The project ESTEAM comes out from the personal experience and needs of science teachers. We know that learning programs and the learning process are getting more and more comprehensive, fast and demanding.The traditional way of teaching is slowly losing its force. Modern, contemporary and fun ways of teaching with modern technologies included in learning process are looked for. They should be fun and adapted to ICT technologies. Internationalization is promoted and there is also increased use of digital learning, possibly in combination with teaching in the field. The ESTEAM project aims to improve the quality of teaching-learning in the school system through an innovative method (teaching methodology, toolkit & users experience space (virtual & nature)) that links National curriculum goals in natural science education with developing of mobile teaching/users experience platform (ICT) in combination with outdoor activities. Additionally, development and findings will result in Guide for Teachers in Natural Science Education – ESTEAM methodology Step by step guide.General objective is to improve the teaching process in combination of ICT technologies and outdoor activities.Specific objectives:- Research of National Curricula in project countries with the list of proposed programes and tool for designing lessons- Create effective content & methodology for science teaching designed in collaboration with teachers, experts in the field of science, interpretation of the natural heritage & with experts in the field of ICT- Develop mobile teaching/users experience platform- Design of Guide for teacher in science education based on outputs, knowledge and experiences- Increase the frequency and effectiveness of the use of ICT technologies in the teaching of science- Increased level of digital competence for teachers & pupils- Increased level in foreign languages for teachers &pupilsIn the project several activities will be carried out: 1) Project management2) Quality assurance 3) Dissemination4) Research of National Curricula with guidelines 5) Development of teaching methodology: mobile teaching/users experience platform 6) Preparation of Guide for teacher in natural science education – ESTEAM methodology Step by step guide7) Project meetings8) Presentations of ESTEAM Intellectual Outputs and their use in teaching/learning process9) Short-term joint staff training eventTarget groups- Science teachers- Future Science teachers- Professors of didactics at faculties- Pupils aged 12-15- Geoparks staff- Employees in educational institutionsOutputs of the project will be O1 - Research of National Curricula with guidelines, O2 - Development of teaching methodology: mobile teaching/users experience platform and O3 - Guide for teacher in natural science education – ESTEAM methodology Step by step guide, which form the TOOLKIT for natural science teaching.Based on input of O1 and innovations in education we will go with O2 & O3 towards pupil centric approach that includes inquiry and cooperative based learning. It will be innovative, interactive, evolving and experimental. We will provide virtual teaching, e-learning directed-self-study assignments, pre-assignments and post learning reviewing. We’ll combine different learning styles – visual, auditory, kinesthetic – multi-sensory learning combining reading, typing, hearing & seeing. In learning experience we’ll follow gamification, progression, follow-up, evaluation, comparison with others (users, countries - through presentation of points, answers in database). Platform will enable self-evaluation, but also individual & team-based out door learning. Communication enables learning through dialog. It will be based on learning Science on various outdoor activities & examples in the nature.Users will be outside, where all phenomena exist, learning by doing, observing, experiencing with vast engagement and interaction. They will be able check results, data, tasks, virtual travel, where ever with access to platform. Platform is based on geo-position learning. This project will have a lot of impact on different groups of people, but the most important impact will be modern natural science teaching approaches which spice up the learning process in combination with outdoor activities and ICT technologies. Using mobile platform will make learning more interesting for pupils, so they will learn more than now. The most important long-term benefit of this project will be spreading the knowledge and to provide varied innovative, quality, optimized natural science teaching methods and introduction of new tools to their target groups.
The ESTEAM project aims to improve the quality of teaching/learning process in elementary schools through an innovative method that links national curriculum goals in natural science education through teaching/learning with ICT and outdoor activities. Partners developed three main intellectual outputs (i) Research of National Curricula with guidelines, ii) Development of teaching methodology: mobile teaching/users experience platform and iii) Guide for teacher in natural science education – ESTEAM methodology Step by step guide. The platform with several experience challenges (exercises), where the contents are uploaded into the system (CMS – contents management system) and the scientific game can be tested, was created. Teachers can prepare contents for the CSM using template documents, which have also been developed through the project and are part of the intellectual outputs. Furthermore, the TeachOUT App was designed, where the scientific game can be published from the CMS and educational programme outdoors can be implemented. Finally, a Guide for Outdoor Teaching in Natural Sciences was prepared containing video tutorials, offering a step-by-step guide on how to teach using ESTEAM Methodology, how teachers can create their own scientific game on their trail and how to test and publish a game in TeachOUT App. The aim and the objectives of the project have been achieved. The partners’ schools, that are using the ESTEAM methodology and TeachOUT App, already improved the quality of teaching the natural sciences in combination with ICT and outdoor teaching. With the creation of the intellectual outputs, this is now possible for all teachers in elementary schools who access the outputs on-line. To disseminate the project results and increase interest in teachers to use the TeachOUT App partners organised Multiplier events in their countries as well as several practical workshops followed, where interested teachers created their outdoor scientific games. The partners’ Consortium was firstly comprised of three UNESCO Global Geoparks (Idrija, Magma, Naturtejo), three elementary schools, located in geoparks (Črni Vrh nad Idrijo, Agrupamento de Escolas José Silvestre Ribeiro, Idanha-a-Nova, Samfundet skole), University of Ljubljana and Locatify ehf. Right after the beginning of the project the partnership in the project faced the withdrawal of the Samfundet skole and Magma Geopark was then not able to find a new elementary school. Therefore, it was decided that it take over the tasks from the Norwegian school as well. After that partnership ran smoothly. Besides the creation of the intellectual outputs, the partners carried out other activities. The Project Management has been led by the Lead Partner Idrija Tourism Board with the preparation of the execution plan at the beginning and then with the system of progress reports, TO-DO-LISTS, risk management, communication between partners etc. The progress reports have been regularly prepared by project partners and sent to LP. During all project span, the Quality Assurance has been implemented, following the Quality, Monitoring and Evaluation plan and all activities regularly evaluated by all project partners. A lot of emphases has been put into the dissemination of the project activities and results, following the Dissemination and communication plan, that was accepted at the beginning of the project, resulting in project logo, website (www.esetamproject.eu), social networks profile (https://www.facebook.com/esteamproject/), ISSUU profile, where outputs and other results are published (https://issuu.com/esteam) and many articles and news in local, regional, national and international media. Additionally, project results have been promoted at European Geoparks Network Coordination committee meetings (EGN CC meetings) with around 170 participants from 24 EU countries, EGN conferences and several national conferences and workshops in partner's countries. We had very productive cooperation with National Education Institute Slovenia. After presenting the project results to the institute in Nova Gorica regional unit, they actively involved into the project activities with cooperating at the Slovenian Multiplier event, as well organising extra workshop for teachers at their headquarters and even creating a trail through Nova Gorica with several challenges in the TeachOUT App. To assure the continuity of the project results and quality support to potential new users we divided into 4 regions: - Southern and Central Europe (managed and supported by Idrija UNESCO Global Geopark) - South-western Europe (managed and supported by Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark) - Northern Europe (managed and supported by Magma UNESCO Global Geopark). At the moment there are 44 users in Souther and Centra Europe, 9 users in South-western and 45 users in Northern Europe.