Asia Science Educator Academy (ASEA) 2010 ACTION PLAN Sri Lanka

1. Asia Science Educator Academy (ASEA) 2010 ACTION PLANSri Lanka 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea

2. Part I: Intro & e-ScanTeam and Education Environment 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 2

3. 1. Introducing Sri LankaTeam: Delegates Eng. (Dr.) Sarath Abayawardana Director National Science Foundation Hobbies: Golf and walking E-mail: sarathab@nsf.ac.lk Mr. Nihal Herath Education Specialist Education for Knowledge Society Project (EKSP) of Ministry of Education Hobby: Environmental excursions E-mail: nihalherath@gmail.com 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea

4. 2. Country Educational Environment Overall Country Education Environment • 9,662 schools • 212,683 teachers • 3,929,234 students • Over 92% literacy rate • Free education from KG to University • Education compulsory from ages 5 to 14 years • Maths and Science compulsory for Year 10 national examination Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education • National STEM Master/Development plan is embedded in the General Education Sector Development Framework and Program (ESDFP). • STEM has to be a national focus since they are very important aspects in education and we have to formulate some goals. • There is a system in place for STEM research, curriculum development and also for professional development in general education. 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea

5. 3. Country Science Fairs Sri Lanka Science & Engineering Fair (SLSEF) • Feeder fairs • Science Research Projects Competition (SRPC) of National Science Foundation (NSF) • Junior Inventor of the Year (JIY) competition of Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) • Partners • Ministry of Education (MoE) • National Science Foundation (NSF) • Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) • Intel Education • Over 700 students participated from all over the country. 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea

6. 4. Country STEM Education Challenges Top 3 obstacles and challenges faced in STEM education • Needs more support from Schools to encourage students to participate in Science and Engineering fairs. • Teaching practices not fully geared to support project based learning. • Research culture is not deeply embedded in education system. Additional Challenges • Teachers inexperienced in inquiry based and research based learning • Facilities need to improve 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea

7. Part II:Country Action PlanAdvancing STEM Education(Please fill this during ASEA2010: you will have a time to present it on Day 4 morning) 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 7

8. High Level Goals Long term goals (3-5 years) Every secondary school in the country to participate at national science and engineering competitions. Make research based projects an important part of school curriculum. Quality of projects to be increased with strong scientific research methodology. Short term goals (1-2 years) Strengthen local competitions with workshops. Every ‘Isuru’ School (360-one in each Division) to participate in the proposed STEM activities Investigate wider use of mobile technology to improve teacher training and participation, particularly amongst the remote schools High quality projects selected and improved at national competitions. Improve scientific review and judging process. Promote SLSEF and Intel ISEF among schools. 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 8

9. III. Action Plan: Steps to Meet Your Goals and Objectives 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 9

10. III. Action Plan: Steps to Meet Your Goals and Objectives 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 10

11. IV. Reflection on ASEA 2010 • Highlight what your team felt was the key learning • What impressed you the most and reasons? Intensity of activity in other countries • Which presentations were the most beneficial for your team? • Dr. Quere, Shwetha, Marianna, Dr. Chuan • What would you recommend to improve? A panel discussion, poster presentation 5 in by each for the group, a bit more formal than what happened • Which posters were the most beneficial for your team? • List top 2 and reasons: Sharon Snyder: Aligning the local Science Society Program with the SSP experience can be quite beneficcial • What would you recommend to improve? Inculcating research methodology and promotion of research project activities • What types of presentations/posters/activities were missing? An inspirational presentation by nobel laureate, also experiences of a past winner 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 11

12. V. Continuing The Momentum Built;ASEA2010 Next Steps & Call for your participation • One of key goals of ASEA2010 is to sustain the network among participants and collectively move forward to support STEM education and capacity building of educators across Asia; • Organizers will create “Asia Community of Science Educators”: • Would you like to join the community? (If No, pls explain) • On Day 4, organizers will call for “ASEA2010 Declaration”, asking for continued engagement and collaboration; • Would you like to participate in the declaration act? (If No, pls explain) • As part of sustaining strategy for ASEA2010, organizers will call for “ASEA Steering Committee” among delegates/speakers/organizers • Would you like to join the steering committee? (If No, pls explain) • Steering Committee may provide regular webinars and online activities, throughout the year until the ASEA2011 • Would you like to join the webinars as either speakers or participants? (If No, pls explain) 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 12

13. VI. Optional Pictures Slide • * If you would like to include a picture or a small group of pictures of your team experiencing the ASEA2010, please do so on this slide only 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 13

14. THANK YOU! For Asia delegates and speakers: we look forward to keeping in touch and building the next ASEA2011+ collectively. Useful WebsitesEducator Community: www.inteledacademy.orgEngage: www.inteledacademy.orgASEA Home: to be provided later Intel Education Asia: www.intel.com/education/asia 2nd-6th August 2010, Seoul Korea 14