IUPAC

The project will develop a framework that will enable IUPAC’s CCE to more effectively prioritise its activities, which include addressing the needs of teachers at all levels; programmes targeting various publics, and continuing professional development for practitioners. The outcome will enable CCE to communicate its priorities for chemistry education and to develop and pursue a programme to achieve those aims. It will enable CCE to advise IUPAC as a whole, and provide CCE in particular, with a stronger basis for
•    informing the priorities CCE presently sets at the beginning of each biennium;
•    considering new project proposals and for determining which existing projects should be sustained;
•    identifying gaps in activity and soliciting proposals for suitable projects;
•    determining its contribution to the International Year of Chemistry 2011 and to the sustainability of IYC outcomes.

The outcome will complement previous work by CCE on priorities in the Public Understanding of Science.

The project arises from a request by the Committee on Chemistry Education (CCE) made at its meeting on 3 Aug 2008. CCE is required inter alia to

“(i) To advise the President and the Executive Committee on matters relating to chemistry education, including the public appreciation of chemistry.

(ii) To maintain a portfolio of educational projects and to coordinate the educational activities of IUPAC.”

CCE has published its advice on public understanding (Chem. Int. 2006, July-Aug, p.14).

CCE has asked the task group to develop  a complementary framework for the Committee’s educational priorities and activities.

The framework will be developed by a project team through consultation with key stakeholders within IUPAC and will be presented to the CCE for adoption. The project is timely as IUPAC builds up to the International Year of Chemistry. CCE wishes to be able to contribute and advise IUPAC on priorities for chemistry education so that IUPAC can give leadership, channel enthusiasm and make decisions about overall priorities and allocation of resources. IUPAC will have to decide on partnership arrangements with other organisations and will need a basis upon which to decide whether there is a compatibility of purpose.

The project will draw together views from Chairs of key IUPAC Committees (COCI, CHEMRAWN, IYC) and produce a framework of education priorities for consultation and approval. The outcome of the project will complement the previously published guide to IUPAC’s role in promoting the Public Understanding of Science, also produced under the auspices of the CCE.

July 2010 - In time for the ICCE 2010 in Taipei, the task group has formulated the following framework of priorities: Acknowledging that the quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers, the emphasis for IUPAC’s educational activities should be on supporting chemistry education in developing countries by building capacity in the teaching force at all levels. Within this context, IUPAC should

• Encourage approaches to learning from the outset that reinforce students’ curiosity and develop an understanding of scientific method.
• Promote co-operative approaches to learning amongst students, helping teachers appreciate that they, too, are learners and take a co-constructionist approach with their students.
• Advance responsible stewardship by promoting chemistry education that relates chemistry to local and global contexts and includes consideration of sustainability and ethics.
• Encourage an approach to curriculum development that focuses on defining the learning outcomes to be achieved by the student.
• Promote assessment methods that match the intended outcomes of the curriculum.
• Promote the transfer of good practice and adapt it to the new context, rather than simply translate materials for use elsewhere.
• Promote chemistry education among underrepresented groups and draw upon the multicultural competences available within the organisation.
• Promote public appreciation of chemistry in accordance with previously published guidance (Chem. Int. 2006, July-Aug, p.14).

The task group observed a welcome increase in the contributions made by other bodies within IUPAC and in collaborations with CCE. These bodies are the repositories of expertise in their fields and are encouraged to consider how their areas of science could contribute to the achievement of the priorities. IUPAC should continue to seek collaborations with other organisations in pursuing its objectives.  

Dec 2011 - With IYC2011 ending, the task group will review the focus of this project and determining its contribution to the sustainability of outcomes of International Year of Chemistry.