This is a presentation I gave at the EDEN 2012 Conference in Porto, Portugal about the project GLOBAL excursion and how we use participatory design methods in the project. GLOBAL excursion aims to improve science teaching in schools for 14-18 year old students.

1. Linking schools with science: How innovative
tools can increase the effectiveness of
science teaching in the classroom
Barbara Kieslinger
Centre for Social Innovation – ZSI
Vienna, Austria
http://www.globalexcursion-project.eu/ GLOBAL Excursion RI-283686

2. European Commission 2007
In recent years, many studies
have highlighted an alarming
decline in young people’s
interest for key science
studies and mathematics….
… Unless more effective
action is taken, Europe’s
longer term capacity to
innovate, and the quality of
its research will also decline.

3. GLOBAL excursion
 …to provide young citizens
(14-18 years) and their
educators access to e-
Infrastructures and expert
knowledge for a joyful
exploration of e-Science
through e-Infrastructure
 To create teaching use
cases, pedagogical &
technical artefacts
 To improve science
curricula

4. Main access point –
Virtual Science Hub (ViSH)
http://vishub.org

5. Access to virtual excursions and
infrastructure

6. What are virtual excursions?
a tour through some digital context
by teachers and pupils on a given
scientific topic that is attractive
and has an educational purpose.
2 types of virtual excursions:
Interactive & synchronous: teachers and pupils interact
directly with scientists and with other pupils and teachers
from other schools.
Asynchronous: it can be accessed at any time. It provides
access to infrastructure and scientific educational content.

7. Participatory Design Approach
abstract abstract
CURRENT teacher's present existing science
BASIS work content and tools
concrete concrete
Participatory
Design process
abstract abstract
NEW Virtual Excurion
teacher's future
Hub & virtual
DEVELOPMENT work
excursions
concrete concrete

8. The extended partnership
Active involvement of scientists, designers, developers and teachers
from across Europe!

9. Participation process
Prototypes

10. Important findings
I
 Flexible small content units in
controlled environment
 Live connections with
scientists
 Support of different
didactical concepts
 Multiple device access
(mobile!)
 Support experience exchange
amongst teachers
 Drop gaming approach

11. Facts & Figures Partnership
 Duration: 30 months (September  Zentrum für Soziale Innovation -
2011 – February 2014) ZSI, Austria
 Budget: 800.000 €  Universidad Politécnica de
 Contract number: 283686 Madrid, Spain
 Funding Programme: 7th  European Schoolnet EUN,
Framework Programme of the Belgium
European Union, Capacities,  Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
Research Infrastructures  University of Cambridge, UK
 Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
Hungary
 Agora Systems, Spain

12. Thank you!
Barbara Kieslinger Claudia M. Fabian Margit Hofer Teresa Holocher
Centre for Social Innovation - ZSI
Linke Wienzeile 246, 1st Floor
1150 Vienna, Austria
phone: +43-1-495 04 42 – 31
fax: +43-1-495 04 42 – 40
mail: kieslinger@zsi.at
http://www.zsi.at