Inquiry-based Learning and Teaching Across Europe

In the frame of ILTAE project, four long time cooperating regional public bodies responsible for education decided to focus on exchanging good practices in school education. A special emphasis was also laid on developing cooperation between partner regions, the coordinator Kraj Vysočina, Lower Austria, the Finnish city of Tampere and the French region of Grand Est.The project supported the exchange of practices through a practical focus on inquiry-based learning and teaching in subjects of natural sciences at all levels of school systems.Inquiry-based teaching is integrated into the educational strategies of all participating partner countries and it is the opposite of passive (inefficient) acquisition of knowledge and skills in the field of natural sciences. The project partners shared experience which they gained in promoting inquiry-based teaching.The aim of the project was sharing and dissemination of examples of good practices and introduction of interactive teaching methods in the field of science education. The project also motivated teacher to adopt new approaches.The partners prepared 3 short-term training activities, 3 project meetings and 1 online meeting.Short-term joint staff training events were prepared for people responsible for design and development of educational process at schools in the partner regions (decision-makers, members of local authorities, school heads, teachers and other professionals). Policy makers, colleagues, members of local communities, primary and secondary school pupils were the secondary target group. Participants learned about an educational system and the system of education of in service teachers in the Czech Republic, Austria, France and Finland and the way of supporting inquiry-based teaching in the partner regions. The participants developed their expertise and competences in the field of science education, participants were inspired by new approaches and procedures and also improved their language skills, as the language of communication was English.The program of educational activities also included lectures, job-shadowing and workshops at primary, secondary and higher education institutions and other educational institutions. A visit of research centres at secondary schools in Kraj Vysočina, learning about the Finnish system of A-level testing, the French approach to teaching natural sciences in the format of a single subject and a visit of the Science Fair in Austria was very interesting added value of the project. The project provided an excellent opportunity to share experience between regions, to share an European approach to inquiry-based learning in science and to strengthen partnerships between regions. A practical result is an eBook, summarizing details of the project and methodological instructions and worksheets usable in teaching science. The partners continue the current cooperation in another Erasmus + project, focused on teaching for sustainable development.