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Description
The pre-defined project will focus on environmental sciences within the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Not all schools have all the necessary equipment and the right environment to provide inspiring activities within these fields. The programs will be designed to complement the national programmes and subject standards of education to be acquired in an interesting, interactive and exciting way for children. There will be an opportunity at hand for every Latvian or foreign student to explore the treasures of Liepaja and Latvian nature and to encourage children and young people to research. The activities include:
- Developing education and training programmes for teachers on how to promote values of curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in a school environment;
- Developing workshops, extracurricular activities and science camps and other outreach activities for pupils and students and others;
- Developing spaces where people with shared interests can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, developing equipment, and knowledge and other interactive thematic exhibits, including acquiring necessary mobile equipment;
- Evaluate activities and measure impact of the innovation centre on society.
The "Nature House" in Liepaja will be developed as an environmental education centre with support for both students and teachers, and will promote cooperation between schools, Liepaja University and Norwegian science centres. The intended cooperation with the project partners will allow for the development and elaboration of new educational programmes.
Summary of project results
The project was necessary both for students and educators from the city of Liepāja, as well as for the whole of Latvia, but especially for the growth of the Liepaja Municipal Education Department Science and Education Innovation Center (ZIIC). This project formed an excellent correlation between the opportunity to learn not only environmental science and digital production skills, but also to give students the opportunity to come to Liepāja while receiving transportation compensation, and to learn more about the opportunities offered by the University of Liepāja. The goal of the project was to promote the development of knowledge and the career choice of students in the field of STEM and environmental sciences by establishing an innovation center in Liepāja in cooperation with cooperation partners from Latvia and Norway. Developing the innovation center in Liepāja ensured growth of students practical skills and abilities, knowledge acquisition and development in the field of STEM and environment. Creating and teaching modern educational programs, both for students and educators, especially in the STEM and environmental fields, are changing the general attitude in society and especially in schools, motivating young people to choose careers in the STEM and environmental fields.
One of ZIIC goals during the project was to expand its operations with two new co-creation spaces - Nature House and Digital Production Laboratory "FabLab Liepāja". Nature House is filled with 14 interactive installations and Natural Cognition Research Vessel "AkvaLab Liepāja", while the Digital Production Laboratory "FabLab Liepāja" is equipped with 14 workstations. The Nature House is located on the Zirgu Island of Lake Liepāja, thus allowing students to be part of nature and to conduct research activities in a real environment, proving its visitors with an interactive and authentic installations, that can not be found elsewhere in classic science centers. In total 6 educational programs where developed - life-long education for teachers (2) and educational programs for pupils (4). The developed programs and lessons will also be offered after the project. In total 6 workshops sessions where held in collaboration with Jaeremuseet regional museum partner (3 times in Latvia and 3 times in Norway). Each workshop sessions were happening at the same time in Nature House and in "FabLab Liepāja", and the same approach was applied when visiting partner in Norway - Science farm and in Vitenfabriken. Total making of 12 different workshops. The knowledge gained during the workshop has been used both to create a new structure of lessons and to include it in the methodological materials, ensuring the availability of information to everyone interested. As well we must mention that, these workshops gave Latvian teachers an international experience, with assistance from ZIIC when ever translation was needed. Three opening events where held - Nature House in 2021, "FabLab Liepāja" in 2023 and Natural Cognition Research Vessel "AkvaLab Liepāja" in 2024, that included also free access on the vessel. The creation of the website within the project made a huge contribution both in communication with the public by regularly publishing press releases with current information about activities, and also by sharing achievements and what was done within the Project. The website also serves as a place where the public can familiarize themselves with ZIIC activities, the available equipment or download methodological materials - created based on the developed educational programs and workshops. Digital Production Laboratory "FabLab Liepāja" provided free access period for individual visits. In the second call of free access period the “Digital Production Academy” was created with in the aim to develop computer-aided design co-creation space.
In educational programs 576 pupils participated, from which 80% of the programme finished and approved their intereset has raised in STEM fields - 469 pupils. Our science center differs from others in that the Program consisted of several lessons, therefore students came to the visit 2 to 4 times. In one of the interview, the teacher of Nica highschool admitted that when a young person comes to the center once, it is difficult to keep their attention, because they want to see and touch everything that is happening around them, that is, to get to know the environment. But when they came for the second and third time, the students were much calmer and less anxious. In this way, they were better able to listen and strengthened their understanding of the STEM fields. We strongly believe that this is the biggest difference and contribution that our center ZIIC offered during the project, to encourage young people as much as possible and our ZIIC teachers to be aware of the dynamics of the classroom and adapt the content to it according to the upcoming lessons. Although the aim of the project is to promote the development of knowledge and career choice of students in the field of STEM and environmental sciences, at this stage it is difficult to determine the true number of young people who will choose to pursue this career path. In order to qualitatively assess the achievement of this goal, a repeated survey should be conducted after the young people reach the relevant age when applying for university. All the programs developed were aimed at providing insight into the field of STEM and environmental sciences. 4 programs where licensed as part of the development of educational programs.
· 7 lessons have been developed and implemented in the "Environmental Management" program: Bird Researcher, Young Geographer, Young Botanist, Protected Natural Areas, Quality of Water, Young Eco-technologist, Ant Researcher
· 4 lessons have been developed and implemented in the "Environmental Management II" program: Human Internal Organs, Biotechnology, Exploration of Earth''s Crust, Zoology Under the Magnifying Glass.
· 240 minute program "Get to know the Baltic Sea".
· 5 lessons in the “Digital Production” program: Practical Project Management, 2D computer-aided design, 3D computer-aided design, Assembly of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB), Equipment Demonstrations.
Summary of bilateral results
Norwegian project partners were very generous with their knowledge and advice. The direct contribution of Jaeremuseet''s regional museum partner was the organization of master classes for Latvian educators. During the entire project, there was active communication and exchange of information, as well as consultation and advice, between the two parties. The collaboration definitely made us more aware of where we are today and where we would like to be in a couple of years. ZIIC employees gained a lot directly from the visits, which allowed not only to see the equipment with which the partners work, but also to try their hand and participate in master classes. As a result of such experiences, new lessons were developed as well as inspiration for the purchase of equipment. Additinally as it was not planned in the beggining, together with our partner, we went on educational field trips to Norwegian schools for the exchange of experience, and the Norwegian partners went with us to the school in Liepāja to demonstrate how field trips are conducted there. One of the future goals is to strengthen the STEM talent academy in our center as well. The positive experience of the partner and the opportunity to take part, together with the students in STEM talant academy has encouraged our team to find new solutions for STEM support. We also must mention that for the STEM talent program in academic semeter 2023/2024 was implemented - student learning enterprises (SMU) "FabLab Liepāja", with 9 participants, 3 teams, one of which won the technological innovation award in the Kurzeme region.