NATURAL SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TEACHERS COLLABORATION: PROJECT „MaT²SMc“

Abstract

The project MaT²SMc is implemented in the frame of EU Lifelong Learning Programme. The main idea of the project is to find a way to increase students' motivation to learn in the key subjects mathematics and science. From one side, mathematics teachers should understand that there is a meaningful and realistic context to use mathematics. From the other side, science teachers should understand that the mathematics competences required for more effective science teaching and learning. In such a context the collaboration of science and mathematics teachers is very relevant. Currently it is obvious that mathematics and natural science teachers‘ collaboration on integration purposes at school is limited by some factors. Collaboration of mathematics and natural science teachers should be expanded, for this purpose, it is necessary to create all necessary conditions and didactic providing (support). Partners of the project are: Palacky university, Faculty of Science (Czechia); University of Nicosia (Cyprus), University of Vienna, Faculty of Mathematics (Austria), University of Šiauliai, Natural Science Education Research Centre (Lithuania), University of Sunderland, Faculty of Education & Society (UK), Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Faculty of Natural Science (Slovakia), University of Palermo, Faculty of Educational Studies (Italy). During the project implementation it is expected to develop didactic materials in a real European context. There is a dire need to strengthen the learning of basic skills in mathematics and science by fostering and promoting collaboration among the teachers. There are at least three main activities: common lesson planning, collaborative projects and team-teaching. Dissemination of project results will be very important for the partners. In all participating countries the knowledge and skills learned under the project will be distributed to all the target groups, for example, universities, students and teachers, schools. All partners believe that the outputs of the project will be useful in all science teacher training institutions in EU countries. Key words: international project, mathematics and science teachers, natural science education, teacher training.