On February 9, a round table for Russian teachers “Educational potential of cooperation between research institutions and schools as part of students' project activities” took place online.
The event coincided with the Day of Russian Science and was organized by Almazov Centre and the Academy of Talents regional centre.
Director of the Institute of Medical Education Elena Parmon welcomed the participants:
“The Institute of Medical Education invited the teachers of natural science disciplines to participate in the round table in order to share their experiences and learn about the experiences of their colleagues. At the meeting, we will discuss the issues of expanding research opportunities for school students, using the facilities of major world-class research centres for this purpose, looking for prospects for cooperation between schools and scientific institutions. I am sure that only a joint dialogue is the path to moving forward and developing ties for the benefit of young people,” said Elena Parmon.
Among the participants were the representatives from Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Russian Society of Cardiology and St. Petersburg Lyceum 572. The participants discussed the current trends in interaction, shared their experience of integrating the resources of scientific institutions and the Regional Centre into the school curriculum as well as the results of work on engaging young people in project activities.
Anastasia Tanicheva, CEO of the Russian Society of Cardiology, Head of the Health Museum Project, presented the interactive tools that can be used to facilitate distance learning.
The moderator of the round table Alexandra Topanova, Deputy Director for Educational and Social Work at the Institute of Medical Education, outlined the main purpose of the meeting:
“So far, most teachers do not understand that talented schoolchildren can engage directly with the largest research centres in Russia. And this opportunity exists not only for young people from Moscow or Saint Petersburg but also for the regions. This was confirmed by the project “Sirius. Summer”, when the largest federal companies or leading research centres chose mentors and a topic for research for the schoolchildren. Today we are willing to inform the participants of the round table about the real possibility of collaboration between a modern school and a scientific institution and we will also answer questions from our colleagues. We hope the information will be useful for Russian teachers,” said Alexandra Topanova.
Ingrid Pildes, Director of the Academy of Talents, presented the experience of the Regional Centre for identifying and supporting gifted children in the field of project activities, networking with leading scientific institutions of St. Petersburg and Russia as well as preparing schoolchildren for participation in the All-Russian Competition of Science and Technology projects “Big challenges “.
Also, the participants of the round table presented their experience in the field of educational resources used by research centres for interaction with schoolchildren, motivating them to engage in research and projects as well as interactive tools used in teaching practice.