The main goal of the project EXRECO - Explore, research, communicate - is to encourage students at upper secondary schools in the field of MINT. In accordance to the conference of ministers for the arts and culture in Germany, the goal of our project is to detect talented and interested young people with a tendency to natural sciences both in the classroom and in supplementary courses. The participating schools together with the external partners (as there are the SFZ (s.a.), the universities and educational partners) exchange experiences and offers for teaching plans (best practise). They collabarate and develop an overall concept for the school development. Target groups of the project are head teachers, staff and educational partners; students interested in the MINT subjects are the key target group of this project - they are at the same time beneficiaries, learners and instructors (as mentors for younger students). During the project they can share their ideas and summarize their experiences. Results are being documented on the project platform www.exreco.eu, at teachers training sessions and via websites of other schools. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too. (Paulo Coelho)
The basic idea of the project was the awareness that the main challenges of our world which is changing faster than ever, require the modernization and reinforcement of education. Most of all the promotion of the MINT (= STEM) area in higher secondary schools is one of the central tasks of education, as students must be enabled to cope with the demands of today's globalized and digitized working environment. The initial situation showed that the number of candidates for a higher or university education in the field of natural sciences and mathematics did not meet the necessities of the (local) companies in terms of trainees and young workers. The resulting need for improvement could not be restricted to a single school in Germany, but had to include a much wider diversity of ideas and concepts to facilitate efficiency. Talented and interested students had to discover and develop their skills both in the classroom and in supplementary courses to guarantee their access to the world of work. Therefore, the core of our project was to disclose and to encourage opportunities for schools in this aspect. The four partner schools were found in other European countries, either by activating existing contacts, or because of similarities of interests. Mutual visits to the purpose of sharing and disseminating best practice examples of STEM profiles and activities. Interchanging information on the schools’ curricula and course as well as extracurricular activities. Presenting ways of cooperation with external partners in the different countries. In addition to the practical benefits of adopting ideas on courses and designing STEM modules, the whole range of approaches adopted by the five different European countries became obvious. With the help of these comparisons, the curricula of the schools could be honed and expanded, improving the quality in general, as well as the lessons in particular. The communication between all partners led to a greater understanding of national circumstances and cultural differences, which in some cases resulted in friendships that continue beyond the project. As a pleasant side effect, the use of English as language of communication has improved the language skills of all people involved in the project. By way of the expansion and development of competencies and opportunities, every participant – school leaders, teachers, students and school partners alike – benefited from the project.