Abstract:

Nowadays the number of migrants and refugees is being significantly increased in many places around the globe. This situation is having an impact on schools, where teachers encounter very diverse students in terms of language skills, cultural background, values, knowledge and capacities.

Teachers are key players in the education of both, native and migrant students. This is a crucial role taking into account that education will certainly influence individuals’ capacities to get a proper job, to develop their full potential and to actively contribute to social prosperity.
Mathematics and science provide essential knowledge and tools to get on in a sophisticated world and are core component of any educational model. However, they present specific learning obstacles, which might be enhanced in culturally diverse classrooms. Teachers should be equipped with the knowledge, strategies, skills and values to successfully address those challenges and support the development of all students.

The present work arises from a European project intended at facilitating science and mathematics learning in culturally diverse classrooms. An international consortium of experts from all around Europe will use a design research approach to develop a collection of learning environments for initial teacher education. Any of the learning environments to be produced will focus on a useful aspect for enhancing science and mathematics learning in multicultural contexts.

Within this scenario, this paper draws on the specialised literature, political documents and international reports to develop a set of guidelines for the design of the previously mentioned learning environments. They will integrate criteria for effective science and mathematics learning along with principles for intercultural education. The learning environment guidelines will take into account current recommendation for quality assurance in higher education, focus on the usability of learning objects and build on digital technologies to facilitate access and a wide distribution of products.

Keywords:

Science Education, Teacher Initial Education, Quality in High Education, Learning Environments, Intercultural Learning.