The Norwegian Centre for Science Education

Mandate

The centre shall be a national resource centre for science education (kindergarten, primary and secondary school, adult education and teacher training). Its main objective is to enable pupils and teachers to consolidate competence and motivate interest in natural science. This shall be achieved by developing and improving content and methods through research, experiment and development projects. Furthermore, the centre shall contribute to actions aimed at increasing the recruitment to scientific and technical studies. The centre shall in its work seek contact with societies of science education on a national, Nordic and international level.

The Norwegian Centre for Science Education target groups are teachers of natural science in primary and secondary education and teacher training, students, researchers, and developers of teaching material in topical fields.

Collaborators of current interest are milieus of universities and university colleges, museums, primary and secondary education and industry.

Specification of the mandate

The centre shall in collaboration with other milieus of relevant specialized fields, lead and coordinate the work to develop working methods, content and examples of teaching material which contribute to make natural science education diversified, exciting and alive to pupils and students. Among other things the centre shall contribute to the development and the testing of computer based learning materials and the organization of web based learning environments in natural science.

The centre shall contribute to the information and dissemination of results from research, experiment and development projects in those areas which are the tasks of the National Centre of Science Education. This can be accomplished through courses, seminars, visits at the centre, material development, written material and web based solutions.

The centre shall assist actions to develop in-service training and further education for teachers of natural science in primary and secondary education and teacher training.

The centre shall contribute to develop positive attitudes and a thoughtful view of natural sciences in society.

The centre shall assist the Ministry of Education and Research and the Directorate for Education and Training with advice when it comes to curriculum development and pupil assessment in natural science. Especially, the centre shall contribute to ensure a good progression and continuity throughout education with regard to natural science education.

The centre shall develop contacts and collaboration with national, Nordic and international networks, organisations and milieus of research and development in natural science didactics. The centre shall build up an overview of relevant projects/experiences/materials.

The centre shall collaborate with other national centres and advisory councils of current interest such that the work to promote science is coordinated in a good and functional way.

The centre shall contribute to promote equal opportunities in natural science education, when it comes to gender, sosioeconomic differences and multicultural milieus.

Organization

The centre is localized at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, at the University of Oslo, and shall have a director which shall relate to the Ministry of Education and Research in specialized questions and to the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in administrative questions. The Ministry shall approve yearly plans, budgets and economy and follow up the activities.