Ferias CT + I

The project “Ferias CT + I” is strengthening scientific and citizen skills in school students. Spaces are provided to share scientific knowledge within the schools and to train teachers in research tools and strategies. As an active learning strategy, students are placed at the centre of knowledge and solve problems through research processes.

To strengthen scientific and citizen skills in school students, to promote scientific culture in schools, to provide spaces where scientific knowledge produced within the schools is shared, to train teachers in research tools and strategies.

The project is 13 years old.

Under an active learning strategy, this is a type of learning that places the student as the centre of knowledge. There is a strategy that concerns research at school, which allows the student to solve problems through research processes.

The idea was born in Parque Explora, with Pablo Patiño and Luz Marina Restrepo as leaders, they thought the park should have a strategy to accompany the students. The program started to be funded by the city’s Town Hall and EPM (Public Utilities Company).

To achieve a long - term sustainability with public funding. It has survived different government periods, thanks to the protection provided by a municipal agreement. Concerning participants, the project currently holds students in science university programs, who have returned to the project to provide academic counselling.

It is inspiring because it accomplishes for students and teachers to get involved voluntarily, using their own time for an extracurricular plan.

Active learning, school research and STEAM (Ser+STEM in Colombia)

Yes, due to the accomplishment of putting in motion a gear compound by the university, the business sector, the state and a museum in order to fulfil the very same objective. In the academic sector, it has achieved the successful introduction of a new academic model as an alternative.

Yes, the program includes a materials suitcase managed by the mediators in order to trigger the research spirit. We design our own content.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. From 5 to 18 years old, also adult population such as teachers and volunteers.

Yes, but not concerning special education needs. We don’t know how to include those yet.

Yes, we have built some bio-ethic principles for the research projects that deal with living species and human beings. We also take seriously the ethic agreement of researchers with society, concerning research copyright.

Yes. The practice includes six areas of knowledge. Each year, we promote different projects for every area. These are: Health sciences, social sciences, mathematics, physics, astronomy, environmental studies, sustainability, engineering and technologies and bio science.

Yes.

Yes. The practice allows the inputs of several economic and academic efforts from different entities and they all are heard and considered.

Yes. The practice promotes research projects to provide solutions for the students´ own problems.

Yes. The practice´s work is done collaboratively. There are conversations to make decisions.

The program has a scientific advisor in pedagogy and methodology. Each research project of students has its own advisor who voluntarily guides the academic processes.

The project promotes digital citizenship but due to the latest events (COVID-19), there is no digital application for students.

Excellent.

The main ally is Medellin’s Secretary of Education, who assures the resources to perform the program in the city. For several years, Medellín´s Public Enterprise (Empresas Públicas de Medellín -EPM-), also contributed economically to develop this program in the Antioquia region. The other entities get involved in a volunteering way, with staff performing as advisers. The alliance with the university allows us to take the students to laboratories and research groups in order to stimulate their scientific vocation.

Yes. The program works along with schools and institutions to create research projects.

Concerning the performance of the project: a pedagogical coordinator, a manager, an analyst, a pedagogical professional, a communicator or media manager, a designer and mediators.

Yes.