Options
Informal learning in a summer out-of-school play-scheme for children to build solar toys
Titre du projet
Informal learning in a summer out-of-school play-scheme for children to build solar toys
Description
Within a strong tradition of active and constructive pedagogy, a major concern for education is to help the younger generations become familiar with knowledge of science and technology in formal and informal settings. A theoretical framework regarding informal learning and agency in a sociocultural perspective is proposed to interpret the activities and their consequences. We try to demonstrate that a "photovoltaic" informal setting, organised out-of-school and oriented towards building a personal project, can help young people to discover an exciting world of "bricolage" and to better understand solar technologies. Children (8 to 13 y.o.) participated in engineering activities offered in a summer holiday play-scheme. The activities were organised by experts in photovoltaic research and development, and offered the possibility of building a personalised solar toy. We suggest that this informal context of activity may be an opportunity for children to develop a sense on engineering activities, and to develop meaningful representations and conceptions of photovoltaic technology. Interviews and observations allowed us to analyse children’s involvement and learning.
Chercheur principal
Statut
Completed
Date de début
1 Janvier 2012
Date de fin
1 Janvier 2019
Organisations
Identifiant interne
35977
identifiant