Project Details:

Research-based evaluation of the Young Ambassadors for Chemistry* project

Project No.:2007-005-2-050
Start date:2008-01-01
End date:0000-00-00
Division:Committee on Chemistry Education
Objective:

* evaluation of project 2003-055-1-050

-A research-based evaluation of the longer term outcomes about teachers'attitudes towards YAC and international collaboration (Science Acrossthe World) of the first and last successful YAC courses/events in Taiwan(Nov 2005 and Aug 2006) and South Africa (March 2007, with built inevaluation), out of the initial series of YAC courses in five countries(final report: 2003-055-1-050_Schoen_final-report072107.pdf- 1.35MB).

- A research-based evaluation during new YAC courses/events in Taiwan(Dec 2007) and in Kenya and Mauritius (July/Aug 2008) (these new YACprojects will be funded from other sources) about creating YAC studentsand YAC teachers and allowing teachers and schools to develop a school-basedcurriculum that creates uniqueness of the local learning atmosphereand make good use of local facilities for students as well as for thepublic.

- A research-based evaluation of these new YAC projects will provideinsights and vision of collaboration among school administrators, teachers,and students as well as industrial sectors.

Description:
The Young Ambassadors for Chemistry project (YAC - 2003-055-1-050) was carried out from 2004 to 2007 using a 'Train the Trainers' approach with teachers and students to increase public interest in chemistry in 4 transition areas: Taiwan, Argentina, Russia and South Africa (March 2007) with a 5th successful stop in Gwangju, Korea. Evaluation of the project was based on responses obtained from the public (questionnaires by the YACs) and informal evaluations with participating teachers in the courses as part of YAC projects.

This project will evaluate the results of teacher training and teacher organised YAC events in three target transition regions (Taiwan, Kenya and Mauritius). In Taiwan, dates for YAC Workshops are available in December 2007 and funding for the Workshops and the evaluation are carried by the local organisation. Evaluation in Kenya and Mauritius will only be possible if the local organisations are able to organise and fund YAC workshops.

The entire evaluation project includes 4 evaluations and informal interviews with the participants to investigate the effectiveness and implementation of YAC. There will be 4 areas of evaluation at stages before, during and after the activities:

  1. Teacher evaluation about the content knowledge and attitude towards the YAC concept
  2. Student evaluation about the content knowledge and attitude towards the YAC idea
  3. Public evaluation about the content knowledge and attitude towards the YAC event
  4. Local organisers evaluation about successes and problems with the local organisation (funding, venue, etc.)

Attitude testing and cognitive performance evaluation will be administered. For reliability teachers and students will be retested one month later. This primary evaluation will produce data to develop a sustainable model for future YAC programme implementation.

Timeline
1) Evaluation materials written and translated to be used in 3 countries by 2 evaluation experts.

2) Longer term outcomes about teachers' and students' attitudes towards the YAC idea and international collaboration (Science Across the World) from participants of the former YAC courses/events in Taiwan (November 2005 and August 2006) and South Africa (March 2007) to find out whether YAC has planted its seed in Taiwan.

3) Evaluations (data collection) will be carried out in the following countries.
a) Taiwan (December 2007): during a new YAC course/event with new teacher (trainer)s.
b) Africa:
i) Kenya (July/August 2008): evaluation during a new YAC course/event during the pre- or post conference ICCE 20
ii) Mauritius (August 2008): evaluation during a new YAC course/event organised during ICCE 20

4) Analysis of data, guidelines written for future training, organisation of YAC course/events, to support efforts to obtain possible corporate funding.

Progress:

* March 2009 - see report prepared by Lida Schoen, Mei-Hung Chíu, and Erica Steenberg; projects2007-005-2-050_report081103.pdf - 319KB

... and screen videos:

  • YAC Mauritius Activities > view it on YouTube
  • YAC Mauritius Public Evaluation > view it on YouTube
  • YAC Mauritius Students Evaluation > view it on YouTube

    • Ref published in Chem. Int. Mar-Apr 2009

     

    * April 2009 - YAC adventure continues ... this time in Cyprus

    See full report 2007-005-2-050_Cyprus-report.pdf - 150KB
    Do not miss the 2-minute news by the national TV station Sigma!! www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mJD5xthHf0
    Reference published in Chem. Int. Jul-Aug 2010

     

    * November 2009 - The YAC team published ideas to celebrate the International Year of
    Chemistry (IYC 2011): www.chemistry2011.org/participate/ideas/show?id=6.

    last update 20100723

    Chairman: