CONTEXT The production and development of Energy from renewable resources in Europe is advancing to an important policy issue and demands legislative regulation. With the new Directive, it is required by EU to fulfill at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewable ones by 2020. That is to be achieved through the attainment of individual national targets. Five (5) exchanges with students are scheduled, one in each partner country. Each one will be attended by 20 students from partner schools and 8 teachers, together with 10 students and 5-6 teachers from the participating/host school. A specific topic is assigned to each exchange: 1. Traditional-contemporary sources of energy – their impact on the environment 2. STE(A)M and Water Energy 3. STE(A)M and Wind Energy 4. STE(A)M and Solar Energy 5. Renewable-Sustainable Energy Source – designing future smart, green city models Within C2-C4 – statistics about this type of energy in their countries are presented by each team and the production of energy at small scale through STEAM projects is simulated. All the exchanges will contain direct observation data from energy production, outdoor activities and meetings with experts in the field, who will provide the participants with an in-depth understanding of the advantages of each type of resource, shortcomings, problems along with their possible solutions. The first exchange is C1, in which a general context and lead-in to the topic seen from 5 different perspectives is provided by the sts. The conceptual cycle is completed in the last exchange, where making students develop forward thinking, by advancing their skills in innovation is attempted. With this project, the need to develop alternative energy consumption is becoming more aware by the sts; by carrying out experiments and projects, a deeper understanding of science and engineering concepts could be gained, which is then transposed into the students’ self-made creative projects. OBJECTIVES The project aims to set the grounds for the 5 partner countries to cooperate and share practices in the area of renewable energy resources and sustainable production and consumption through activities designed for students which are meant to: 1. develop their understanding about scientific concepts and processes in the production of sustainable energy 2. develop their overall awareness about alternative sources of energy and how their usage can be enhanced 3. improve skills and competences through interdisciplinary projects in the STEM field 4. improve collaboration, team work and communication skills of students and teachers 5. develop soft skills – critical and analytical thinking, creativity – in order to foster sts’ employability 6. enable teachers to share school models and practices in the areas of STEM, ICT, coding, robotics that can be transferred into their schools ACTIVITIES C1 Traditional and alternative sources of energy – consumption and impact on the environment C2 Water energy and STE(A)M C3 Wind Energy and STE(A)M C4 Solar Energy and STE(A)M C5 Sustainable energy in the future – designing smart, green city models PARTICIPANTS 120 students aged 14-17 from general education highschools and 40 accompanying teachers of English, IT, Physics, Science etc. RESULTS - presentations about renewable energy sources and statistics and trends from the 5 partner countries - posters for campaigns encouraging European citizens to use solar energy more. - presentations about alternative building systems - models of buildings using alternative types of insulating materials - simulations of power plants - STEM projects – anemometers, wind vanes, solar cookers etc. - research data and conclusions - simulations/models of sustainable cities Teachers will produce exchange reports in which they will include data measuring the quality of the project.
During the project, the students of our school took part in a meeting in Cheti, Italy, where they introduced their school and design work. The Italian hosts have prepared many attractions for us, such as a trip to Rome, a visit to a hydroelectric power plant in Bologna. After returning to Poland, the students made a poster encouraging the inhabitants of Europe to use more renewable energy. An article appeared in the local press informing the inhabitants about the school's participation in the ERASMUS + project and the related trip of students to Italy. Unfortunately, the information announced on March 11, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the infectious disease COVID-19 is considered a pandemic has caused a number of difficulties in the further implementation of the above-mentioned project. The pandemic problem has become global. Countries of the world, including the European Union, have introduced a number of restrictions and restrictions, including the cancellation of many events and travel restrictions. CONTEXT The production and development of Energy from renewable resources in Europe is advancing to an important policy issue and demands legislative regulation. With the new Directive, it is required by EU to fulfill at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewable ones by 2020. That is to be achieved through the attainment of individual national targets. Five (5) exchanges with students are scheduled, one in each partner country. Each one will be attended by 20 students from partner schools and 8 teachers, together with 10 students and 5-6 teachers from the participating/host school. A specific topic is assigned to each exchange: 1. Traditional-contemporary sources of energy – their impact on the environment 2. STE(A)M and Water Energy 3. STE(A)M and Wind Energy 4. STE(A)M and Solar Energy 5. Renewable-Sustainable Energy Source – designing future smart, green city models Within C2-C4 – statistics about this type of energy in their countries are presented by each team and the production of energy at small scale through STEAM projects is simulated. All the exchanges will contain direct observation data from energy production, outdoor activities and meetings with experts in the field, who will provide the participants with an in-depth understanding of the advantages of each type of resource, shortcomings, problems along with their possible solutions. The first exchange is C1, in which a general context and lead-in to the topic seen from 5 different perspectives is provided by the sts. The conceptual cycle is completed in the last exchange, where making students develop forward thinking, by advancing their skills in innovation is attempted. With this project, the need to develop alternative energy consumption is becoming more aware by the sts; by carrying out experiments and projects, a deeper understanding of science and engineering concepts could be gained, which is then transposed into the students’ self-made creative projects. OBJECTIVES The project aims to set the grounds for the 5 partner countries to cooperate and share practices in the area of renewable energy resources and sustainable production and consumption through activities designed for students which are meant to: 1. develop their understanding about scientific concepts and processes in the production of sustainable energy 2. develop their overall awareness about alternative sources of energy and how their usage can be enhanced 3. improve skills and competences through interdisciplinary projects in the STEM field 4. improve collaboration, team work and communication skills of students and teachers 5. develop soft skills – critical and analytical thinking, creativity – in order to foster sts’ employability 6. enable teachers to share school models and practices in the areas of STEM, ICT, coding, robotics that can be transferred into their schools ACTIVITIES C1 Traditional and alternative sources of energy – consumption and impact on the environment C2 Water energy and STE(A)M C3 Wind Energy and STE(A)M C4 Solar Energy and STE(A)M C5 Sustainable energy in the future – designing smart, green city models PARTICIPANTS 120 students aged 14-17 from general education highschools and 40 accompanying teachers of English, IT, Physics, Science etc. RESULTS - presentations about renewable energy sources and statistics and trends from the 5 partner countries - posters for campaigns encouraging European citizens to use solar energy more. - presentations about alternative building systems - models of buildings using alternative types of insulating materials - simulations of power plants - STEM projects – anemometers, wind vanes, solar cookers etc. - research data and conclusions - simulations/models of sustainable cities Teachers will produce exchange reports in which they will include data measuring the quality of the project.