Abstract:

This work describes the development and results obtained in the project “Physico-chemical study of a rural atmosphere and an industrial-closed atmosphere: Benefits for the secondary education curriculum” which has been financially supported by Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (2007-2009). The study has been carried out through the collaboration of a group of university lectures and a group of teachers from two secondary school centres and their students. The fields of the study are both the atmosphere and the students’ behaviour.
During the study we have encouraged the active participation of the students through different stimulating activities which required equipment and methodologies not usual for them. The objective is to work on the basic contents of Physics and Chemistry courses of ESO and Bachillerato through the relations with the methodology of a research study.
From the point of view of the students, the experience has been programmed in the following steps:
a- Introduction. The teachers have shown a general presentation about the role of the ozone in the troposphere, its dependence on meteorology, the formation mechanisms and the relation to atmospheric pollution and health problems. Furthermore the students have been informed about the meteorology station and the ozone analyzer to be used in the project.
b- Search of information: pupils have been asked to complete the information about the different aspects of the work from written and web bibliographic sources.
c- Inter-disciplinary connections: One of the main objectives is to develop skills and work on topics also related to other matters. Thus for example, the experimental data are converted to Excel files and plotted (informatics), fitted to equations, statistically analysed, (Math), pluviometry, wind and temperature data are related to Geography and Environmental Sciences, etc…
d- Approaching to University. Addressed specifically to pupils in the second year of baccalaureate within the Sciences and/or Technology options. These students carried out several laboratory experiments in the University and wrote the corresponding report.
Results. Pupils have participated in the measurements of ozone profiles, wind, temperature, radiation intensity, in the treatment and analysis of data and in the surveillance of measurements below the alert limits. From a didactic point of view, we have found pupils more motivated than in previous years (when this experience was not carried out). The academic results are also better and most of the students show their satisfaction for having participated in the project and their purpose to initiate university studies.

Keywords:

innovation, research project, pollution, ozone, atmosphere.