The main objective of the project is to exchange practices and experiences between partner schools to increase the interest of young Europeans in education and subsequent career in the natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The project will help to achieve the objectives and meet the needs of the various project partners with the following target groups: 1. Students - Improving the competence of mathematical, scientific and technical - Increasing competences - Improving the competence in foreign languages - The development of initiative and creativity - A better understanding of cultural diversity 2. Teachers - Improving the competence related to teaching - Improving the competence in foreign languages - Gain new experience - Increasing motivation and job satisfaction 3. Parents - Increased social activity - Change in the approach to European projects 4. institutions - Establishing international partnerships - Exchange of experience and good practice The partnership formed by four elementary schools from four countries (Poland, Portugal, Greece, Italy). The partnership was established through the eTwinning portal. Each partner specializes in at least one area of STEM, at the same time has the need to develop in the other. The two partners have extensive experience in EU projects such Comenius, Erasmus + (including zrealizowali10 projects), which can be helpful in managing the financial administration of the project and dissemination of the results. All partners implemented in past projects, at least proceedings, which concerned the individual areas of STEM, but never were devoted to projects simultaneously to all four areas of STEM. STEM, although it is a valuable initiative, supported by countries such as the USA and Japan, where usually associated with success, it has not won a deserved place in the curricula of educational EU. Therefore, the project will be made by the subject, which is still a rarity in European schools pdstawowych. For example, learning a programming language is currently in the curricula of only three EU countries. The situation is similar when it comes to robotics and designing and 3D printing.
The authors of the project have determined that each institution has a large group of students who have problems achieving specific competences: a) mathematical competence - the ability to use basic mathematical tools in everyday life and to carry out elementary mathematical reasoning; b) scientific competence - the ability to formulate conclusions based on empirical observations regarding nature and society; c) competence to communicate in a native and foreign language (with particular emphasis on English), both in speech and in writing; d) competence to communicate with modern information and communication technologies, searching and using information; e) teamwork skills. Teachers of all partner institutions reported the need for professional development through exchange of experience and good practices. In addition, teachers pointed out the need to develop skills in using information and communication technologies and to improve their English language competence. Each of the partner institutions has in its development plans establishing strategic international partnerships. Accordingly, the main goal of the project is to exchange practices and experiences between partner schools to increase the interest of young Europeans in education and subsequent careers in the field of natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to improve the results of students achieving below-average results in basic skills through using more effective methods. The project focused on students and the use of innovative forms of classes (e.g. robotics, programming) as well as active forms of work during the lesson. The implementation of the project allowed achieving the goals and meeting the needs of individual project partners, taking into account the following target groups: 1. Students - improving mathematical, scientific and technical competences of 40% of students participating in the project - increasing IT competences in 70% of students participating in the project - raising foreign language competence in 25% of students participating in the project - increase of initiative and creativity - better understanding of cultural diversity 2. Teachers - increasing teaching competences in 75% of teachers involved in the project - improving competences in the field of foreign languages in 25% of teachers participating in the project - gaining new professional experience - increase of motivation and job satisfaction in 60% of teachers directly involved in the project 3. Parents - increasing social activity - change of approach to European projects (increase by 25%) 4. Institutions - improving the quality of education (institutions will introduce new learning methods) - establishing international partnerships (partnerships will be maintained after the end of the project) - exchange of experiences and good practices As part of the project, in November 2017, an international training meeting on the use of technology in early childhood education, programming programming in Scratch and robotics, operation of educational platforms, as well as exchange of experience and good practices in mathematics and nature took place in Poland. These activities contributed to the exchange of knowledge and experience in the subject of the project. It also made it possible to compensate for differences in the level of knowledge among training participants in the above-mentioned issues.In April 2018, the first short-term student exchange took place in Poland with the participation of 16 students and 6 teachers from Portugal. The exchange included the following activities: mutual presentation of presentations on partner countries. Integration classes using mathematics. Scratch programming classes. A field game using mobile applications. Robotics classes. Thematic laboratory classes in physics, chemistry, biology at the Imagination Laboratory and educational classes at the Botanical Garden conducted by employees of the University of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan. Classes were slightly changed compared to the planned ones due to the resignation of partners from Greece. In October 2018, a second short-term student exchange took place in Portugal with 16 students and 4 teachers from Poznań. The exchange included the following activities: Educational activities in the EVOA nature reserve and bird watching. Classes at the Lisbon Oceanarium. Educational classes in robotics. Observation of nature at low tide. Learning and teaching activities have enabled students and teachers from different countries to collaborate in all areas of STEM education. This made it easier for participants to acquire and improve skills not only in the field of STEM, but also work in a group or social relations. In addition, it gave students and teachers the opportunity to practice a foreign language, which has contributed to increased motivation to learn foreign languages.