Learning materials and support tools to foster engagement of students in science subjects and aeronautics-related careers Erasmus Project

Project Title

Learning materials and support tools to foster engagement of students in science subjects and aeronautics-related careers

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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

The aeronautics industry has presented a sustained growth, representing a high potential for Europe’s economy and sustainable employment. At the same time underachievement in basic skills such as mathematics, technical science and school drop-out are two persisting problems in several European countries, in the countries/regions where aeronautics industry is a driving-force of the regional economy (such as south-east part of Poland, Bask Country in Spain and centrally located regions of Portugal).
In Portugal and Spain the rates of school dropout, under-achievement in STEM related subjects and unemployment are particularly high and draw a negative combination of factor. Also in Poland some improvements need to be achieved. The south-east part of Poland is a good example of trans sectoral collaboration of local stakeholders related to education training and careers related to aeronautics.

In this context, the Learn & Fly project was implemented by a partnership of seven organisations from Poland, Portugal and Spain. Learn&Fly project attempted to address two objectives:
1) underachievement in STEM subjects through more effective, innovative teaching methods using the world of aeronautics as inspirational theme;
2) supporting schools (especially teachers) to tackle early school leaving (ESL) and disadvantage, by providing information and materials about career opportunities in the aeronautics field and different education/training paths available to embrace them.

The results of the project are: supporting educational, innovative materials and tools and the innovative methodology for the Learn & Fly Challenge which was created and tested during the project. These teaching materials are targeted to school teachers of maths and science related subjects, to be implemented with their 15-17 years old students. All deliverables and materials are available in four languages English, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish.

Output 1: THE LEARN & FLY STEM KIT consists in a series of modules for students and a notebook for teachers, that can be used by teachers in different subjects, such as maths, science, physics. It provides new teaching materials around the main challenge of “building an airplane”. This kit can be used as single tool to support teaching of STEM related subjects, but can also be used in conciliation with the challenge, which in turn can be carried out within a group of students, a whole school, and several schools or among different countries.
Deliverables:
D1/O1 Learn & Fly STEM KIT – 7 modules – materials and activities for learners
D2/O1 Teacher Notebook – guidelines and materials for teachers

Output 2: The Learn & Fly Careers Kit is the comprehensive guide to aviation sector that allows young people to plan their career path. It is an important tool to be used by the teachers, parents and professionals connected to careers counselling or employment centers and even employers (aeronautics companies) who need to display their job offers.
Deliverables:
D1/O2 Identification of careers counsellors and other professionals
D2/O2 Learn & Fly CAREERS KIT – career opportunities, training and education in aeronautics industry

Output 3: THE LEARN&FLY CHALLENGE is the central activity of the Learn&Fly project. The challenge consists in a competition where the students are invited to build an airplane. This competition is divided in two phases. First runs a national competition in each partner country. After that the winners compete in an international competition.
Deliverables:
D1/O3, D2/O3 Learn & Fly Challenge Supporting Tools: Regulations and Report Template
D3/O3 Learn & Fly Challenge Supporting Tools: Moodle Platform content

Within the “Learn&Fly Challenge”, national competitions and an international competition among pupils of different schools were held to put in practice the challenge of building an airplane (explored in the Learn&Fly STEM Kit). The international competition culminated in the international event “Aeroweek” and “Aeroweek Close-up” in Poland, with various activities and award ceremony with the challenge winners from Portugal and Spain.

The project involved different types of participants:
– teams participating in the National Learn & Fly Challenges: 34 teachers, Portugal: 9 teams / 30 Students, Poland: 17 teams / 59 Students, Spain: 8 teams / 32 Students,
– national multiplier events: 389 students/ professors / Parents / counselors,
– international multiplier events: 142 teachers and students and 60 teachers directly involved in the project.

Learn & Fly raised pupils’ interest for STEM related subjects, including those leading to a career in the aerospace sector. It supports their career decisions, in a context where teachers, parents and professionals work together to ensure a positive environment for a proper human, social and professional development of the younger generations.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 247796,88 Eur

Project Coordinator

INNPULS SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Agrupamento de Escolas Sebastião da Gama
• Fundacja Wspierania Edukacji przy Stowarzyszeniu “Dolina Lotnicza”
• FUNDACION PARA LA FORMACION TECNICA EN MAQUINA-HERRAMIENTA
• INOVA+ – INNOVATION SERVICES, SA
• INSTITUTO POLITECNICO DE SETUBAL
• QUASAR – HUMAN CAPITAL, LDA