FabLab SchoolNet: STEAM education and learning by Robotics, 3D and Mobile technologies Erasmus Project

Project Title

FabLab SchoolNet: STEAM education and learning by Robotics, 3D and Mobile technologies

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: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

FabLab SchoolNet: STEAM education and learning by Robotics, 3D and Mobile technologies – is an international strategic partnership for a school education project. The project was held in Lithuania, Greece, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria. The project started on 1st of November 2018; it finished on 31st of October, 2021. The main idea of the project was to create the possibilities for educators from different countries to work together, to discuss about how to use the three technologies of Robotics, 3D and Augmented Reality in educational contexts.
The living world has been extremely changed by the technology more and more pervasive, user-friendly, wearable and ductile. These changes are still ongoing. Social networks have revolutionized the marketing sector as well as languages and interpersonal relationships. Existing companies are trying to keep pace to the new evolving environment, while a new generation of young entrepreneurs is growing in this ecosystem. Entrepreneurs today need a new mind-set, to create the basis for promoting new approaches and new ways to think about enterprises. New skills are needed: the ability of thinking in a global market, the ability of managing new knowledge and applying new solutions in its own context, the ability to communicate their ideas and finally the ability to achieve its objectives quickly since the market itself changes continuously. Currently, the relationship between the education and enterprise sectors is not connected to a standardized model in all European countries. In fact, this relationship was often based on economic models developed in the industrial or post-industrial age.
In this scenario the implementation of the guidelines published by the European Commission in the “Entrepreneurship Education: A Guide for Educators of June 2013” report plays a key role. It is necessary to rethink schools as a flexible network in which transversal knowledge can be developed. In this new environment a learning-by-doing approach should be preferred. Moreover, the main purpose of Entrepreneurship Education was not focused on teaching how to manage an enterprise but on developing entrepreneurial attitude, skills and knowledge. In addition it is important to highlight that the entrepreneurial skills can only be acquired by means of a curriculum developed in strict relationships with business experts and entrepreneurs.
According to the report of the NMC Horizon Report – 2014 higher Education, in five years, the technology of 3D printing will be widespread. Nowadays there is an increasing interest in this technology and FabLab is a moving power of it. The most interesting feature of this technology is its potential to transform the approach in the production of goods thus redefining the concept of craftsman. While smartphones have brought the information in the pocket of users, 3D printers will allow anyone to translate their ideas into real goods promoting a new approach towards the so called “craft 2.0”.
The project we proposed aims at promoting a new network and new way of thinking about the production of goods by adopting learning-by-doing methodologies. That encourages learners in the participation of the enterprise workflow (from concept to prototyping and marketing). In addition, to increase the students’ skills, they were part of an international network in order to deal with young people from different cultures to think and produce ideas for a global market. Specifically, the project proposes a cycle of training for teachers, supported by tutors and experts, in topics related to Robotics, 3D printing and Augmented Reality. A training program for students in the same topic was also implemented. Students also became familiar with concepts related to networking, development of new ideas and creativity. Brainstorming phases within the international network created in the project followed by phases in which students can design – make – refine – implement their own idea. The final aim is to stimulate connections between learners and the real market, redefining business skills to “think globally to act locally”.
The project involved a number of 12 teachers from Lithuania, Bulgaria and Greece. They participated in the training sessions and then piloted the learning paths created within the project with their schools. A group of 18 students participated in a training session in Greece hosted by the 2nd Epal VET school. During this training students experimented with the use of robotics, 3D printing and Augmented Reality technology to create their own models, from the design to a concrete product.

Project Website

https://www.fablabschoolnet.eu/en/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 149150,22 Eur

Project Coordinator

Siauliu Didzdvario gimnazija & Country: LT

Project Partners

• FabLab Palermo APS
• UNIVERSITATEA DUNAREA DE JOS DIN GALATI
• CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
• Varnenska morska gimnazia “Sv. Nikolai Chudotvorec”
• 2 EPAL TRIKALON