Chain Reaction is focused on creating a Professional Learning Community (PLC) of science teachers and teacher educators to make sense of and improve Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) across 12 European countries.
Chain Reaction is a European funded programme led by Dr. John O’Reilly of the department of Education and Professional Studies, and the National Centre for Excellence in Maths and Science Teaching and Learning, University of Limerick.
This involves workshops to understand and develop IBSE in classrooms and laboratories through collaborative planning and supported school visits to enhance practice.
During this time practicing scientists will visit schools as role models to engage in dialogue with students about the scientific process.
Work culminates in a national conference where a voting process selects a group to progress and represent the learning of Irish students and teachers at an international conference.
Benefits of participation include:
- Collaborating with colleagues to deeply understand and develop IBSE in a practice-focused approach that focuses on participant ownership
- Capturing all of this in a manner that will be written up in accordance with the School Self Evaluation process
- Being well prepared for future developments in science syllabi in Ireland
- All participation in the project to include out of class work, online discussions, planning etc. are covered by project funds paid directly to the school
Chain Reaction are looking for 5 schools to join the team and build on the learning of the successful first year of the project. Ideally 2 teachers (with junior science or TY classes) will participate in each school as this allows professional colleagues to support each other’s learning for a total of 10 teachers. If you think this may be of interest to you please contact John O’Reilly though the following
Phone: (061) 233744
Email: john.oreilly@ul.ie
Alternatively, for more information you can visit our website at the following address
www.ul.ie/chainreaction
A summary of year 1 of the project is provided at the following link
http://www.ul.ie/chainreaction/sites/default/files/Summary%20of%20chain%20reaction%20in%20year%201.pdf
