About FORM-IT

Our objective

The overall objective of form-it - Take Part in Research! is to promote the interest of young people in science and to qualify them for a critical and analytical way of thinking and learning. To achieve this overall objective, the following sub-objectives have been set:

• Increasing the efficiency of national and European educational systems by identifying and promoting the success factors of RECs in Europe.
• Supporting the collaboration between institutions running RECs by setting up a European network of experts in science education and education research.
• Supporting the development of joint EU research projects related to Science and Society within FP7 by identifying relevant research topics in this field.
• Building up a sustainable network of institutions that will keep up cooperation and mutual exchange beyond the duration of the project form-it.
• Increasing the engagement of policy-makers and other decision makers in educational concerns by promoting policy recommendations and guidelines on the organisation of RECs.

Activities

form-it brings together European institutions, initiatives and partners in REC-projects with the aim of empowering all involved actors. form-it achieves this through three main activities:

• Analysing selected RECs:
  The analysis generates important benchmarks that are the basis to improve this kind of programmes and to promote the interest of young people in science.
• Networking (expert working groups, workshops and the International Conference "Bridging the Gap between Research and Science Education":
  In order to exchange national experiences in science education, to develop a common strategy for Research-Education-Cooperation in Europe and to build up strong partnerships for future cooperation and research in this area.
• Increasing public awareness for excellence in science education:
  Detailed knowledge on innovative REC-activities in Europe will be disseminated to encourage modern science education.

form-it provides a platform for supporting reform and modernisation of science education in European member states. Through comparing and analysing national activities and programmes a common knowledge base on appropriate didactic models is upgraded continuously. This shall motivate schools and research institutions to establish research based models of science education.

The consortium assembles experienced partners from universities and research institutions, who have worked in RECs for many years, ministries and foundations supporting modern science education by promoting and funding RECs, and research partners who have particular expertise in analysing didactic models and learning arrangements.

Experts from non European countries are integrated in order to know more about top innovative programmes from outside Europe and to initiate an exchange of experiences.