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Abstract
The author presents an innovative and modern active method in the teaching of the sciences on board the Euro Rail traveling through Western Europe. The methodologies include attributes of active, hands-on/minds-on, context, relevance, ownership, intrinsic motivation and authentic assessment, all provided in concept-rich informal settings. The formal course goals focused on conceptual, contextual science as a broad integration of history, literature, music and media overtly infused into a travel course. Qualitative outcomes indicated knowledge, skills and especially dispositions towards science increased dramatically and potential subsequent processing of information were high.
Key words: physics, informal settings; active methods, travel.
Resumen
El autor presenta un método de enseñar ciencia innovador, moderno, y activo a bordo del Euro tren que viaja por el oeste de Europa. Las metodologías incluyen atributos que son activos, participación directa intelectual, en contexto, pertinencia, motivación intrínseca, y evaluaciones auténticas, en un ambiente informal rico en conceptos. Los objetivos formales del curso se concentraron en ciencia contextual y conceptual con la integración de historia, literatura, música, y tecnología evidentemente infundida en un curso de viaje. Los resultados indicaron que conocimiento, capacidad, y especialmente disposiciones por la ciencia aumentaron dramáticamente y la potencialidad de procesar la información era alta.
Palabras clave: física, ambientes informales, métodos activos, viaje.
INTRODUCTION
"This course is a very demanding travel abroad science Learning experience. We will be immersing ourselves with local people and cultures and you will be expected to highly interact with your colleagues and native residents of each country. You will also be expected to maintain a high level of scholarly activity during less than optimal conditions".
The approach of this innovative science education course can be summarized in the previous quote, which was posted at the top of the course syllabus (http://www.jhargis.com/europesyl.htm) and reiterated at each subsequent class meeting, as well as frequent reminders during the travel course period. This was not your typical science course. Good science educators have been researching and developing methodologies for effectively teaching science education for many years and each of the successful outcomes involve consistent critical attributes - active, hands-on/mindson, contextual, relevance, ownership, intrinsic motivation, authentic assessment and informal settings. "An essential problem is the appropriate representation of the central concepts and topics and what can be done...