Cultural Presence of the Cretan Biodiversity in the Minoan Period and nowadays： A Discovery School Teaching Approach

The educational project prepared for students of High School 15-17 years old with the subject of Biodiversity in Minoan Period and Nowadays. It was an interdisciplinary approach of ecological and cultural views of biodiversity. Special educational material was prepared with photos and texts of archaeological excavations and field sampling which was used in real and virtual environment, in t~ discovery teaching of Natural Sciences and History subjects. Students, in a scientific research project with constructive teachings, followed the procedures by which scientists gather, analyze, synthesize, process and evaluate information of organisms of Crete since 4000 years. Crete is located between the natural limits of three continents, having the unique privilege to host permanently or in migration, distinctive species of these three continents. After having the research questions, teachers collected the educational material, organized the work groups, implemented the didactic intervention in the classroom, had the field sampling of plants, recognized the synchronous local and scientific names of the plants, constructed the botany book, photographed the collected organisms and all the concentrated material was delivered to the team members.

Development of School Methodology for Field Study of a Botanical Pineland

The major importance of forests is critical to the survival on planet Earth. Forests are threatened by a lot of dangers and all of us have to contribute to the fight for their survival. The methodology of school research on pine woods which is described below, aims to cultivate more sensitive, educated and activated students, by accordingly specialized teachers who are going to organize the educational background, also to decide techniques and materials for the easiest and most effective learning, for the cultivation of values, attitudes and friendly behaviors towards forests. The suggested methodology is based on the findings of a European Comenius Program and two Programs of Environmental Education. The research usually takes place in a pine land, by using a worksheet as experimental tool, and focuses on the vitality of the trees, the biodiversity, the effects of pollution and other cultural elements related to the pine bio-community. There is also a lot of informative discussion and research over cultural, social and economical factors with locals and specialists.

Experimental Teaching of Biology： A Professional Challenge. How Prepared Are the Teachers of High Schools of Heraklion, Greece？

In this research the education and training that had been received or wished to be acquired by the Science teachers in the experimental teaching of Biology in high schools, was investigated. It focused on the laboratory practice, didactic methods that can be used in more effective experimental teaching of Biology, pedagogic methods that can be implemented in laboratory team teaching, official and legal issues related to laboratory work and the organization of the seminars, which constituted the dependent variables of a quantitative analysis. A questionnaire consisting of closed type questions was answered by Science teachers of many specialties, who served in Secondary Education at Heraklion Crete prefecture. The asked teachers had not received adequate education in carrying out laboratory exercises of Biology neither during their university studies nor in in-service training. Most of them had taught the course theoretically but a few had carried out laboratory exercises of Biology. The need of training on issues of didactic practices and evaluation was firstly classified, with a significant percentage of methods that can be applied to provoke students＇ curiosity in scientific issues related to daily life and recognize the value of the Life Sciences by team collaboration and respect of others.