GIMMS – Gender, Innovation and Mentoring in Mathematics and Science

GIMMS is a Comenius 2.1 project on science teacher education. It started in October 2006 for a period of three years. A main aim is the improvement of science teacher education in European countries. Six partners from European institutions in Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Austria and the Czech Republic are registered for participation.

The German partner is offering two studies about mentoring:

1. a comparative study for initial teacher education in two different federal states and
2. a study with gender sensitive teaching materials in a university course.

The GIMMS project will link curriculum reform and teacher education through piloting a number of mentoring models and through the identification, development and dissemination of innovative genderproofed practices in mathematics and science teaching.

Objectives:
The GIMMS initiative will develop innovative genderproofed practices in science and mathematics, in a search for a common European solution rather than a national solution. The case study research will take into account the existing PISA findings for science and mathematics and the OECD recommendations on teacher education. The project will develop classroom materials and models of mentoring partnerships based on jointly agreed research questions about motivation, equal opportunities for girls and boys, ICT and continuing professional development in sciences and mathematics.

Main activities:
Phase 1: Identification of case study schools piloting a number of mentoring strategies.
Phase 2: Follow up in the testing and development of innovative practices in a variety of formats.
Phase 3: Ongoing evaluation and dissemination of findings to schools, teacher education institutions and policy makers.