Olsvikåsen videregående
Olsvikåsen videregående skole is an upper secondary school with 550 students between the age of 16 and 19 and 69 teachers. The school was founded in 2006, and situated west of Bergen city center. Olsvikåsen videregående skole is a combined school offering general studies in the area of science and technology, social science, foreign language, economical science and arts and architecture as well as vocational education (health and youth development as well as design and craftsmanship).
Olsvikåsen high school has only Norwegian pupils with different ethnic backgrounds, but there is a small minority who receives special education in Norwegian language. The current school year there are 6 students who receive special education because of language difficulties.
Although high school is not mandatory in Norway, we find that the vast majority, almost 100%, choose high school to ensure higher education and permanent job. Previously the situation was such that most students who applied for entering the Olsvikåsen were accepted, the situation is now such that there are waiting lists to get into the school. That means that we have good students but there are also a few students who fall through professional and underperforming.
Olsvikåsen high school has collaborated with several schools in EU countries such as France, Spain and Germany. These projects are not funded through the EU, but rather private cooperation projects related to foreign language training where our school have funded our student exchange by private means. Our school wants to enhance the quality of such exchange programmes and believe that the quality of education will be strengthened through a formalized international cooperation.
Our school has an extensive collaboration with the University of Bergen in the field of education and science. Every year we guide new students in educational sciences.
Olsvikåsen high school has conducted several field studies in various ecosystems such as marine, limnic and lands as an integral part of the teaching of biology, chemistry and science. Field methods, which are typical in situ, have been linked to the use of mobile data loggers, mobiles, tablets, but also more traditional methods such as collection and mapping of organisms.
Several studies have been conducted as collaborative projects with research institutions such as the University of Bergen.
Our school has its own weather station that we use in the teaching of the geosciences, mathematics and science. Data which we extract can be used, for example, to make weather forecasts, teach periodic functions in maths or used as a basis to better understand climate changes locally and globally. It is possible to develop this work further to include not only a local weather station, but also as a key element in the work regarding local SCI.
Our teachers have a good knowledge of online teaching. For example, it may be noted that in the last school year the science and geology teacher, taught students online using video conferences from all over the county of Hordaland in geosciences. She has also developed a fieldwork teaching programme in geoscience at Mjølfjell, which is a highland area in western Norway. The mathematics and computer science teacher, has developed his own teaching modules in computer science based on principles of reverse lessons/flipped classroom. While there is good expertise in school, there is a desire for a wider international profile. Through international cooperation, we believe that good practices can be developed to enhance the students' performances in all the three schools.
Olsvikåsen high school is a registered eTwinning-user, so eTwinning will be used to communicate with our partners and to upload the project material.