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Description
The project proposal "STEM Tech" is focused on component A - Development of STEM skills through equipping school classrooms with STEM equipment in the Elementary School of Ivan Goran Kovačić Delnice. The project aims to implement 5 different programs to improve students'' skills in the STEM field, active citizenship and entrepreneurship, educate 15 educators, equip the school with STEM equipment and establish bilateral relations with the Norwegian partner University of Stavanger during the 18 months of the project. The project will involve 150 students (34 students with disabilities).
Summary of project results
The Ivan Goran Kovačić Delnice Elementary School significantly lacked the implementation of new technologies in the teaching process. Teachers were not familiar with new working methods and lacked the equipment necessary for their implementation in teaching. The STEM area was neglected in the school and the working conditions were unsatisfactory due to outdated equipment. Some teachers independently tried to introduce new technologies through extracurricular work at school.
The school had a great interest in new technologies and the STEM area, but the infrastructure was lacking, and the education of the teachers was not satisfactory.
Primarily, this project trained 15 school teachers to use advanced technologies and apply the acquired new knowledge in education. This laid the foundation for the application of new equipment in the teaching process.
PM activities (Public procurement procedures were successfully implemented, project activities were carried out in accordance with the plan, 40 project team meetings were held, narrative and financial reports were prepared and adopted, a final report was prepared.)
Information and communication (labels were made for the purchased equipment and equipped classrooms, information about the project was created and published on the project website, promotional materials for teachers and students and partners (200 sets) and one information board were created, publications in the media, five events were successfully implemented to achieve visibility and information about the progress, achievements and results of the project.
Activities for developing the abilities of teachers and other educational workers in STEM teaching (16 hours of training were successfully held, 15 educational workers were educated, knowledge was acquired for the development and implementation of programs with students.)
Field teaching was carried out for students: Field teaching - Memorial Center "Nikola Tesla" Smiljan, Field teaching - Višnjan Observatory, Fieldwork - Zagreb Museum, Croatian Museum of Natural History, Fieldwork - Zagreb Museum, Nikola Tesla Museum, Fieldwork - Rijeka Museum, Peek&Poke Museum of Informatics and Information Technology
Modernization of premises and procurement of STEM equipment for schools (Equipment purchased: hardware and software equipment for classrooms, furniture for the mathematics classroom, STEM equipment for sound recording, laboratory furniture, equipment for robotics and programming, mathematics equipment, equipment for measuring wind speed and energy sources, chemistry and biology classroom equipment).
Professional training of primary school teachers in ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship - successfully completed training of teaching staff.
Development and implementation of educational programmes and extracurricular activities for primary school students in ICT, entrepreneurship and active citizenship - developed and implemented programme for a minimum of 60 students aged 7 to 14: Responsible Citizens and Small Entrepreneurs (world of entrepreneurship, digital entrepreneurs, online business, entrepreneurial thinking, money and value.
The implementation of the STEM Tech project in the Ivan Goran Kovačić Elementary School in Delnice achieved the following results:
- 4 different programmes were implemented that improved the STEM skills of 268 students aged 7 to 14 (Application of STEM in image and sound recording, "PRO BOT" Programme, STEM PI, STEM Lab Programme) through education, 15 teachers were trained to implement these activities in school.
- The Responsible Citizens and Small Entrepreneurs programmes were implemented, which were developed and implemented during the project implementation with the aim of improving entrepreneurial skills and active citizenship of students. 277 students aged 7-14 and 15 teachers were trained to implement the programmes. Out of 150 surveyed students, 135 of them stated that they wanted to improve their skills.
- During the implementation of the "STEM Tech" project, all programmes were adapted to work with students with disabilities, and 40 students with disabilities participated in the workshops.
Through creative and educational activities, students developed and improved STEM skills with an emphasis on:
- clear application of acquired knowledge through problem solving,
- easier navigation in the technological world and preparation for future careers,
- deeper conceptual understanding,
- creating opportunities for learning through problem-based approaches (creative solutions) and project work (development of products or services as solutions),
- acquisition of STEM knowledge through the Norwegian methodology, which is recognized as one of the most effective for developing new skills.
- These programmes enabled students to gain practical knowledge and experience, which further strengthened them for the challenges of the future.
Through the implementation of the project, STEM classrooms within the school were equipped with:
- ‐ Hardware and software equipment for classrooms,
- ‐ Furniture for the mathematics classroom,
- ‐ STEM equipment for sound recording,
- ‐ Laboratory furniture,
- ‐ Equipment for robotics and programming,
- ‐ Equipment for mathematics,
- ‐ Equipment for measuring wind speed and energy sources,
- ‐ Equipping the chemistry and biology classroom.
Areas in which teachers improved their competencies include:
- -development of new concepts and integration of all STEM areas,
- -application of the Norwegian learning methodology in combination with traditional approaches,
- -use of digital tools in the teaching process,
- -designing innovative projects.
Summary of bilateral results
Bilateral cooperation was established with the University of Stavanger, Norway. A Facebook group of the project team and the team of partners from the University of Stavanger, Norway was formed. Three workshops were held for students in the framework of the collaboration, and after the workshops, through an interactive discussion, the partners pointed out the approach to the teaching process that they use in their work. In the discussion with the partners, the project team exchanged their views on future work with students and introduced the partners to plans for future work. 5 lectures were also held by the partners, which were very inspiring and stimulating for the work of the project team. Contacts were established between the project team and the partners, and some activities were agreed upon, which of course must be further developed in order to be realized.