Shaping TechnoKids by Engaging Minds Erasmus Project

Project Title

Shaping TechnoKids by Engaging Minds

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

The motivation behind this project is that the partner schools feel that enhancing ICT skills through STEM activities provide a wonderful opportunity for integrated learning, hands on discovery, and adaptations to ensure the lessons we deliver reach students of all levels of ability.

STEM activities do a brilliant job of engaging students and they not only inspire the pupils but the teachers also. Children need to be engaged to learn and because STEM is child centred using inquiry based principles, we will be able to allow our children to take ownership of their learning. As their teachers we can support them in following their passions, we can get creative with our lessons, making them fun and interesting. With STEM we are teaching skills the way they will be used in the real world.

Technology advancements are revolutionising every aspect of our lives. To thrive in the digital era people need to understand how to use various technologies effectively to acquire, analyse, communicate and create information. There is no doubt that ICT can enhance education. The integration of technological tools and resources into the curriculum has been linked to improvements in student engagement, comprehension of content knowledge, and application of skills. We hope for our project to blend ICT into our lessons by using project-based learning through STEM activities. This approach makes learning meaningful.

Using ICT in the day to day running of the classroom and applying STEM principles transforms school and education from a place to a state of mind. Teachers that employ digital technology and STEM principles make real-life connections in their teachings. School becomes a state of mind rather than a place. School is not about going to a building but about the experience of learning. With ICT and STEM we are always growing, always experimenting, always thinking and always learning.

From looking at the most recent PISA results for Mathematics, Science and Reading, we can see that only one European country has broken into the top 5 (Estonia in 5th) behind China, Singapore, Macao and Hong Kong respectively. Partner countries in this project are in 11th (Poland), 12th (Ireland), 13th (UK), 31st (Iceland) and 37th (Croatia) with Spain being exempt from the 2018 results due to test anomalies. We want to bridge that gap and give our students the same opportunities and chances.

The primary challenge of project methodology is to achieve all of the project goals and objectives while honouring the preconceived constraints.

We follow the Traditional Approach to project management, which identifies a sequence of steps to be completed:
Initiation,
Planning,
Execution,
Monitoring and Controlling
Completion.

Several pieces of research show that there is a strong correlation between learning through STEM activities and better academic achievements in schools. Therefore throughout the duration of the project, we have activities to increase students knowledge and abilities in Reading, Mathematics, Science and Technology, and business studies by encouraging working together to problem solve by being in a group environment. Using a ‘hands on’ programme in a primary school setting as a vehicle for improving children’s scholastic abilities will prove to be an excellent way to aid their education.

Children need strong ICT skills to be able to fulfill the ever rapidly changing demands of technological societies. With Erasmus + support, each partner school will be able to bring new technologies (e.g iPads, laptops, cameras etc) to their children while several activities within the project are all ICT based and encourage the use of thinking and research skills. We feel this project gives children many opportunities to not only share what skills they already have in terms of ICT but also to enhance their ability to communicate globally.

As a partnership we believe this project should be funded because Scientists, technology experts, engineers, and mathematical thinkers will shape the products and services of tomorrow. The primary goal of blending these disciplines with ICT is to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue STEM related careers.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 42000 Eur

Project Coordinator

St. Brigid’s Primary School & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Osnovna skola Glina
• Victoria Díez
• Grandaskoli
• St Dominic’s National School
• Szkola Podstawowa nr 2 im sw Wojciecha