Promoting Meaningful Science Teaching and Learning Through ICT in the Finnish LUMA Ecosystem

Information and communication technology (ICT) has been successfully used to promote children's, youths' and teachers' competence in mathematics, science and technology in Finland through the LUMA Centre Finland. The LUMA ecosystem (LU stands for science and MA for mathematics) is a social innovation based on collaboration between 11 universities (including researchers and teacher trainers), educational administrations, the business sector, teachers, teacher associations, science museums and centers, families and the media. It is a Finnish model of how to promote LUMA learning, teaching and teacher training. One particular focus of the LUMA collaboration is to support the incorporation of information communication technology (ICT) into classroom practice, especially by supporting pre- and in-service teachers in building their technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK). This paper reviews some of the earlier research and development conducted by the LUMA Centre Finland on the incorporation of ICT into teacher training and non-formal science education. As an example, this paper summarizes the research done on molecular modeling, the microcomputer-based laboratory (MBL) in chemistry education and its' implications for teacher education, and virtual learning environments in science education. This paper also discusses how design-based research has been used as a successful research method to connect theory and practice and to develop pedagogical ICT innovations in science education. Some going-on research topics (e.g. MOOCs) are also presented. © Peter Lang GmbH Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften Frankfurt am Main 2016. All rights reserved.