A Trainers Toolkit To Foster STEM Skills Using Microcontroller Applications Erasmus Project

Project Title

A Trainers Toolkit To Foster STEM Skills Using Microcontroller Applications

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 vocational education and training

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; Cooperation between educational institutions and business; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

Background and context:
The analysis documents for the European educational policies have at their center the preoccupations of educational systems to develop STEM skills in students and organize learning activities in schools which are practical, interdisciplinary and innovative to exercise them. A development of active and innovative, interdisciplinary and collaborative methodology is a must, to promote the development of Maths, Sciences and technologies. Developing devices based on microcontrollers and future technologies promotes practical study experiences, interdisciplinary professional development and development of digital VET skills.
EU Commission is constantly recommending the increase in the level of educational digitalization and integrating the new technologies in the educational process. Raising student motivation through usage of modern teaching methods that encourage the application of new technologies in practical work environments is required.
It is through the joined effort of engineers- IT specialists – STEM teachers that we will create the basis for the developmnet of basic skills and transversal skills reuired on the European Labor market for future jobs.
The objectives of the project:
1. Identifying means to project, program and use embedded systems for educational purposes
2. Elaborating curricular resources centered on the use of STEM skills to accomplish devices based on microcontrollers
3. Implementing learning activities in STEM school subjects with the view of familiarizing students with the new technologies based on microcontrollers
4. Creating a study platform for the free access to curricular resources created on the theme of developing applications with microcontrollers.
5. Developing new EU partnerships, with transfer of good practices and innovative curricular resources between the institutions that target the development of STEM skills.
The target group is formed of VET trainers and students and professionals from the profile companies.
– members of the project teams of all partner organizations;
– STEM teachers from partner schools
– 200 students who will pilot the platform in the 3 schools
– 150 users enrolled on the platform
– 60 STEM teachers in project countries, who will join the platform during the dissemination stage
– At least 500 people will receive through MailChimp the 4 newsletters
– 120 participants at the Multiplication Events
The project will reach a greater target group through the implementation of the OER uploaded on the platform.
Activities:
– 5 transnational meetings (Romania, Portugal, Croatia, Poland, Greece)
– 1 Short Term joint staff training event
– Documentation and creation, testing and piloting of IOs
– Dissemination and valorization of results activities
– 3 Multiplier Events in partner school countries
– Project Management activities
– Monitoring, Evaluation activities typical for a Quality Management
Results of the project:
– members of the project teams of all partner organizations with competences developed in European project management and implementation of applications with microcontrollers;
– STEM teachers from the two partner schools with developed competences of implementing practical activities with students on microcontrollers
– 200 pupils who will pilot the platform from the 3 schools with developed STEM skills
– 150 users enrolled on the platform, except for students with knowledge of microcontroller applications
– 5 intellectual outputs (curriculum modules, collection of educational models, guide, e-learning platform)
– 4 Newsletters that will present information about the evolution of the project
– one Multiplier Event performed in each partner country (09.2021)
– the website and the Facebook page of the project in all partner languages in the first 2 months of the project, accessed and appreciated by at least 100 users.
Impact and durability:
Integrating microcontrollers in the modern class and boosting interest in the STEM subjects allows for a more practical viewpoint onto the teaching- learning process in training institutes. It also encompasses and is applicable to the modern day technology of flipped classroom which allows students to start the learning process from the result/ the output and go backwards in search of its process. Such a methodology of learning combined with the potential of outsourcing it will create employees with a greater degree of employability in the most competitive fields of activity nowadays.
In the long term the project will have a great impact and durability due to the creation of Open Digital (OER) resources that will be made public and promoted by uploading them to specialized databases to distribute resources for teachers/trainers.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 140654 Eur

Project Coordinator

Liceul Teoretic de Informatica “Grigore Moisil” & Country: RO

Project Partners

• MACDAC ENGINEERING CONSULTANCY BUREAU LTD – MECB
• STROJARSKA TEHNICKA SKOLA FAUSTA VRANCICA
• SC Ludor Engineering SRL
• DANMAR COMPUTERS SP ZOO
• UNIVERSIDADE PORTUCALENSE INFANTE D HENRIQUE-COOPERATIVA DE ENSINO SUPERIOR CRL
• Arsakeio Lyceum of Patra