CREATEskills - Social Learning for STEM in Primary Education

According to the European Commission, around six million young people drop out of school each year – about 14% of all pupils. (http://ec.europa.eu/news/culture/110202_en.htm). Education has a leading role to play for the needs of future society. Many OECD studies such as The Social Outcomes of Learning in 2010, have shown that Education has a crucial impact on improving social progress and well-being, mainly through the development of competencies and skills. There is a need to rethink Education for a modern society and the requirements for the future professionals, in order to be capable to respond to the social-economical demanding’s of the 21st century. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects are one of Europe’s major education domains. Improving the attractiveness of research careers and other related careers to young people is an important contribution to generate a more skilled workforce capable of facing new technological changes in Europe. The “CREATEskills” project was designed to develop and implement innovative practices, tools and methodologies in primary schools for the establishment of STEM studio classrooms, improving the quality and relevance of the learning process in primary education, more specifically regarding the attractiveness of STEM subjects. Through hands-on activities and based on the logic of the social learning theory, “CREATEskills” contributes effectively to the development of the 21st-century skills among students. The project started with a Research study “Socially Learning STEM in Primary Education - guidelines towards a common framework” in order to develop, test and implement an innovative methodology for STEM Education in primary schools including a Toolkit with STEM teaching materials for primary school teachers and a Teacher’s Guide. For the engagement of a wider community, parents and other communities, a web animated platform was created with a “virtual teacher’s room”, establishing a network among European teachers, a virtual library and home activities and DIY projects for children and family available in all partner languages. The direct target groups were primary school students (6-12 years of age), teachers and parents. We also reached out a wider community, namely science-related Researchers and Organizations, establishing a bridge between schools and work environments. In more details, the project reached 749 primary school students that participated in the pilot phase, 30 primary school teachers and at least 249 parents have used the web platform. All together they have also contributed to the development of primary school STEM strategies for wider uptake of inquiry-based and other innovative approaches to STEM Education. Through these activities, the project addressed the needs that have been identified in the current EU school context, namely: - To promote inter-disciplinary pedagogical approaches, through the collaborative development and implementation of a STEM-related methodology for primary students. Increase primary teacher’s involvement in experimental education by testing and using the Toolkit and engaging in several activities of the project. - To promote critical thinking and 21st-century skills at an early childhood education. - To improve the motivation of European students to scientific culture and professions, as a result of the participation in exciting activities with a strong scientific and pedagogical component and contacting professionals that use this knowledge in their day-to-day work. - To contribute to minimize early school dropout, as a result of the increased motivation for classes and a wider perspective of possible career options, including those connected to scientific fields, with special note to foster gender mainstreaming. In the end, the project's achievements exceed the initial expectations.