- They were part of Camp Explora Va! Which organizes the Explora Atacama project and brought together 35 education professionals from different communities of the region.
Camp Explora Va was a complete success! It was held in 2023 in Bahia Inglesa and its purpose was to exchange experiences between teachers and acquire learning techniques for scientific disciplines. 35 education professionals from different communities participated in the Explora Atacama tool, a project of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (CTCI) and implemented by the University of Atacama (UDA) through the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies (VRIP).
This example, in boarding mode, allowed teachers to update and deepen their inquiry pedagogy and become familiar with pedagogical tools to enhance the teaching of diverse knowledge in their learning community. There were conferences with presentations by specialists from different fields of knowledge along with field trips to the Pan de Azucar National Park, the Nueva Atacama Desalination Plant and the Los Dedos Fossil Park, an “Exhibition of Initiatives” culminating in the testimony of the participants, a ceremony attended by authorities such as the Vice President of the UDA, Maria Jose Gallardo; Seremi CTCI from the Northern Macrozone, Cristian Cuevas and Seremi is represented by Education, Anahí Mena and Anastasia Knezevic.
Director of Explora Atacama, Cristian Galaz, noted, “What we seek in this case is the creation of learning communities, the exchange of pedagogical experiences between teachers and the acquisition of new technologies and knowledge to be able to transfer and transmit this knowledge acquired through scientific research methodologies and other pedagogical experiences to the students of our region from Through these teachers who were trained during this training week. As a university and a project, we are proud to be able to be the implementers of this initiative in the region and we hope in the future to have a number of interested professors who will allow this community to grow in the region and in every region of the world. Communities that participate with us.” .
The Vice-Rector for Research and Graduate Studies, María José Gallardo, attended the event and commented: “For our university and the Vice-Rector for Research and Graduate Studies, it is very important to have the Explora Atacama project that designs and implements various scientific publishing activities, within which the Explora Camp is located.” It is one of the main activities of this year. On this occasion, teachers had the opportunity to exchange knowledge related to various knowledge disciplines as well as form learning communities for exchange and innovation in their pedagogical practices. The promotion of science, technology, knowledge and innovation must be founded by classrooms at their different educational levels, and this This type of initiative goes down this path, of providing all the tools to teachers so that they can pass it on to their students. They are aware of and promote evidence-based critical and reflective thinking.
For his part, Cristian Cuevas, CTCI seremi of the North Macroson region, said, “We were able to see how they faced with great enthusiasm an experience that allowed them to form a learning community, which will essentially allow them to share practices in the field.” It is something very transcendent, which is a curiosity to encourage and motivate our boys, girls and teenagers in the scientific training that exists in the region, explore the challenges that the region presents and from there form a monitoring capacity that will allow us to train the following generations of scientists. So congratulations to the teachers who attended this camp in the spirit of the profession.
Intense week
Regarding what happened during the five days in which the activity continued, Maryam Deeb, the person in charge of Explora Va! camp, indicated that “we carried out various workshops, lessons, and field trips, and the idea was to instill it.” With different methodologies, so that they can discover their environment and its area as a natural laboratory (…) We cover different areas of knowledge, giving teachers the tools that enable them to carry out activities and see the possibilities of working with their students. In addition, we leave you with some challenges so you can develop and plan over these next few months to meet again in July 2024 to close this learning process.
In the same vein, the person responsible for the training paths, Katia Riveros, indicated that “the training path was designed on the basis of a needs survey related to the specializations of greatest interest to teachers in the region and in relation to that, and on the basis of” in the Explora competency model, and through the survey methodology, Different activities were designed with teachers.”
Among the activities highlighted was the “Initiatives Exhibition” developed in which the Mayor of the Caldera, Brunilda González, participated, who highlighted the importance of developing activities such as the Explora Va! In a way that enhances different sciences in educational communities at different levels.
Regarding the exhibition initiative, Riveros noted that “various institutions were invited that are currently conducting research either in the field of innovation or also provide relevant knowledge that is important to bring to school communities; Whether students, colleagues or parents. “So the Institute of Planetary Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine and the Ministry of Labor visited us with the IPS and the DT of the UDA and told us about their work. We had a visit from the CIAHN and a visit from the Mayor of the Caldera who came with the Department of the Environment with its vermiculture project, and among others with its knowledge initiatives (…) Teachers had a direct connection with people, organizations and others to create networks, which is one of the goals of the camp: to create new networks and foster learning communities.”
In addition, on this day there was the mobile planetarium of the UDA's INCT, an example where attendees could enjoy 360 degree films with themes related to astronomy.
expertise
This week's heroes are the teachers who enjoyed the experience to the fullest. “It was a wonderful experience,” commented Yasmin Hernandez, a teacher at Valinar Polytechnic High School. When I applied for this camp it was because of innovation. I am an accounting teacher, not a science teacher, but I wanted to explore this world of science because I find that when students learn this scientific methodology they can organize their thoughts and achieve many other things. I asked to come to this camp, and I actually left full of learning, and full of new things. The work of the Explora team is amazing, how they motivated us, how they encouraged us, how they gave us new tools and technologies, believe me, I will implement them.”
Professor Hermann Concha from Copiapo Vocational Technical School agreed with this opinion, saying: “I think it was a very wonderful experience, as we shared experiences and moments with colleagues from other institutions in the region, which prompted us to transfer the experience to our students. It also made me see that those Those of us who are trying to make changes in our schools, and try new things, are not entirely wrong. In addition, the workshops were very interesting, enriching and very useful for all of us to get to know each other and explore, both in the hard sciences and the social sciences.
In the same vein, Daniska Alamos, a kindergarten teacher at Rainbow Kindergarten in El Salado, said, “This week has been very nice, enriching, and we have learned a lot. I think the role change that is happening this week from teachers to students is very important, as it makes us re- Looking at our profession and our practice with more love, because we put ourselves at the feet of our students and I think that just as we deliver, it is also nice to receive that, so I feel very happy.
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