Improving STEM Education Across European Schools Erasmus Project

Project Title

Improving STEM Education Across European Schools

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Research and innovation; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

According to the benchmark set by the European Union, the percentage of fifteen years old young people with insufficient abilities in mathematics and science should be reduced to 15% by 2020. Teachers must be given all the support they need in order to reach this common goal for Europe and improve pupils’ performances in mathematics and science. Hence it is essential that schools, teacher education institutions, universities and educational authorities support and stimulate the teachers’ innovation and experimentation in the classroom.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE of the STEM project is to develop a methodology for teachers/educators and to develop and implement innovative pedagogies and methods for teaching and assessing STEM in the classroom, making it more attractive in the eyes of young people and students.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
SO1: Boost a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM teachers as well as education researchers, policymakers and other STEM education professionals, exchanging inquiry-based and other innovative, effective and engaging approaches to science and maths education.
SO2: Transfer of innovative STEM teaching methods to a large number of teachers, an e-Learning Area that will be developed in order to help individuals exploring and sharing innovative tools and techniques to make STEM subjects attractive in the eyes of the students.
SO3: Explore the use of ICT in STEM education, to enhance its introduction in traditional teaching methods and create technology-rich learning environments for students.
SO4: Helping students to develop important transversal skills such as creative thinking, problem solving, etc., that can be utilised by young people in the labour market.

The partnership was built with 6 organisations: Academy for International Science and Research (AISR-UK), Technological Centre (VITECO-IT), Higher education institute ( UCLL,Belgium) , Secondary School ( Scoala Gimnaziala Gheorghe Magheru-RO) , NGO (The Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED)-GR), NGO (21. YY Eğitimciler Derneği -TR) that perceive STEM in 6 different aspects and various professions, which makes our project more stronger.

The activities : There will be 4 Transnational Meetings, 3 LTT Events, 3 Intellectual Outputs and 6 Multiplier Events during the project. Also, surveys will be carried out, Needs Analysis, STEM Strategy Action Plan, Workshops, Multilingual project website, creating social media accounts, STEM Events, STEM materials, 3 edition of newsletters, case studies, seminars, conferences are among the activities that will be held. The methodology used according to the steps of the project: Cooperation, team work, brainstorming, effective communication, collaborative working, leadership,Project based /Task Based/ Inquiry Based Learning, learning by doing, student centred Learning Methods will be used during the project cycle.
After 2 years duration of the project, the most important results expected:
-Teachers understanding of STEM Education in European Context will be enhanced
-Teachers competences and skills developing STEM activities and materials in different STEM disciplines
-Teachers understanding about using Web2 tools and ICT in education
-Teachers competences and skills in developing STEM strategies&organising STEM teacher training courses
-Teachers and students enrolment and interest in STEM will be enhanced
-Students engagement, interest and enjoyment in STEM subjects will increase
-Students understanding of STEM concepts, improve their practical skills and help them to develop employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication and independence will deepen and extend
-Participating organisations understanding of developing STEM strategies into schools/education centres/training institutions will improve
The most important expected impact of the project:
Teachers:
-Increased awareness of STEM education, improved skills and competences
-Improved quality of STEM Education
-Improve teachers’ STEM subject and pedagogical understanding, their confidence, motivation and ability to teach STEM subjects, as well as their leadership skills
Students:
-Deepen and extend students’ understanding of STEM concepts, improve their practical skills and help them to develop employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, communication and independence.
-To increase students’ achievement and their awareness of STEM related-careers, which in turn increases the number pursuing STEM careers and progressing into STEM-related careers
Participating organisations:
-Improved understanding of developing STEM strategies into schools/education centres/training institutions and integrating it into the curriculum
The longer term benefits of the project will be:
-The State of Art, Multilingual project website including intellectual outputs, STEM Development Action Plan, STEM Activities&Training Materials, e-learning area & e-courses and mentoring scheme will be the sustainable longer term benefits

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 208232 Eur

Project Coordinator

Academy for International Science and Research & Country: UK

Project Partners

• INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
• 21.YY Egitimciler Dernegi
• UC LIMBURG
• VITALE TECNOLOGIE COMUNICAZIONE – VITECO SRL
• Scoala Gimnaziala Gheorghe Magheru Caracal