Developing Maker-based Learning paths in class to prevent early school leaving Erasmus Project

Project Title

Developing Maker-based Learning paths in class to prevent early school leaving

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education

Project Summary

Following the Eurostat’s data, early school leaving in Europe is far away from equilibrated in the entire union. In average in 2016, data say than 11% of young people (aged 18-24) in the EU-28, were early leavers from education and training. The statistics reveal several differences among countries showing that some Member States have a dramatic situation (Eurostat 2017). When Make In Class project started, in 2018, all the partner countries (Italy, Malta, Spain and Germany) were below the EU 2020 target value (10%) and some of those were in the very first positions in Europe for early school leaving rate (Italy, Spain and Malta).

In this regard, according to the Europe 2020 strategy, one of the determining factors in reducing early school leaving is improving the quality and performance of school education (European Commission, School development and excellent teaching for a great start in life, 2017) by improving teachers’ ability to identify individual students’ learning needs and creating a positive learning environment in order to promote inclusion (European Commission/EACEA/Eurydice/Cedefop, 2014).

Make In Class project aimed at supporting teachers and educators (with teachers training and supporting materials) in understanding the potential of maker education and organising and implementing maker-based activities to prevent early school leaving phenomenon in secondary schools.
This innovative approach provided secondary schools and teachers, and other professionals working for inclusion of youth, with resources, tools and practical activities to set up a maker lab ensuring secondary students develop the kinds of skills and knowledge relevant for school and their digital futures.

The Make In Class project produced the following tangible results:
– A competence map identifying the competences acquirable by students with maker-based activities categorised by activity and subject
– An online repository of Open Educational Resources for teachers.
– A modularised training programme to promote secondary school teachers’ and educators’ proficiency in implementing inclusive processes for disengaged students through maker-based activities.
– A pedagogic handbook with practical information and activities to be implemented with students.

The Make In Class partnership including 8 organisations (Co.Meta srl, Comune di Fano, ISS Polo 3 Fano, Fablab Munchen, Gymnasium Neubiberg, MCAST, Bylinedu, IES El Clot) from 4 EU countries (Italy, Spain, Malta and Germany) contributed in improving the quality and performance of school education applying a new maker-based approach.
The Make In Class approach generated particular impact on secondary school teachers (primary target group) and disengaged students, dropout or potential dropout students, students with low performances and migrants students (final beneficiaries) through the creation of original materials, activities and training modules to support the implementation of maker-based activities at school.

In particular the secondary school teachers and educators involved improved their understanding of the potential of maker education for reducing the early school leaving phenomenon, acquire new skills and competences to implement maker-based activities with their students and improved their motivation for implementing such a methodology in their schools.

The students involved (mostly disengaged students and students with low school performances) improved self-esteem and school performances and also key competences and soft skills such as problem solving, creativity, team work, ownership. Furthermore, they were equipped with digital skills in line with the needs of the labour market (ICT, coding, 3D Printing, robotics, automation, electronics, mechanics).

The participating organisations increased the international cooperation with schools, institutions involved in inclusive education and experts in maker-based activities. All the participating organisation improved the quality of their educational offer.

Finally, the project stakeholders were aware of the potential of maker education for improving the motivation of disengaged students.

The Make In Class partnership implemented the project outcomes in their standard educational offer, this will produce long term impacts on the design and quality of education systems generating more personalised, learner-centred forms of teaching and learning.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 306200,05 Eur

Project Coordinator

Co.meta srl uni personale & Country: IT

Project Partners

• FabLab München e.V.
• IES El Clot
• ISTITUTO D’ISTRUZIONE SUPERIORE POLO 3
• MALTA COLLEGE OF ARTS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
• BERNAT Y LOLI INICIATIVES EDUCATIVES
• Gymnasium München-Trudering
• Comune di Fano