Developing STEM Competences with Robotics Erasmus Project

Project Title

Developing STEM Competences with Robotics

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition, transparency, certification; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Project “Developing STEM Competences with Robotics (Robotics 4.0 All)” was developed as an answer to the needs of learners and trainers alike, to enhance their STEM and digital competences during, what is called, the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) that emphasizes on automation, cyber-physical systems and the internet of things (IoT). According to various studies, around 65% of people will be employed in new fields of occupation in the future, which are not even established today. Thus, 21st century skills such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) and digital competences, analytical and critical thinking, teamwork and cooperation, are deemed necessary to enhance one’s educational capacity and to increase future employability opportunities, while adapting and keeping up-to-date with modern technology. Furthermore, the European Commission has also strongly supported the new Digital Era and is willing to promote methods like coding and programming as a valuable formal and non-formal educational technique that could both improve skills and social inclusion in various educational environments.
For this reason, partners with experience and expertise in LEGO Mindstorms Robotics and in VET excellence were brought together to collaborate, innovate and add value to each other’s activities and to our project as a whole. LEGO Mindstorms Robotics are customizable, programmable robots that are ideal for applications related to STEM education and coding, as well as for rehabilitation, social inclusion and other purposes, while being especially focused on youngsters.
In this regard, and in order to achieve all of the above, “Robotics 4.0 All” has had five key objectives that were interconnected with each other; to conduct a European research and needs analysis over the current state of STEM education and robotics (IO1); to create new innovative curricula in order to combine best practices and fill the identified gaps in STEM learning (IO2); accordingly, to train the trainers and experts of the consortium based on LEGO Mindstorms (C1); to present e methodology for the recognition of learning outcomes of STEM (IO4); and, most importantly, to train and educate children between 13-16 years old who will then participate as teams in a Transnational Robotics Tournament with their peers from the other project countries (IO3 and C2).
Through this well-rounded methodology, both adult participants and youngsters have had the opportunity to develop, enhance and acquire key competences and skills relevant to digital applications and STEM education and training through a recreational approach. With approximately 14 trainers and 56 youngsters being involved directly to the project (not counting the partners’ staff, the participants of the Multiplier Events and the respondents to the IO1 interviews that contributed indirectly), the acquired and newly developed skills and competences will help them be better prepared and equipped for future educational and professional chances, while the liaison, the exchange of best practices and the establishment of synergies among the participating organizations and relevant stakeholders around Europe, will help maximize the impact in the present and in their future activities, so that even more will have the opportunity to be benefited through the partners’ local training classes and get to know the exciting new world of robotics.

Project Website

http://robotics4all.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 262164,76 Eur

Project Coordinator

FIRST Scandinavia & Country: NO

Project Partners

• NPO Robootika
• DEKAPLUS BUSINESS SERVICES LTD
• Otvorena medijska grupacija
• INERCIA DIGITAL SL
• EDUACT – DRASI GIA TIN EKPAIDEUSI
• OECON GROUP BULGARIA