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Description
The project "Development of STEM skills" is focused on component A - Development of STEM skills through equipping school classrooms with STEM equipment in the Elementary School Stari Jankovci. The project aims to implement 5 different programs to improve students'' skills in STEM, active citizenship and entrepreneurship, educate 150 teachers in STEM, equip the school with STEM equipment and establish bilateral cooperation with the Norwegian partner University of Stavanger during the 18 months of the project. The project will involve 150 students (19 students with disabilities).
Summary of project results
The project focused primarily on strengthening its own capacities, i.e. new knowledge and skills that teachers will acquire, and on better quality of student education. STEM is an area of vital importance for the future of education, and a technologically advanced society requires new efforts, new knowledge and a different approach to education. For new generations of pupils, interests and their higher quality development in all areas need to be promoted in a different way. The method of education so far is less and less yielding good results as shown by the research so far, as well as the grades that young people give to the quality of education in our country. It was therefore necessary to educate teachers for a different approach to education and to provide them with new knowledge and skills in order to do their job as well and as good as possible. One of the major problems is the possession of quality equipment and materials for working with pupils, which was tried by this project through the procurement of equipment for the laboratory, new computers, audio equipment, etc.
The activities of the project were as follows: development of teachers'' capacity in STEM teaching, modernization of space and acquisition of STEM equipment, development and strengthening pupils STEM skills, development and implementation of educational programs and extracurricular activities for students in ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship, development of models of learning and practical work in teaching and other educational activities related to STEM, ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship, and professional training of teachers in these fields. Five programs were implemented through the project: STEM through the school garden, STEM basics, STEM plus, Young programmers and Small business operators and active citizens. The programs were implemented through teacher education, and then teacher workshops with students. Through the implementation of all activities, the planned outcomes were achieved and: teachers were educated and in this way improved their knowledge and abilities as well as acquired new knowledge, planned equipment was procured, STEM skills of students were strengthened, new educational programs and extracurricular activities were developed, digital materials were created, experience gained for new projects etc.
The results achieved are as follows: 1. Educational staff have been educated and acquired new knowledge and skills, 2. Pupils of Elementary school Stari Jankovci have strengthened their STEM skills, stimulated their interest in STEM areas, acquired knowledge and skills for successful continuation of education and faster and better development, 3. Pupils with developmental disabilities are better integrated with other pupils, they have acquired new knowledge in STEM field, 4. The project promoter has gained a very valuable experience for new projects, their own capacities have been strengthened through education of educational staff, the institution provides better and better education, and the school has been profiled as a STEM skills development center.
Summary of bilateral results
1. The project profited from the bilateral partnership in such a way that partner employees conducted trainings and workshops that greatly contributed to acquiring the necessary skills of teachers and were the basis for better teacher work with pupils. The partner successfully implemented his methodology and transferred his knowledge in STEM field (using tools, equipment, demonstrating scientific experiments, etc.) to educational staff of Elementary school Stari Jankovci. The rich experience of partner employees on such projects seemed positive and stimulating.2. The main results of the bilateral cooperation are new knowledge, skills and methodology of work adopted by educators, which will also be applied in future work. In addition, partner visits and workshops with pupils also had a positive impact on pupils and improved their STEM skills.3. Currently, there are no concrete plans for the continuation of bilateral cooperation, but partner employees are in contact with the employees of Elementary school Stari Jankovci and are open to questions, cooperation and assistance of any kind.