Bio-Inspired STEM topics for engaging young generations Erasmus Project

Project Title

Bio-Inspired STEM topics for engaging young generations

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Gender equality / equal opportunities

Project Summary

Recent reviews about the state of education in STEM fields has determined that the majority of the students finds the courses dull and unwelcoming; consequently, many students end the school journey showing very low interest in STEM disciplines, ill-prepared in problem-solving. The National Science Foundation recommends that a student’s educational experience should “build inquiry, sense of wonder, and excitement of discovery”. Current trends in education emphasize the need for a progressive switch toward student-centered approaches that differentiate from conventional teaching models. Accordingly, recent research assumes that the students should participate actively in the learning processes. Today, students need to be goal-oriented, creative, and able to solve problems and come up with innovations, in order to be future responsible European citizens and workers.
In this context, the BioS4You project aims to bridge the gap between the STEM national curricula (which mostly include basic contents of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and the needs of Z-generation students, apathetic/uninterested to basic themes, but enthusiastic in concerns related to environmental, social and health issues.
The main goal of the BioS4You project is to engage European young learners in STEM subjects, starting from current issues of interest for them, as the social and environmental impact of new technologies (Bio-Sciences, Bio-Engineering, Bio-Architecture, Bio-Technology, Bio-Photonics, etc.) with the purpose of opening their minds, and achieving higher competencies. These topics will pique the interest of young people, and young girls, in particular, making them more aware of concepts very relevant for their future as sustainability, accessibility, responsibility, biodiversity, self-regulation, social behavior, and development. Furthermore, the knowledge of these contents will make the students feel an active part of the technological innovation (and not just passive users) and will help them to build a better future, bringing them closer to the STEM world and enabling them to make more informed choices for their future careers.
However, in order to obtain successful results with young learners by nourishing their positive attitudes towards STEM subjects and strengthening their basic skills and key competencies, we need very motivated and trained teachers. For this reason, another relevant objective of the BioS4You project is to support upper secondary STEM school teachers and implement teacher collaboration in promoting intensive dissemination of new teaching strategies and innovative ideas in the field Bio-inspired Sciences education. In order to help students to improve critical thinking skills, and demonstrate alternative approaches in STEM education, teachers are expected to create learning modules. The project will focus not only on how teachers could learn to build Bios4You-based educational modules but also on how they could develop effective STEM activities in formal, non-formal and informal environments.
Forty national (10 in each national language) and 5 transnational teaching/learning modules will be created. At least 250 teachers will be trained during eight national multiplier workshops. About forty teachers will participate in the two Teacher Summer Schools also contributing to the implementation of the learning units in the school classroom. About 200 students from the four countries will be involved in the pilot phase and 20 of them will be involved in mobility.
In the project, teachers will benefit from exploring modern approaches in STEM education and teaching facilities in the field of Bio-Science. Specific bio-inspired STEM educational scenarios, OERs, teaching/learning tools and best practices provided by European school educators over the BioS4You e-learning platform will impact on teaching process and inspire pedagogical innovation and modernization. Finally, the project will strengthen the profile of the teaching professions.
The specific results and impact for students are:
• to allow students to connect their learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math together with concerns related to environmental, social and health issues, creating a direct connection between what students are learning and how it is applied in the real world;
• to enhance project-based learning experiences that expose students to the critical thinking skills necessary for success in the 21st century;
• to create wonder, critique, inquiry, and innovation in students’ learning, improving student interest and satisfaction.
BioS4You will expand the methodology and resources for enhancing teacher proficiency and student competence required by modern society. The results will affect the educational and economic transformation of the partner countries (Italy, Germany, Lithuania, and Turkey) in particular, and of Europe, in general.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 167648 Eur

Project Coordinator

KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Adiyaman Milli Egitim Mudurlugu
• KAUNO TECHNOLOGIJOS UNIVERSITETAS
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PALERMO
• CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE PER LA PROMOZIONE DELL’EDUCAZIONE E LO SVILUPPO ASSOCIAZIONE