Hot-air balloons: Project-centered study as a bridge between science and technology education

A project-based study, the hot-air balloon, was developed to impart both scientific and technological principles to junior high school pupils in Israel. The project exposed pupils to scientific inquiry and the design process in technology. The program was implemented throughout the school year, in a pilot school in the first year and in eight and then ten schools in the second and third year. The science and technology teachers, from varying academic backgrounds, participated in in-service training courses and received individual tutoring in schools. Science and technology studies were both given due consideration, but were not completely integrated. True cooperation between teachers with differing specialties was achieved, because a broad scientific-technological project cannot be taught single-handedly by any one teacher.