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Description
STEM project in schools will develop and improve the STEM skills of the project''s target groups: pupils, potentially gifted ones and those with disabilities, as well as teachers in 6 schools in županjska Posavina. Due to the social and economic issues, schools of this area show difficulties in STEM skills of students and teachers. Additional issues are lack of modern technology and insufficiently educated employees. Through supplying necessary equipment and vocational training, the project will contribute to development of teachers skills and provide equal access to modern and didactic devices. It will ensure the availability of improved methods of learning and teaching for all pupils, according with their needs and development.
Summary of project results
Since the preparation of the project itself was in May 2021, and the results in June 2022, the project brought us a number of challenges and problems to be encountered, but also successfully solved during the implementation of the project. Most of the problems and challenges were related to the increase in prices caused by COVID, but also the Russian aggression against Ukraine, where the construction prices increased abnormally compared to the planned budget of the project. The primary problem, and at the same time the challenge, was obtaining permits for the construction of the Observatory in Drenovci, where we had to change the entire project from construction above the school to construction next to the school. The above was resolved in cooperation with all competent institutions, primarily the Vukovar-Srijem County and the Ministry. Also, the problem related to the Observatory was the financing of the construction itself, where after the implementation of the public procurement, the cheapest offer was significantly higher than the planned budget, but with the help of the financial resources of the County and the Municipality of Drenovci, the problem was solved. Furthermore, the challenges we encountered related to the organization of study trips, where the buses were more expensive than originally planned. The departure of some people who were involved in the implementation of the project also created an obstacle, but with a quick reaction and hiring of new people, the aforementioned was resolved. In the end, the project did not present us with any major problems during the implementation, except for the construction of the Observatory itself, which was successfully realized, while we can freely say that the entire implementation of the project was a big challenge for the Project Holder himself, but also for all the Partners on the project, because until the implementation of this project, none of the stakeholders have dealt with such a large endeavour.
The implementation of the project activities achieved the following:
1. Through the implementation of education, sports coach training, study trips and professional training, the abilities of teachers and other educational workers in STEM teaching have been developed.
2. The STEM skills of elementary school students were developed and strengthened through the implementation of extracurricular activities, education, workshops, and study trips.
3. Vast amounts of equipment for the implementation of STEM activities were acquired, renovated and new classrooms were established for the implementation of activities. Outdoor classrooms and the first Observatory in this area were built.
4. Professional development activities (training of sports coaches, education, workshops) aimed at teachers in ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship were carried out.
5. Conducted activity 5, which related to the development of learning models, practical work in classes and other educational activities in STEM, ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship.
6. Through activity 6, extracurricular activities, educations and workshops were held for the development of students'' skills in the field of entrepreneurship, ICT and active citizenship.
Through the implementation of activities, 6 schools have been modernized, their classrooms equipped and their activities improved; 27 educational programs for STEM, ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship have been implemented for students. 502 students participated in STEM programs where they developed their skills, 541 students participated in extracurricular activities. Through the aforementioned activities, students improved their knowledge and skills for the future, as did 95 teachers and other educational workers who participated in the development and testing of learning models and various educations and workshops in the STEM field, ICT and active citizenship.
The project achieved 3 main results, 1 (outcome) and 3 immediate results. The results related to:
Result 1: <Improved STEM skills of teachers and other educational workers in primary schools>
Outcome 2: <Improved STEM skills in primary school students>
Result 3: <Upgraded infrastructure and equipment for the purpose of developing functional STEM classrooms>
<Outcome 2. Improved STEM skills>
<Immediate result (Output) 2.1. Upgraded infrastructure and equipment for the purpose of developing functional STEM classrooms>
<Immediate result (Output) 2.3. Improved STEM skills of teachers and other educational workers in primary schools>
<Bilateral immediate result (Output) 1. Supported bilateral cooperation>
The abovementioned results were achieved in full, related to the project holder and project partners, that is, to the teachers and students mentioned above. The project resulted in improved STEM skills in teachers and other educational workers; improved STEM skills among students, upgraded infrastructure and equipping schools for the purpose of developing functional STEM classrooms, thus developing bilateral cooperation. The effects of the above results are that the schools, that is, the students of the schools from the far East of Croatia, coming from the most underdeveloped areas, developed their STEM skills, but also skills in the fields of entrepreneurship, ICT and active citizenship. The above will contribute to their further education and development. Also, the teacher skills which will be used to educate future generations have been developed, in order to better prepare teaching staff for their further work. The above would not be possible without financing the acquisition of STEM equipment used in imparting knowledge, learning and training, and which remains for schools for the future.
Summary of bilateral results
The project fully benefited from the bilateral partnership. Without the bilateral partnership, the approval of this project would be questionable. In addition to the above, the project benefited from the fact that the bilateral partners - FIRST Scandinavia from the Kingdom of Norway - procured all the necessary equipment for the implementation of the module (LEGO set robots, tablets, consumables (pens, pencils), rubber tracks, balls, rulers, plastic containers, etc. .) which remains in the long-term ownership of the elementary schools that participated in the modules. By implementing the module, the participating schools developed various new skills and knowledge that will be applied in further education. The main results of this cooperation are: connection with a bilateral partner for future projects, implementation of modules, procurement of necessary equipment. Plans for the continuation of bilateral cooperation result from frequent communication between the project holder, the partner and the bilateral partner, where, if there are acceptable tenders, the continuation of cooperation and the development of bilateral relations will be pursued.