Eco Science Foundation – a Catalyst for Promotion of Ibse in the Eco Region Ghulam Abbas Rahar Assistant Director Eco Science Foundation

ECO SCIENCE FOUNDATION – A CATALYST FOR PROMOTION OF IBSE IN THE ECO REGION GHULAM ABBAS RAHAR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ECO SCIENCE FOUNDATION

URL: HTTP://WWW.ECO4SCIENCE.ORG

2 ND OBOR TEENAGER MAKERS CAMP AND TEACHER WORKSHOP 15-21 NOVEMBER 2018 BEIJING – CHINA

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 1 ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) and the ECO Region 10 Member States with Good Natural Resources Member Countries

1. Islamic Republic of 6. Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Pakistan 2. Republic of Azerbaijan 7. Republic of Tajikistan 3. Islamic Republic of Iran 8. Republic of Turkey 4. Republic of Kazakhstan 9. Turkmenistan 5. Kyrgyz Republic 10.Republic of Uzbekistan Objectives of ECOSF (Established in 2011)

 Promote and fund STI research collaboration leading to Economic Development among the Member States

 To Strengthen Science base, Promote and Popularize Science at grass root levels (IBSE, Workshops, Travelling Science Expos, etc.)

 Harmonize STI policies of ECO Countries Activities of ECOSF

Funding of Scientific & Technological Research Coordination & Funding of University-R&D-Industry Linkages Holding & Funding of STI Capacity Building Workshops Holding and Funding of STI Conferences Providing Travel Grants to STI Experts Promotion and Funding of key Science Popularization Activities, especially; IBSE for STEM in ECO Region  Standardization of Engineering Qualifications Importance of Inquiry for Education  Education is not about preparing students for a world that is static and fixed.  Education must prepare learners to cope with changes that are expected to increase in complexity throughout their lives and many of which cannot be foreseen at this time.  Most learners will probably deal with several job changes, move to several different locations, be involved in complex social changes, and other such issues.  Education cannot give learners all the information that they need to know, but rather it must provide the tools for continuing to learn.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 6 Why Inquiry is Important in Science Education?  The literature in science education has documented increased achievement and improved retention of science concepts when students are taught using curriculum materials that have inquiry approach.

 Unfortunately, our traditional educational system has worked in a way that discourages the natural process of inquiry. Students become less prone to ask questions as they move through the grade levels. In traditional schools, students learn not to ask too many questions, instead to listen and repeat the expected answers. Society Culture plays an important role too!

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 7 Science-teaching pedagogy shift from deductive to inquiry-based methods?  Many studies have highlighted an alarming decline in young people’s interest for key science studies and mathematics.  Unless more effective action is taken, long term capacity for nations to innovate and the quality of its research, will also decline.  Origins of the declining interest among young people for science studies are found largely in the way science is taught in schools

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 8 Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE)  Science education community mostly agrees that pedagogical practices based on inquiry-based methods are more effective  The reality of classroom practice is that these methods are simply not being implemented.  IBSE has proved its efficacy at both primary and secondary levels in increasing children’s and students’ interest  IBSE is effective with all kinds of students from the weakest to the most able and is fully compatible with the ambition of excellence.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 9 IBSE Learning Cycle

2. Hypothezing 1. Questionning & Language

3. Expérimenting

4. Concluding & communicating Strategic Steps for Development (More realistic for ECO Region)

Economic Growth

Manufacturing Production & Marketing

Experimentation and Innovation- with Emphasis on Management (Academia- R&D- Industry Partnerships)

Human & Infrastructure Development (Critical & Creative Thinking- STEM/IBSE and Facilites) ECP Science Foundation is convinced:

 The QUALITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION is directly related to innovation and economic growth of a nation and has strong impact on the careers of researchers and innovators.

 And by executing IBSE for STEM at Primary & Secondary schools, the inquisitiveness of students can be accelerated.

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 12 ECOSF initiated a Programme of IBSE in 2015 to address the core problem How do we take Questioning in the Society? http://eco4science.org/videos.aspx Launch of IBSE in the ECO Region

IBSE launching in Astana- Kazakhstan, June 2015 IBSE Capacity Building Workshop Astana (22-25 June 2015) 1st Capacity Building Workshop of Master Trainers on Inquiry Based Science Education in Pakistan (5-9 September 2016)

16 The Workshop on IBSE in Pakistan: Hands on Activities (5-9 September 2016)

17 Teachers trained on IBSE in Pakistan

Teachers Trained on IBSE Pedagogy under ECOSF IBSE Program in Pakistan 450 416 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 42 Number Number ofTeachers 50 34 0 Master Trainers Teachers Trainers Overall Teachers Trained by LAMAP Trained by Master Trained on IBSE Trainers Follow up Capacity Building Workshop of Master Trainers on IBSE, Sukkur Pakistan (25-29 December 2017)

19 Follow up Capacity Building Workshop of Master Trainers on IBSE, Sukkur Pakistan (25-29 December 2017)

20 1st National Workshop for “Professional Development Programme on IBSE ” Isfahan, Iran (8-13 January 2017)

21 IBSE Capacity Building Workshop in Iran: Hands On Activities

22 Teachers Trained on IBSE in Iran

41 Teachers were trained by LAMAP during a workshop held in January 2017 at Isfahan Follow up Workshop of IBSE Trainers in Iran (24-25 April 2018) IBSE in Action: ECO Region IBSE in Action: ECO Region Add-on Activities to Bolster Implementation of IBSE pedagogy in the ECO Region

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 27 High Level Policy Forum on IBSE – Islamabad Pakistan (11 May 2017)

28 Panel Discussion During the High Level Policy Forum on IBSE –, Islamabad Pakistan (11 May 2017)

29 IBSE Capacity Building Programme in Pakistan

30 The International Forum on Science Education was held in Islamabad (9 April 2018) International Seminar on Science in School - IBSE Approach organized by LAMAP Foundation at Paris-France Participation of ECOSF candidates (2014-2017)

. 2014 - 02 (01 Pakistan & 01 Turkey) . 2015 - 07 (01 Azerbaijan, 02 Iran, 02 Kazakhstan & 02 Pakistan) . 2016 - 05 (03 Pakistan & 02 Turkey) . 2017 - 04 (02 Iran & 02 Turkey) . 2018 - 01 (Pakistan) Collaboration with Children & Youth Science Center (CYSC) of CAST (2017)

ECOSF and CYSC signed MoU in 2017 for: • ECOSF as Coordinating Center for CYSC in ECO region • Promotion of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and Science Education in ECO countries • Training and Communication Programs of science teachers • Nominations of experts, educators, students for various programs under CYSC/ECOSF 1st Belt & Road Teenagers Makers Camp Beijing 14-20 December 2017

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 34 1st Belt & Road Teenagers Makers Camp Beijing 14-20 December 2017

Teachers/ Country Students Total Coordinators Iran 05 02 07 Kazakhstan 08 02 10 Pakistan 09 03 12 Turkey 05 06 11 ECOSF - 02 02 Total: 27 15 42

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 35 33rd CASTIC and Summer Science Camp – Chongqing-China 15-20 August 2018

ECO Countries Participated

Azerbaijan Iran Kazakhstan Pakistan Turkey

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 36 2nd Belt & Road Teenagers Maker Camp and Teacher Workshop, Beijing 15-21 November 2018

ECO Countries

Azerbaijan Iran Kazakhstan Pakistan Tajikistan Turkey ECOSF

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 37 Future Plans of ECOSF (Tentative)

 Follow up Review Workshop on IBSE in Iran (23-30 Nov 2018)  Follow up Review Workshop on IBSE in Pakistan (2019)  Capacity Building Workshop on IBSE in Tajikistan (2019 -TBC)  Capacity Building Workshop on IBSE in Azerbaijan (2019-TBC)  Conduct of Training Sessions by the Trainers of Pakistan  Establishment of School STEM Clubs by Pakistan Science Club with ECOSF support

ECONOMIC COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SCIENCE FOUNDATION (ECOSF) 38 CONTINUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

A REAL CHALLENGE!! RECOMMENDATIONS …..

 Ownership by National Authorities  Involving parents & communities in IBSE for STEM education  Forming Alliances of Scientists, Artists, Educationists, Religious Scholars, Parents, Teachers, Civil Society and Media  Global forums such as IAP-SEP and TWAS pursue National Academies of Sciences & Engineering to pursue IBSE/STEM RECOMMENDATIONS …..

 Lobbying with Donors and linking IBSE/STEM as pre-condition in donor driven projects  IBSE as an approach for “Empowerment” Development projects (FAO has done with farmers) US-AID, JICA, CIDA, SDC etc. should include IBSE/STEM as an essential component of development projects. …..RECOMMENDATIONS

 Ownership/Patronization of IBSE/STEM by the UN Agencies- UNESCO  Lobbying at the highest level with Heads of Governments & States to issue Decrees/ Directives for adopting STEM/IBSE  Motivation of and/or Legislation for Industry to support STEM/IBSE as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (e.g., German TWAS!) Strategic Partners of ECOSF

CAST Thank You!