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Pilot Project: Xciters – Science from Youth to Youth

The overall idea of Xciters is to create an environment where interested and motivated pupils can grow. The idea is that the especially motivated pupils are to develop their knowledge of scientific subjects and especially their abilities to communicate and make scientific knowledge come alive.

Older pupils are to be educated in communicating science to younger ones, using “peer to peer communication” and act as role models for the younger pupils. The pupils will be trained to become science communicators and will be catalysts for the project. Xciters aims to help increase especially girls’ interest in science. 

Target age group
Students aged 10 – 15 and their teachers

Languages
Danish

Methodology
• Hands-on approaches
• Courses in communication and science for teachers and pupils
• Pupil and teacher support and recommendations

Location
Materials will be produced for the course – and aimed to be of continued use in schools after and between courses.

Planned outputs
• A course for teachers and pupils (together and apart) over a school year, starting with a 3-day course in November 2005, again in Spring 2006 and a combined evaluation and final course before Summer 2006
• A handbook for communicating science – to some extent by November 2005
• A website with different kinds of networking with possibilities for news groups and discussion forum – to some extent by November 2005
• Evaluation – continuous assessment – plus full evaluation August/September 2006

Impact
The focus will be on communicating science. The students’ role will be to motivate others in becoming interested in science and learning about science. The teachers’ role will be to integrate pupils communicating science in their curriculum.

Evaluation strategy
• Questionnaires, interviews, observation and focus groups
• External evaluation partner – The Danish University of Education

Pilot coordinator

Experimentarium, Hellerup, Denmark

The Experimentarium is Denmark’s only Science Centre. It features 300 hands-on exhibits for visitors to try, within areas of nature and technology, the environment and health. Its aims are to promote interest in natural science and technology in the community as widely as possible and to create a social and cultural meeting place between community, industry, commerce and scientists.

Contact details
Experimentarium
Tuborg Havnevej 7
2900 Hellerup
Denmark
www.experimentarium.dk

Project coordinator
Sheena Laursen, Science Consultant
Tel. +45 3925 7255
Fax +45 3927 3395
sheenal@experimentarium.dk

Partners

Educational partners
• The Danish University of Education
• The Egmont Foundation
• Maglegaards School in Charlottenlund, Denmark
• Skovhoved School in Skovshoved, Denmark
• More to be arranged during the project