STEM+A AROUND US Erasmus Project

Project Title

STEM+A AROUND US

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 : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Teaching and learning of foreign languages

Project Summary

STEM education is an integrated, interdisciplinary approach to learning that provides hands-on and relevant learning experiences for students. STEM teaching and learning
goes beyond the mere transfer of knowledge. It engages students and equips them with critical thinking, problem-solving, creative and collaborative skills, and ultimately
establishes connections between the school, workplace and community. STEM also helps students understand and apply math and science content, the foundations for
success in college and careers. In this context, we created a new strategic partnership among the partners of the project entitled ”Maths Around Us” that we have conducted
earlier(between-2015-2018) with participants from Spain, Poland, Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria and also Hungary for the purpose of integrating the knowledge, skills and competencies
acquired in that project into different disciplines such as Maths, Science, Engineering and Technology with Stem applications. Thanks to this project, we helped pupils aged
10-14 increase their capacity on Maths, Science, Engineering and Technology content, acquire scientific skills and use them with interdisciplinary collaboration in daily life since
the STEM+A education model supports multiple intelligences theory and the thought of ”Learn not for school but for life”.Besides, it included experiential learning and learning
through play, it ensured permanent learning, effective time management and helped students make the abstract concrete, increased their attitude and achievement, realized
that Maths and Science disciplines are connected to each other and Science is a part of everyday life.
The principal objectives of the project were summarised in the following items;
1-Motivating students to become individuals interested in Science and Mathematics, develop new products, solutions and basic skills in Technology and Engineering
2-Improving ICT,
3- Developing speech and language skills of participants.
4 -Being aware of cultural differences and similarities.
To be able to achieve these objectives, firstly, we applied STEM attitude scales to measure students’ readiness level and awareness of scientific skills with a form. We arranged
the results as a project starting booklet and share them with all stakeholders by mail and in the local press.
At the end of the project, new approaches were collected into a booklet once again. Each partner was responsible for different disciplines of STEM+A:
-Science/Hungary,
-Technology/Poland,
-Engineering/Bulgaria,
-Maths/Spain, Art/Italy and
-For all/Turkey.
We shared a sample lesson plan and created the activities in relation to our own discipline area.
At the end of the project meetings, an evaluation meeting was made and the risk factors that occurred and may occur during the implementation were discussed.
In project meetings, students from different countries worked in the same international working groups so that they could develop their language skills, share different culturesand make European friends. We published all completed activities and pictures on the Facebook page, website, and e-twinning on a regular basis and also with stakeholders,
local press, our site, and the results platform.
The students aged 10-14 receiving education in our schools and the teachers working at the departments of Maths, Science, Design and Technology, Information Technology,
English and Art attended to the project activities. Besides, We received support from local administrations, industry associations, and Science and Technology Centers.
Once every six months, various competitions related to the content were organized among the partner schools. The products and projects designed were displayed in the
exhibitions at schools and more students were encouraged to take part in each project competition.
We used test results (pre and post-tests applied in the beginning and at the end of each project stage) to evaluate that to what extent the project objectives have been met.
During project activities, students got a chance to acquire and apply the knowledge, experience that they have gained in Science and Technology and used them to solve the
problems in their daily lives. Students learned about when, where, and how they used the obtained knowledge and acquire comprehension skills. They became more interested
in school subjects and participated actively in lesson activities.
They grew up in accordance with their interest, desire, capacity and they improved their decision-making and a range of other skills that help them choose a suitable career.
Within STEM education, more students with different learning styles and intelligence types were involved in the project.

Project Website

https://sites.google.com/zolaschool.es/erasmus-project-stem-a-around-/stem-a-around-us-erasmus-project

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 96511,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

CE Zola Villafranca & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Medgyessy Ferenc Német Nemzetiségi Nyelvoktató Általános Iskola
• Szkola Podstawowa nr 2 im. Henryka Sienkiewicza w Ziebicach
• ATATÜRK ORTAOKULU
• Istituto Comprensivo “San Giovanni Bosco -F. De Carolis”
• OU “Vasil Levski”