Abstract
The Educational Seismological Project (EduSeis) is a scientific and educational project, the main aim of which is the development and implementation of new teaching methodologies in Earth Sciences, using seismology as a vehicle for scientific learning and awareness of earthquake risk. Within this framework, we have recently been experimenting with new learning and information approaches that are mainly aimed at a high school audience. In particular, we have designed, implemented and tested a model of an e-learning environment in a high school located in the surroundings of the Mt. Vesuvius volcano. The proposed e-learning model is built on the EduSeis concepts and educational materials (web-oriented), and is based on computer-supported collaborative learning. Ten teachers from different disciplines and fifty students at the ITIS «Majorana» technical high school (Naples) have been taking part in a cooperative e-learning experiment in which the students have been working in small groups (communities). The learning process is assisted and supervised by the teachers. The evaluation of the results from this cooperative e-learning experiment has provided useful insights into the content and didactic value of the EduSeis modules and activities. The use of network utilities and the «Learning Community» approach promoted the exchange of ideas and expertises between students and teachers and allowed a new approach to the seismology teaching through a multidisciplinary study.
Highlights
The Educational Seismological Project (EduSeis) is a research and experimentation project that is aimed at involving research centres, universities, scientific museums and schools in the consolidation and maintenance of a prototype of Mailing address: Dr Antonella Bobbio, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Sezione Napoli, Via Coroglio 156, 80124
The scientific objective is to introduce into high schools the use of advanced instruments and experimental methods that are usually restricted to research laboratories, with the main product being the creation of an earthquake waveform archive
One of the most interesting factors that has arisen from this e-learning experiment has been to promote the working of the students and teachers within a «community of learners»
Summary
The main educational objectives are to train students and teachers in the Antonella Bobbio, Luciana Cantore, Nicola Miranda and Aldo Zollo. For this purpose, modules and teaching activities have been designed and tested using computer science and web-oriented tools (Cantore et al, 2005). The scientific objective is to introduce into high schools the use of advanced instruments and experimental methods that are usually restricted to research laboratories, with the main product being the creation of an earthquake waveform archive. The project represents an effective instrument for informing and creating an awareness of the seismic risk, for experimentation into the efficacy of scientific communication, and for an increase in the direct involvement of schools and the general public
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