Abstract:

In spite of the important role of Science in our society the matters related with Science in elementary school have a discrete presence. The new educational trends to design and development of Curriculum of Basic Education try to implement some innovative methodologies based in active paper of students and the introduction of new pedagogic tools among them Science projects. Science projects could be an important innovative approach to develop the most fundamental and transversal competences of curricula and to connect contents with everyday problems. Among science projects research projects are scarcely implanted in elementary schools. In this study we conducted a SWOT (Strength-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) analysis to evaluate the implementation of research projects on several elementary schools of Bizkaia province in the Basque Country (Spain). We analyzed among other fields the appropriate scientific formation of teachers, scientific contents and methodologies, motivation aspects in students and teachers, and intra- and interrelationship among educational communities.

For this study several research and educational agents (the research group -EKOFISKO of the University of the Basque Country, the Innovation and Educational Center Getxo-Berritzegune, and 6 Centers of Elementary School involving 51 teachers and 850 students (kinder school, elementary and secondary cycle) in the influence area of the GetxoBerritzegune. We design a simple research project (The Meninas Project I) and the experimental part could be done by the teacher and students in the classroom along a week. We create the materials (for teachers and students) and give the basic formation to teachers in order to work the basic competences of the curriculum. Our results indicate a great acceptance of research projects as innovation methodologies to develop and accomplish the competences of curriculum as a multidisciplinary activity. The enthusiastic response to get involved and to carry out science projects and particularly research projects in elementary schools needs the convergence of several educational and research agents. In this sense urge a crosstalk among University, Innovation and Educational Centers and elementary schools to implement new learning methodologies to enhance scientific and multidisciplinary education.

Keywords:

innovation, science projects, research projects, curriculum competences.