Thinking Assessment in Science and Mathematics
Minister for Research and Innovation, Seán Sherlock T.D., opened the joint SMEC-SAILS Conference hosted by the Centre for Advancement of Science and Mathematics Teaching and Learning (CASTeL), which was focused on “Thinking Assessment in Science and Mathematics”.
The purpose of this two-day event (24th & 25th June 2014) was to provide an international platform for teachers and educators to discuss research and share classroom practices in the teaching, learning and assessment of mathematics and science. This key conference was enhanced by plenary presentations from SAILS project collaborators Paul Black, Benő Csapó, Christine Harrison, Cecília Galvão together with national and international experts including Prof. Wynne Harlen, Prof. Malcolm Swan, Dr. Michael O’Leary and Dr. Zita Lysaght.
Dr. Odilla Finlayson, Coordinator of the SAILS project and co-chair of this conference acknowledged the invaluable contributions from the SAILS partners, from 12 European countries, and their second level teachers whom represented half of the conference delegation. The conference attracted over 170 international participants, including science and mathematics teachers and educators from across primary, secondary and tertiary level along with researchers and policymakers. With a total of 25 oral research presentations, 29 presentations on classroom practice, 6 workshops and 61 poster presentations the programmes offered extensive opportunities for showcasing excellence in research and classroom practice and for generating dialogue that shape the landscape of science and mathematics education.
This year’s gathering is particularly topical considering the emerging educational landscape and is very much in keeping with the remit of the STEM Education Review Group, launched by Minister Sherlock in November of last year. In his address, Minister Sherlock, acknowledged the vital work of CASTeL and welcomed “the inclusion of innovative teaching methodologies and assessment and evaluation as issues to be addressed. We need to ensure that our students are aware of how they are doing, understand how they can improve and are given the support they need to be confident, independent and ambitious learner… Today’s discussions will feed into the work being done in the Department regarding instilling creative and independent thinking in our students, through Project Maths and Junior Cycle reform.”
In his welcome address, Minister Sherlock acknowledged the value of FP7 funded projects in science education in Ireland, such as SAILS and the ESTABLISH project, which have both been coordinated by Dublin City University. Minister Sherlock officially launched the ESTABLISH inquiry based science teaching and learning resources that have been produced by the collaborative efforts of this European consortium and that will be circulated openly to the science teachers of Ireland. Presenting these resources, Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, Coordinator of the ESTABLSIH project and co-Chair of this conference, emphasised the value of appropriate materials for Inquiry based learning that have been trialled in classrooms across Europe and the opportunity of supporting teacher education programmes that has provided through this project but stressed the need for continual professional development to support teaching, learning and assessment in the classroom.
[Background Information]
The Science and Mathematics Education Conference (SMEC) series is the flagship conference hosted biennially by the CASTeL research centre which began in 2004. Each conference deals with aspects of science and mathematics education and has attracted a host of national and international experts to Dublin City University. Details about the SMEC conference, past and present, are available from the website: www.dcu.ie/smec. Also please visit the website for CASTeL (www.castel.ie) for information about this research group.
The SAILS project (Strategies for the Assessment of Inquiry Learning in Science), has received funding from the European Commission through the FP7 Programme. This four year project is focused on supporting teachers in adopting an inquiry approach in teaching science at second level (students aged 12-18 years) across Europe. In particular SAILS will develop appropriate strategies and frameworks for the assessment of IBSE skills and competences and prepare teachers not only to be able to teach through IBSE, but also to be confident and competent in the assessment of their students‟ learning. Further information about SAILS is available from their website: www.sails-project.eu.