Water and STEAM Erasmus Project

Project Title

Water and STEAM

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Natural sciences; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

The project “Water and STEAM” is presented by four schools from Finland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The strategic partnership we propose is focused on three main topics:
1. Understanding that both individual action and European cooperation are important in addressing the effects of climate change and a more sustainable way of life.
2. Preparing young people for the future by using STEAM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics).
3. Methodical innovations through the use of CLIL and blended learning, combining an attractive online learning environment with physical activities.

The project is based on a careful analysis of the needs and objectives to meet the challenges proposed by the ET 2020 set for common EU objectives to address challenges in education and training systems by 2020. It focus on implementing STEAM skills in the curriculum using the contexts of climate change, sustainability and water management.

The general objectives are:
– implement education and training processes using new technology like blended learning and the STEAM skills education.
– teaching about climate change, sustainability and water management on concrete and topical issues.
– deepening CLIL and the use of English.

The specific objectives are:
– collaborative planning, including a cross-section of teachers on each team in the schools.
– adjusting scheduling to accommodate a new way of teaching and learning.
– professional development for all staff in STEAM practices and principles.
– STEAM schema-mapping for the curriculum and assessment design process.
– alignment and unpacking of standards and assessments.
– seamless lesson implementation processes and strategies.

The project will directly involve at least 24 pupils from each partner school, some of them with fewer opportunities, aged between 13 and 15 years, related to the subjects of science studies. Specifically, 15 events (lectures and workshops, using STEAM skills education) will be organised, taught by teachers at the school in collaboration with experts and stakeholders that this project aims to involve. Most of the workshops 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 Finland, France, Germany and The Netherlands. Every blended mobility has its own topic:
Module 1: Water and climate change.
Module 2: Water and nature.
Module 3: Water and the city.
Module 4: Water management and STEAM skills.

The methodologies used are:
– blended learning
– CLIL
– STEAM schema-mapping

The student-centred approach facilitates the immediate needs of the participants giving them full responsibility for their own learning. Our new, innovative ways of learning requires that we invite stakeholders, like the local community, compagnies and universities to help and share their knowledge like organising 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. The project makes the involvement of stakeholders as a strength point; the activities of the project will be organized within the cooperation of the local community and universities. Teachers will learn new teaching methodologies by teacher training activities and sharing of best practices between partner schools.

The project also includes the integration of several disciplines 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 project aims to produce lasting results cultural approach that both students as teachers will adopt in their relationship with the environment around them and teaching techniques. Finally a handbook for teachers will be made on best practices of teaching STEAM skills in the context of climate change, sustainability and water management.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 113100 Eur

Project Coordinator

Helinium & Country: NL

Project Partners

• Säkylän yhteiskoulu
• Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium Radevormwald
• Collège THOMAS MANN