STEM for Innovation Erasmus Project

Project Title

STEM for Innovation

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

Project Summary

This project was initiated as a product of five institutions in Turkey, Italy, Poland, Romania and Latvia, represented by schools aiming to find new approaches in education outside of Italy. STEM, which stands for “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics”, was decided to form the basis of this partnership as an innovative teaching method, as a result of further attracting students from all partner schools to education. Italy took part in this partnership as an NGO with its role in providing participants with the necessary training to successfully implement STEM activities.
Immediately after the project was accepted, Poland demanded its exclusion from the partnership and was displaced by our next partner, Lithuania. The overall core activities of our project consisted of 2 TPMs and 5 LTTAs, which were carefully planned in the online meetings of the partners. This was important for the successful implementation of the project, as well as active cooperation between partners.
The first TPM was held in Alexandria, Romania. Each partner, including Italy, was represented by 2 participating teachers. The host organization Romania held meetings where the scope of the project and the implementation process of the activities were discussed face to face. The partner schools, represented in a highly collaborative atmosphere, were made clear about their roles and responsibilities to be assumed.
Our partner in Italy, infol, implemented Stem-based training practices to strengthen the professional profiles of teachers who will play a key role in the project. At the LTT here, training was received on Stem and studies were carried out on how to integrate Stem into the education curriculum.
The 2nd LTT was held in Latvia with the participation of 12 students and 5 teachers. The host school demonstrated examples of good practice in stem. Afterwards, sample activities were carried out. Visits were organized to cultural and historical sites of the city.
5 teachers and 11 students attended the 3rd LTT held in Lithuania. Stem activities enriched with recycling materials were carried out here.
Our Romanian partner, the 4th LTT, hosted 15 students and 5 teachers. He organized stem activities in the physics laboratory.
Turkey hosted the last LTT. 9 students and 4 teachers participated. Lithuania could not participate in this LTT due to Kovid 19. Good practice examples of the school’s Stem laboratory were exhibited. Stem events were hosted by Çukurova University. Stem laboratories of the surrounding schools were observed.
The final meeting was held in Lithuania. While Turkey provided 2 physical participants to this meeting, other partners were connected online. Preparations were made for the final report of the project. Documents were reviewed.

Achievements achieved:
In students;
-The use of different disciplines improved the ability to identify and solve problems in real life.
-Learning by doing and experiencing made the students more active in the lesson.
-The number of students benefiting from the Stem workshop has increased.
-Positive attitude towards school developed.
– Improved language skills.
– Improved sense of self-confidence
– Gained Stem literacy skills.
In teachers;
– Motivation for the use of stem in the classroom has increased
-With Stem, the capacity to cooperate with teachers from different branches has increased.
-Professional profile strengthened
-Has a chance to see the missing aspects by seeing different applications
At school;
-School climate improved positively
The school’s visibility has increased at local, national and international levels.
-Increased academic achievement
-The school’s international cooperation capacity has improved
-Intra-school communication strengthened
-Stem activities and parents’ attitude towards school improved positively

Dissemination:
All our partners have made the project known by using dissemination materials at local level. In addition, dissemination activities were carried out by opening social media accounts. Seminars and stem studies were held in the surrounding schools. Project activities were presented to local MoNE directorates. The exhibition was organized with the concrete outputs produced as a result of the stem.

Results and Impact
Our institutions have increased their international cooperation capacity. The applications of different countries in the Stem fields have been experienced.
– Stem laboratories made students more active and took the teacher from the center to the position of a guide.
-Students became more successful in solving unique problems.
-Students’ creative and critical thinking skills and problem solving skills have improved.
-The principle of interdisciplinary integrity has emerged in education.
-English speaking skills of staff and students in our schools have improved.
-Parents’ cooperation with schools has become stronger than ever
In the long run;
This project contributed to the elimination of prejudices between our country and other countries, cultures and societies. Our country’s economy, education, society, etc. brought a new perspective to the potential to achieve goals.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 99551 Eur

Project Coordinator

Yavuz Selim Ortaokulu & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Kauno buitiniu paslaugu ir verslo mokykla
• Saulkrastu novada vidusskola
• Colegiul National Pedagogic “Mircea Scarlat”
• INNOVAZIONE FORMAZIONE ORIENTAMENTO e LAVORO