ExeLeNz Kaisersesch
International school achievement studies such as PISA or IGLU have shown that there is still a backlog demand in Germany in the area of scientific learning. Against this background, it is important to interest and motivate pupils more in order to encourage them to actively deal with scientific phenomena.
Within the framework of the present project, schools under the sponsorship of the Kaisersesch municipality are given the opportunity to permanently integrate a blended learning offer for self-directed, research-based learning into the lessons and their educational offers. The blended learning approach combines experimental work synergetically with online tools for self-directed learning.
On the basis of simple hands-on experiments, an interest-driven and motivated occupation of pupils with natural sciences is initiated and the independent discovery and understanding of scientific phenomena and contexts is supported. In doing so, pupils with little previous knowledge and interest are also addressed. Pupils and teachers can use the online tools from the e-learning platform ILIAS, which is offered to schools as an additional added value within the project for free use in class.
The blended learning offer was developed within the pilot project "Self-directed learning through scientific freehand experiments and e-learning in the all-day school at the University of Koblenz-Landau. The scientific evaluation of the approach has shown that it successfully succeeds in promoting self-directed learning among pupils and improving basic scientific education in a comprehensive way (cognition and interest are promoted).
Contact
Institute for Knowledge Media
Project Management: Dr. Peter Ferdinand ferdinand@uni-koblenz.de
References
Ferdinand, P. (2005). A Blended Learning concept for self-directed and situated learning in the science domain. How 'hands-on eLearning' can motivate pupils to deal with natural sciences. In: Proceedings of Interactive Computer Aided Learning ICL 2005 Conference, Villach, Austria, September 2005.
Ferdinand, P., Nitsche, E., Rödler, P. & Stahlhofen, A. (2004). Self-directed learning through scientific freehand experiments and eLearning in all-day school. Unpublished final report of the pilot project of the same name within the framework of the scientific monitoring of all-day schools in a new form. Supported by the Ministry of Education, Women and Youth (MBFJ) in Rhineland-Palatinate. Koblenz: University of Koblenz-Landau, Koblenz Department.
Ferdinand, P. (2007). Self-directed learning in the natural sciences. An intervention study on the cognitive and motivational effects of a blended learning approach. Hamburg: Publisher Dr. Kovacs.