HSCI2008
Proceedings of the
5^th International Conference on
Hands-on Science
Formal and Informal Science Education

13th - 17th October, 2008
Olinda, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

PROCEEDINGS' FULL TEXT (low resolution)

HSCI2008 Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Hands-on Science Formal and Informal Science Education 13rd - 17th October, 2008 Espaço Ciência, Olinda-Recife, Brazill   Edited by Manuel Filipe Pereira da Cunha Martins Costa (Universidade do Minho) José Benito Vazquez Dorrío (Universidade de Vigo) António Carlos Pavão (Espaço Ciência) Mikiya Muramatsu (Universidade de São Paulo)  The Hands-on Science Network Copyright © 2008 H-Sci ISBN 978-989-95095-3-5 Printed by: Copissaurio Repro – Centro Imp. Unip. Lda. Campus de Gualtar, Reprografia Complexo II, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal Number of copies: 200 First printing: September 2008 Distributed worldwide by The Hands-on Science Network - mfcosta@fisica.uminho.pt Full text available online at http://www.hsci.info The papers published in this book compose the Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Hands-on Science. Papers were selected by the Conference Committees to be presented in oral or poster format, and were subject to review by the editors and program committee. They are exclusive responsibility of the authors and are published herein as submitted, in interest of timely dissemination. Please use the following format to cite material from this book: Author (s). Title of Paper. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Hands-on Science. Costa MF, Dorrío BV, Pavao AF and Miramatsu M (Eds.); 2008, 13-17 October; Espaço Ciência, Olinda-Recife, Brazil. 2008. Page numbers. The authors of this book, the Hands-on Science Network, the organizers and the sponsors of the HSCI2008 Conference, none of them, accept any responsibility for any use of the information contained in this book. All rights reserved. Permission to use is granted if appropriate reference to this source is made, the use is for educational purposes and no fees or other income is charged. FOREWORD   With a broad open understanding of the meaning and importance of Science to the development of our societies, each individual and of the humankind, the main goal of the Hands-on Science Network is the development and improvement of science education and scientific literacy by an extended use of investigative hands-on experiments based learning of Science and its applications. Our activity extends to all subjects age levels, from pre-school basic secondary vocational and special education schools to higher education and adult education. Approaching science education from different angles and perspectives using different methods and teaching strategies although always trying to promote active self committed, hands-on, learning in formal and non-formal/ informal contexts. Often considered isolated and unrelated contexts, the formative educational potential of activities in non-formal and informal environments and approaches was clearly un-profited on itself and to in-school formal learning. The recent extraordinary boom of science museums and centres, all over the world, lead to a very positive development in approaching and exploring the pedagogic usefulness of informal and non-formal educational approaches. The benefits to formal in school education, that is will and should be the main educational ground in our societies, of non-formal and informal activities should be further explored and the relationship enhanced in both directions. Our 5th International Conference on “Hands-on Science. Formal and informal science education”, the first one to take place outside the European Union, will focus on discussing and exploring new approaches to these subjects. The environment of Brazil’ Pernambuco state main science centre “Espaço Ciência” in the UNESCO World Heritage town of Olinda, Recife, will be the ideal nurturing ground for a open friendly and productive exchange of experiences and ideas among the expected over 250 participants from all over Brazil and the world. The 140 communications received, published in the conference’ proceedings book and later on, after peer-review, at our new International Journal on Hands-on Science (http://ijhsci.aect.pt), will become an invaluable tool to be freely used by teachers educators and all persons interested and involved in science education.... …towards a better Science Education… As Chair of the conference and President of the International Association Hands-on Science Network it is my pleasure to welcome you to HSCI2008 wishing you a wonderful stay in Olinda! Braga, September 22, 2008. Manuel Filipe Pereira da Cunha Martins Costa Chair

Full Text

HSCI2007

Proceedings of the
4th International Conference on Hands-on Science
Development Diversity and Inclusion in Science Education
23rd - 27th July, 2007
Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal
 

Edited by

Manuel Filipe Pereira da Cunha Martins Costa (Universidade do Minho)

José Benito Vazquez Dorrío (Universidade de Vigo)

Raquel Reis (Universidade Aberta)
 

 The Hands-on Science Network

 

Copyright © 2007 H-Sci

ISBN 978-989-95336-1-5

Printed by: Copissaurio Repro – Centro Imp. Unip. Lda. Campus de Gualtar, Reprografia Complexo II, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal

Number of copies: 200

First printing July 2007

Distributed worldwide by The Hands-on Science Network - mfcosta@fisica.uminho.pt

Full text available online at http://www.hsci.info

The papers published in this book compose the Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Hands-on Science. Papers were selected by the Conference Committees to be presented in oral or poster format, and were subject to review by the editors and program committee. They are exclusive responsibility of the authors and are published herein as submitted, in interest of timely dissemination.

Please use the following format to cite material from this book:

Author (s). Title of Paper. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Hands-on Science. Costa MF, Dorrío BV, Reis R (Eds.); 2007, July 23-27; University of Azores; Ponta Delgada, Portugal. 2007. Page numbers.

The authors of this book, the Hands-on Science Network, the organizers and the sponsors of the HSCI2007 Conference, none of them, accept any responsibility for any use of the information contained in this book.

All rights reserved.

Permission to use is granted if appropriate reference to this source is made, the use is for educational purposes and no fees or other income is charged.

HSCI2007

Proceedings of the

4th International Conference on Hands-on Science

Development Diversity and Inclusion in Science Education

23rd - 27th July, 2007

Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal

ISBN 978-989-95336-1-5

Online available on http://www.hsci.info 

The Hands-on Science Network
© 2007 H-Sci

FOREWORD

 

The quality of life and the levels of economical and social development are quite diverse in different continents, on each continent’s trans-national region, country or even local community. Dramatic differences in social and economical development across the world extend to culture and education further conditioning the evolution of human condition and societies.

World’ sustainable development strengthening the democracy and social cohesion in our societies with high levels of human development in respect to the United Nations chart of human rights requires a true inclusive globalization on our world. Not the ongoing so called globalization that only refer or is implemented in the sake of economics or the economic growth of major companies or multinational corporations, but on guaranteeing dignifying leaving conditions for every human being, focusing on human development and with true respect by each others’ culture history and believes, respecting and growing with and from… the difference.

Science may and should have a major role in this process. Science education is fundamental to the development of Science and it also may and should lead to a better individual human’ development.

Since 2003 the Hands-on Science Network is actively involved in the improvement of Science Education and scientific literacy promoting an enlarged use of hands-on experiments in the classroom under Aristotle’s motto “We learn how to do things by doing the things we are learning to do”. The improvement in the levels of quality and effectiveness in school science education can hardly be achieved without an effective change in the way science education is traditionally approached in our schools. The method that drives the pursuit of scientific knowledge should be the starting driving and guiding basis of all process of in-school teaching/learning of science. Leading the students to an active volunteer commitment in hands-on experimental activities: observing, analyzing critically, deducing, reasoning, defining, discussing, experimenting…

“making” (learning) science as a scientist do…

In the footsteps of our successful previous conferences HSCI’2004 in Ljubljana, HSCI’2005 in Crete, and HSCI’2006 at the University of Minho in Braga attended by over 600 participants from 43 countries on 5 continents, with 403 different interesting and meaningful presentations, I am sure this 2007 Conference will again provide the ideal environment for presentation and open friendly discussion of all kinds of ideas experiences and works related to Science Education. This year a special focus is given to difference diversity and inclusion in Science Education, but the almost one hundred communications will cover the wider variety of subjects and perspectives… aiming

… a better Science Education…

As Chair of the conference and Coordinator of the Hands-on Science Network it is my pleasure to welcome you in Ponta Delgada wishing you a wonderful stay in Azores!

Braga, July 2, 2007.

Manuel Filipe Pereira da Cunha Martins Costa
Chair

HSCI2005 - 2nd International Conference

Hands-on Science: Science in a changing Education