Science in Tomorrow’s School – Learning Beyond the Classroom Pilvi Tauer – Tallinn Technical Secondary School, Estonia Piret Karu – Tallinn Secondary School of Science, Estonia

Background Examples of programs for students Results Estonia is a small country with only 1.3 million Tallinn Botanic Garden Energy Discovery Centre Diverse practical activities have provided people. In the capital city Tallinn, there are 60 There are 11 curriculum-based … has discovery programs about climate processes, light, Estonian students with very good results in nature programs, which are related to sound and electricity. PISA 2015 tests: upper secondary schools with 44650 students in subjects such as math, physics, total. In order to make better use of resources, language etc. For instance, the Nature • Estonian basic school students ranked third in Nature and Science Learning Centres have and Creativity project day allows the world in science after Singapore and Japan. been created in Tallinn and all of Estonia. These students to practice correct planting In Europe, Estonia and Finland shared the first and explore the growth and living centres are equipped with modern teaching conditions of plants etc. and second place. apparatus and expertise, and provide • Estonia’s success can be explained by the fact educational programs designed to correspond to that most of our students have acquired the the national curriculum. The aim of the programs basic skills and knowledge, and compared to is to offer inquiry-based learning, hands-on Tallinn University of Technology other countries, there are very few students with activities and team-building tasks. … invites students to participate in labs on oil shale a very poor level. The goal of these programs is to develop the 4 research, future energy sources, food chemistry and • In collaborative problem solving, Estonia genetic engineering. C’s: Critical thinking, Communication, shares the 5th and 6th place with Canada. Collaboration and Creativity. Tallinn City Government promotes accessibility Tallinn Zoo has active learning programs for each of science education for all students. Learning stage of study at their Zoo School, supervised by zoo Beyond Classroom Project provides each class educationalists. These programs about nature and animals with one field trip per year into the nature and are designed to support the Estonian education system but one workshop in a museum or a research they can be modified for institution. The programs are created and other purposes as well. prepared in collaboration with teachers. Various classrooms Nature Schools operating at Nature Education Centres organise field trips and inquiry-based learning Estonian Museum of Natural projects in order to explore ecosystems and various life forms, History offers curriculum-based museum classes for as well as orienteering events and survival skills workshops in schools and nursery schools, which help children gain an in- the nature. depth understanding of nature and the processes therein. The PISA results show that we are on museum promotes interest in the environment and exhibits the diversity of nature. The most popular programs are the right course. examining natural resources, minerals, rocks and fossils, and growing minerals.

Photos are made by the authors Pilvi Tauer and Piret Karu www.postersession.com