Mobile laboratories for improvement of STEM knowledge Erasmus Project

Project Title

Mobile laboratories for improvement of STEM knowledge

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: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

“Education and Training 2020” sets common strategic objectives for EU member countries for 2020. One of benchmarks is: the share of low-achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15 % in 2020. According OECD, in 2018 about every fifth 15-year-old pupil in Europe showed insufficient abilities in science (in Latvia were 18,5%, in Lithuania – 22,2%, in Estonia- 8,8%) and in mathematics (In Latvia- 17,3%, in Lithuania – 25,6% in Estonia – 10,2%). Only Estonia reached benchmark of ET 2020.
Low achievements in science and mathematics leads to situation when general education pupils after graduating do not choose VET or higher education in science, technologies, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or are not able to graduate STEM direction and obtain qualification which results in insufficient supply of qualified workforce in manufacturing, also in metalworking and mechanical engineering. Lack of qualified workforce forces sector associations to involve in education processes by providing information about career prospects in sector by mobile laboratories. Mobile laboratories which are fully equipped with modern technologies and supported with highly educated STEM trainer has successfully complemented the educational process by informing, presenting and demonstrating modern technologies, their capabilities and operational principles in general education schools. However, the capabilities of the mobile laboratories are much broader and can be integrated into the general education process, adding to the vital component of STEM knowledge-building exercises in the real environment.
For integration of STEM knowledge provided by mobile laboratories in general education curricula, it is planned to develop up-to-date cognitive and educational content on contemporary technologies, their design, capabilities and applications, deploying and making them available in digital form and environment. This material will also support educators because here is lack of digital, interactive materials about STEM in national languages.
Main objectives of the project are:
1) Promotion of pupils’ achievements in STEM in attractive way.
2) Strengthening support for educators by open source, interactive, digital training materials about STEM.
3) Strengthening responsibility and involvement of sector business representatives in education process.
Main activities/ results of the project are:
1) Open source, interactive, digital training materials about STEM for pupils in four languages – English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian.
2) Teacher’s manual to support educators about usage of interactive, digital training materials in four languages – English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian.
3) Guidelines for sector representatives for improvement of STEM knowledge in four languages – English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian.
4) 3 promotional and testing events for educators about usage of interactive, digital training materials (at least 30 educators in each country, not less than 90 in total).
5) At least 100 pupils trained in pilot trainings in each country (at least 300 in total) covering all regions of involved countries.
6) National competition of pupils about improvement of training materials
7) 3 project promotional events (not less than 135 participants), at least 6 publications.
All project activities are sequential and support project progress toward project main objectives. Pupils and educators are main target group and will be involved in testing, improving intellectual outputs, in pilot trainings and promotional and testing events. Guidelines for sector representatives will be prepared to provide insight how provide sustainability of project idea and strengthening responsibility and involvement of sector business representatives in education process.
Project is innovative of specific focus on establishment interesting content for pupils, also with involvement of them (in time of contest) in field of STEM. This content will support idea provided in mobile laboratories and can also be used as support material of STEM teachers in general education.
Main target groups are:
1) Pupils of general education.
2) Educators (teachers of STEM subjects, carrier guidance and support specialists) of general education.
3) Sector representatives (the national and sectorial, regional) and other stakeholders who can be involved in improvement of STEM knowledge.
4) Learners, educators in other education levels, parents, policy makers.
All partners have wide experience and expertise in STEM, establishing of training materials, pilot trainings which will help to achieve best result and contribute transnational value of the project.
Project will ensure long term impact on participants and also participation organizations, supporting implementation of project’s objectives.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 337050 Eur

Project Coordinator

MASINBUVES UN METALAPSTRADES RUPNIECIBAS ASOCIACIJA & Country: LV

Project Partners

• MTU EESTI MASINATOOSTUSE LIIT
• Tehnobuss Latvia
• LIETUVOS INZINERINES PRAMONES ASOCIACIJA LINPRA
• VIESOJI ISTAIGA VILNIAUS JERUZALES DARBO RINKOS MOKYMO CENTRAS (VJDRMC)
• Merkuur OÜ