 - All rights reserved

Privacy Policy

Webmaster: Pinzani.it