BRIDGING TWO CULTURES: A SECONDARY SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP EXPERIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VALENCIA, SPAIN

摘要

Over the last two decades there has been increasing interest in establishing collaboration between secondary schools and universities. The training provided through partnerships may both facilitate the professional development of school teachers and improve the university members' understanding of the realities of the school environment. This not only promotes students' interest and motivation regarding higher education, but also smoothes the transition from secondary school to university. Members of the Faculty of Biology (University of Valencia, UVEG) recently launched a project called “Biology at your fingertips” to establish a partnership with students of the final academic year at the secondary school from several centres in the Valencian Community. Our main goals were (1) to present the career of Biology at the UVEG to students who intend to enrol in higher education; (2) to facilitate access to the resources available at the Faculty of Biology to secondary school teachers and students; (3) to popularise Biology as a science and part of scientific culture among young people; (4) to promote relationships between the UVEG and secondary schools in our region. The experience consisted of an introductory talk about the career of Biology and 6 practical lessons on different aspects of Biology, developed by 23 members of the UVEG. In 2007, a total of 359 students and 36 teachers from 31 centres attended the sessions. After the activity, secondary schoolteachers indicated that the scientific level of the activities was suitable for the background knowledge of their students and students had clarified many doubts regarding the career of Biology. University teachers appreciated the high participation of students.