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Ask questions and do research with use of GLOBE tools and instruments

Nov 21, 2016

Sharing experiences was one of the main goals of the GLOBE Europe and Eurasia Regional Meeting 2016 held in Germany and we believe that the goal was achieved. One example that stood for all was the workshop on “How to motivate students to ask questions and do research with use of GLOBE tools and instruments”, conducted by Hana Svobodova and Jan Blazek from the Czech Republic.

The lesson, which was presented in the workshop, was developed with the objective of motivating teachers and students for active participation in the GLOBE Program. During the outdoor session, the participants (Country Coordinators, Teachers) explored the local park, and tried to answer a set of question about it using a fishbone diagram. Based on their corresponding work with the diagram and GLOBE tools explained at the beginning of the session, the participants chose their own research question, hypothesis and investigation plan. The Trainers guided Country Coordinators and teachers through the steps of the research cycle and subsequently, had a chance to see the activities through eyes of the students, which helped them to discuss, how any particular activity could be used with the students in the best possible way.

The participant shared a positive feedback on the workshop. At the same time the country coordinator at Poland Globe Elzbieta Wołoszynska-Wisniewska was so inspired by the workshop that she provided a similar workshop during 14th Annual Conference and Workshop for GLOBE Teachers in her country later on in October 2016.

After the workshop Elzbieta commented “We did this workshop over last weekend. It went really well, although it was also a challenge for us ”. In Poland, since the weather didn’t allow conducting the workshop outdoors, it had to be slightly adjusted. For example, the opening activity which was to be conducted outdoors was conducted indoors with the help of a short video of the outside area and “They loved that! They were so interested that all of them went outside to make real measurements and check their hypothesis (even though it was heavily raining)”, added Elzbieta.

The workshop in Poland also brought interesting findings for both, teachers and organizers who also shared their experiences with each other. “It was observed that the workshop seemed easy but when the teachers tried to carry out some tasks by putting themselves in students shoes they realized that the activities were not so easy. For example, I saw that a lot of people had problems with... asking questions! And even one of the teachers commented: "We ask our students to formulate questions, and we expect them to formulate really interesting and smart questions but we ourselves are not really good at this ", describes Elzbieta.

We were delighted to see that the workshop was inspiring for the participants and that the experiences were shared further which accomplished another major goal of GLOBE Europe and Eurasia Regional Meeting 2016 – sharing of experience was reached.

For more information about the workshop please refer to The lesson.