The project is entering its final phase following two successful school years: During the Winter Semester, all 14 participating classes will work together to get to the finish line. Artists will work together with the students during a nine-week period to create lessons based on a previously specified topic drawn from the STEM curriculum.
Managed by experts in the fields of theater, improvisation, choir theater, corporeal theater, dance, performance, music and radio, the workshops are diverse and aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of just how the arts can be incorporated into the classroom.
A total of 680 school students took part in the project, with around half of them participating in the workshops. Initial findings reveal the remarkable potential of integrating the arts as there was a statistically significant improvement in the level of self-confidence and self esteem. In addition, the project group's interest in STEM subjects was higher during the workshop phase than it was in the control group.
The quantitative findings from the student survey were confirmed by qualitative interviews with the teachers. The research identified potential for non-cognitive skills including improved motivation and fulfilling basic needs. The participating educators stated that students were highly motivated and engaged. The level of collaboration was particularly impressive in terms of working towards self-defined goals.
The students became more confident and assured as a result of incorporating artistic methods into learning. They now feel more confident to perform in front of the class and express opinions. The Sparkling Science project's results fit seamlessly into the available documentation about the potential of incorporating art into the classroom.
An especially encouraging aspect is that teachers not only learn more about incorporating this didactical method into academic lessons, they find that students' interest in the subject is sparked and many students want to learn more about the subject area.
There is also growing international interest in the project and its potential impact. The research findings were presented at the prestigious GEBF conference (Society for Empirical Educational Research) in Potsdam, and at the European Citizen Science Conference in Vienna. During the online panel discussion “Das Unsichtbare sichtbar machen” organized by the OeAD at the beginning of June, N Dirisamer spoke about her experiences with artistic science communication. The project “Circus of Knowledge” will be presented at the OIS ZAM Forum in Salzburg in the near future. We were also invited to speak at a conference in South Tyrol (Merano, September 20/21). At the end of February during our own symposium at the JKU, we will be setting an example in terms of sharing and transferring knowledge.
The journey continues to be an exciting one for everyone involved and we look forward to year three!
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