Is there anybody out there? Erasmus Project

Project Title

Is there anybody out there?

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 Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Natural sciences

Project Summary

The project “Is there anybody out there” is presented by four schools from Denmark, Romania, the Netherlands and Ireland. The strategic partnership we propose is focused on three main topics:
1. The teaching of STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) by analyzing concrete problems and current challenges, such as the possibility of life on other planets and astronomical research
2. The development of self-entrepreneurial skills, by developing the mind-set, skills and knowledge to generate creative ideas, and the entrepreneurial initiative to turn those ideas into action
3. Methodological innovation through the use of ICT and learning methods on the field, on the job, cooperative learning and blended learning

The project is based on a careful analysis of the needs and aims to meet the challenges posed by the EU through the EU 2020 objectives and through the objectives of the EU and the European Space Agency (ESA) on the European Space Policy in a resolution of the Space Council carried out by the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO).

The general objectives are:
– Implement education and training processes using new technology like blended learning
– Reinforce the centrality of the student within a flexible training process for motivation to learn, the ability to build their own training, the sense of responsibility with respect to their future development
– Teaching STEM disciplines on concrete and topical issues
– Deepening CLIL and the use of scientific English

The specific objectives are:
– Stimulate interest in students towards a knowledge proposed by experimenting with forms of learning on the job into concrete and real situations, this will be more stimulating than only theoretical work
– Instill self-guidance skills and train students to have self-confidence, ability to demonstrate initiative, flexibility and mental agility, willingness to change
– Teaching students and staff of the school about the importance of a cross-curricular approach to teach STEM-skills in an attractive context like astronomy
– Develop collaborative learning, utilizing the expertise and knowledge of others (peers, teachers and professionals)
– Create awareness on the importance of European cooperation in space research
– Translating acquired theoretical knowledge to practical design, such as an extra-terrestrial rover, which should be able to search with sensors for life on other planets, so as to stimulate creativity

The project will directly involve at least 24 students from each partner school, some of them with fewer opportunities, aged between 16 and 18 years, related to the subjects of natural sciences. Specifically, 15 events (seminars, lectures and workshops, as well as experiences on the field and on the job) will be organized, taught by teachers at the school in collaboration with experts and stakeholders that this project aims to involve. Most of the seminars will be in CLIL. Four blended mobility’s are planned, which will consist of 30 days of virtual mobility through TwinSpace and 5 days of physical mobility in Denmark, Romania, the Netherlands and Ireland. Every blended mobility has its own topic:
Module 1: An introduction to modern astronomy and our solar system
Module 2: The role of the sciences in astronomy, a cross-curricular approach
Module 3: Astronomical experiments for earth based observations
Module 4: Practice; designing and developing an extra-terrestrial rover

The project also includes the integration of several disciplines (astronomy, mathematics, natural sciences and technical drawing) to be covered during the normal teaching, so as to reach students not directly involved in the activities and ensure greater impact and sustainability.

The methodologies used are:
– Inquiry-based learning
– Learning-by-doing
– Learning on the job and on the field
– Blended learning

Training on the job requires that stakeholders, like ESA and universities, inviting classes for practical workshops to enable pupils to understand the topics they are working on, giving them an outlook for the future choice of university and career.

At the end of the activities the students will have acquired skills in STEM, basic and transversal, as self-employment, skills and (scientific) English language. The project makes the involvement of stakeholders as a strength point; the activities of the project will be organized within the cooperation of universities and the ESERO department of ESA like teacher training, student assignments, workshops, lectures and competitions.

The project aims to produce lasting results cultural approach that both students as teachers will adopt in their relationship with the environment around them, the world of work and teaching techniques. Finally a handbook for teachers will be made on a cross-curricular approach of teaching STEM-skills in the context of astronomy.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 103880 Eur

Project Coordinator

OSG De Ring van Putten & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Carrick-on-Shannon Community School
• kerteminde 10. klasse center
• Liceul Teoretic “Tudor Arghezi”