STEM through 21st Century Skills Erasmus Project

Project Title

STEM through 21st Century Skills

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 : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

In many ways, the 21st century is a technological revolution. All of us, students and teachers alike, must constantly prepare for an always renewing period. Almost everything we do or use is somehow technology related. Learning today is not about what you know, but about what you can do with what you know. Main 21st Century skills include critical thinking, creative thinking, communication and collaboration. These skills help students learn, and are therefore essential to their success at school and beyond.
The following countries were involved in this project: Latvia (coordinator school), Estonia, Denmark and Iceland. The project’s target group was primary school level, where they are taught in a very creative and comprehensible way, using the latest technologies. The age range of the pupils in the project was 11-15 years. There were basic 18 pupils and several teachers from each school, but the number of participants in the host country during the mobility increased significantly because of interested students and assistants.
The purpose of this transnational strategic partnership was to encourage students to present their school, city and country; exchange of information and experience and acquisition of different skills in STEM: science, technology, engineering, mathematics; improving students’ skills, competences and career prospects; Promoting the idea of ​​a European partnership; enabling students to learn the basics of European languages ​​and improving the oral and written English language of pupils and their teachers; increasing motivation and satisfaction in daily work.
For this reason, the project participants met for teaching and training activities in one of the areas of STEM where the host country is more specialized. Each country was responsible for one major theme: Estonia – science, Iceland – technology, Latvia – engineering, Denmark – math. It was also a key theme of mobility, with students visiting other countries and working in teams, sharing and gaining experience in developing their skills. Although each mobility was responsible for a specific area, the project provided knowledge in all STEM areas in every mobility. Among the mobility activities were other activities aimed at improving and consolidating knowledge in different subjects. Each of the participating institutions was very responsible in organizing the events and was responsible in the planning of the project activities, which promoted a pleasant and cohesive atmosphere throughout the project activities and trips. During each mobility, the students got to know the project participants by playing ice breaker games and teamwork, learning about their school, city, country, culture, traditions, visiting landmarks and museums in each country, but mainly improving their skills and competences through practice, e.g. green screen application in filmmaking, programming, radio electronics, microbit programming, Ozobots, Sphero and Osmo robots, Spaghetti bridges, Rube Goldberg machine, getting to know the real components of radioelectronics (resistors, transistors, logic circuits, diodes), 3D design and product creation, wind power, calculations, interaction between renewable energy and mathematics.Therefore, the added value of these activities was gaining self-confidence through deepening knowledge in languages, digital skills, physics, mathematics, science, technology, research methods, as well as improving teamwork through enhanced knowledge in STEM: science, technology, engineering, mathematics; skills in logical thinking, algorithmic thinking, critical thinking, creative thinking were developed; an expanded understanding of the European community; increased awareness of foreign languages ​​as a means of exchange; gained experience through practical work such as building spaghetti bridges and wind turbines, learning about different birds, observing and identifying them, using tablets and applications, using maps and compasses in nature, and so on.
The teaching and training activities were carried out by specialized teachers working in partnership schools. The activities were interactive and focused on the learner. There are many things to remember from the project – photos, 3D printed key rings, bookmarks and a calendar. Each participant has been gifted and appreciated, so this collaboration and communication continues. These facts are a clear indication of successful collaboration and bring joy to the project idea developers.
The benefits of each school from this particular project are crucial – valuable international experience and improved professional skills for both teachers and students. It is also important to mention valuable events that allowed a large number of students to work and prove themselves and their desires to explore and cooperate. Effective and contemporary methods have raised students’ awareness of complex areas and have developed an important process – a desire to explore and learn.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 98885 Eur

Project Coordinator

Jelgavas Tehnologiju vidusskola & Country: LV

Project Partners

• Auraskolen
• Oru Kool
• Nesskoli