Open Schooling is an innovative approach to education that supports students, teachers, schools and communities to collaborate and is being introduced in Ireland though a Horizon 2020 project Open Schools for Open Societies (OSOS). The aim of this project is to support 1000 schools, both primary and post-primary, adopting an Open Schooling framework across 10 European countries.

UNESCO’s recent report “Rethinking Education: Towards a common global goal?”reminds us that the changes that we face in the world today are characterised by new levels of complexity and contradiction. The changes we face also mean that citizens are required to have a better understanding of science and technology in order to help them to participate in scientifically informed decision making and knowledge based innovation. Encouraging innovation is one way that we can help schools and communities to face these complex changes and to encourage citizens to be more scientifically informed.

This large scale project supports teachers and schools across 10 European countries to adopt Open Schooling approaches, by: a) developing a model that promotes such a culture through the co-creation of inspiring projects; b) providing support for teacher and school leaders, such as, staff development, redesigning time, and partnerships with relevant organisations (local industries, research organisations, parents associations and policy makers), and  c) suggesting a range of possible implementation processes from small-scale prototypes through to setting up an “open school within a school”. The project will support schools to transform as innovative ecosystems, acting as shared sites of science learning for which leaders, teachers, students and the local community share responsibility. You can join the Open Schools Portal to find out more about resources and opportunities for Open Schooling.

How can my school participate in the OSOS project?

OSOS in Ireland is recruiting 100 schools to participate in the OSOS project from 2018 to 2020.

If your school is interested in finding out more, please visit register your details at https://goo.gl/forms/sFy5OCi7WlJV3Gin2

OSOS in Ireland:

The collaboration with Irish schools participating in the OSOS project and the evaluation of the impact in schools across Europe is led by CASTeL and Celsius researchers at Dublin City University,

• Dr. Eilish McLoughlin, Dr. James Lovatt, Dr. Ruth Chadwick, Dr. Theresa Tallon from CASTeL at at Dublin City University.
• Dr. Padraig Murphy and Ms. Caitriona Mordan from Celsius, School of Communication at Dublin City University

To find out more about OSOS in Ireland:

1. Watch this video introducing OSOS from James and Caitriona, click here
2. Follow us on Twitter @OpenSchoolsIE
3. Contact Irish OSOS Project Officer: Dr. Theresa Tallon E: osos@dcu.ie