by Andria Agesilaou , Eleni A. Kyza, Andreas Hadjichambis, & Yiannis Georgiou (Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus)
When we are about to buy fruits or vegetables at the supermarket we surely want to choose what’s best. Do we know what’s best for us and how these fruits and vegetables end up in our homes? We buy them to be fed, but what feeds them? A variety of fertilizers, chemical or organic, are responsible for the quality of the products we buy.
When the primary education teachers (Alexia Alexandrou, Andromachi Mathaiou, Michalis Michael & Anthi Papaiopannou) participating in the PARRISE Cyprus TPD course 2015-16 were asked to develop a module about environmental responsibility through the Socio-Scientific Inquiry-Based Learning (SSIBL) approach, they chose the debate between chemical and organic fertilizers. Which option is better for a healthy, tasty and profitable production without harming the soil and the environment? Chemical fertilizers, organic fertilizers, compost, or manure?
Alexia Alexandrou, a PARRISE Cyprus Primary School Teacher, representing her team at the Science on Stage Cyprus contest
The learning module “Which fertilizer would you choose for your onions?” is suitable for students aged 11-12, and was developed aiming to help students become familiar with the procedure of growing vegetables and the concepts of eutrophication and soil pollution. In addition, and in line with the emphasis on Responsible Research and Innovation, an important goal of the learning module was to enhance students’ active citizenship for matters that affect us and our environment.
The learning module, which was developed by four in-service primary school PARRISE teachers during the first TPD round in 2015-16, was submitted to the 4th Pancyprian Competition “Science on Stage Cyprus”, which was held on the 12th of November 2016. The contest is dedicated to STEM education and is addressed to K-12 Educators. The learning module won the 4th prize and will represent Cyprus to the European Festival Science on Stage 2017, which will take place in Debrecen, Hungary. “Science on Stage Europe” is the largest festival for science education teachers at the primary and secondary school level.
The aim is to provide participating teachers with the chance to exchange ideas, educational practices and innovative teaching concepts.
Students measuring different variables when growing onions, during the implementation of the SSIBL moduleThe jury of the Science on Stage Cyprus contest reviews teachers’ learning materials
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