The development of innovative teaching methods, between units of measurement and the life of bees: a case study

Abstract

This article is a case study describing the interaction between a School Improvement Advisor/researcher – SIA, a Swiss primary school located in Stabio (TI) and some of its teachers while developing innovative educational projects. In the following pages are illustrated two experiences aimed at the establishment and growth of communities of practice: the first deals with the construction of a map, and the second shows pupils in a learning interaction with bees and their environment. Both experiences were built around the use of the methodology Understanding by Design (UbD) – particularly innovative for the school system of Canton Ticino – but they include also other contributions coming from the field of educational research that were put in practice by teachers. Moreover, beyond the co-construction of innovative teaching and learning practices, the article includes some reflections on the active role of an SIA in «pollinating» schools.