"AstroSTEM is Cool” has been constructed with the coordination of Slovakia and with the partnership of Bulgaria, Turkey, Italy and Poland. The target group of the project is the students of 10-14 aged and teachers of STEM fields. As we are face to face with the benefits and difficulties of an economy that is based on both globalization and knowledge in the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become more and more important. In order to be successful in this society that is based on knowledge and technology, it is necessary to raise students’ skills of STEM higher and higher. In total, 120 mobilities will be performed during the project with 4 students and 2 teachers from each school. The project activities are totally focused on Astronomy and STEM. Methods of workshops, researching, producing and examining are generally used; creativity, cooperation, critical thinking and solving problem are frontal. Expected results of the project are: Students’ skills of integrating interdisciplines knowledge and skills and practising them in order to solve real problems, their spirit of potential in innovation, enterpreneurship and innovation will come out.Students’ learning experience about STEM and astronomy will help them prepare for their studies and career in future.Students will think critically by looking at problems in a new way and linking learning across subjects and disciplines.Teachers’ professional capacity, cooperation between stakeholders and schools will strenghten.Partner schools will plan practising STEM education in a suitable way for students’ needs and their interests in school level totelitarinally and effectively.Students will learn how science effects us in our daily life, they'll learn incredible world of the space, maths, technology and engineering. Students gain motivation for having career about science, maths and technology, develop friendships with the students from different countries, develop their skills of solving problem creatively. Participants learn practical applications of robot technologies and space researches. Teachers improve their professionalities as a result of exchanging knowledge with their colleagues in European partner schools. Exchange of best practices in European level and experience of sharing knowledge will gain participant teachers innovative pedagogic approaches in STEM+Astronomy field. Thus; teaching quality in science field of partner schools will increase with more equipped personnel. Partner schools will have richer curriculum and more qualified personnel about STEM+Astronomy fields. AstroStem Club will go on with the activities at partner schools. Partner schools will organize traditional STEM fair and STEM career day every year. So; students’ knowledge and skills will be sustainable, students who will register in school in the following years will also gain STEM skills.
As we are face to face with the benefits and difficulties of an economy that is based on both globalization and knowledge in the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become more and more important. In order to be successful in this society that is based on knowledge and technology, it is necessary to raise students’ skills of STEM higher and higher. Therefore, the main aim of the project was to increase students’ ability to practice their interdisciplinary integration, knowledge and skills about STEM fields and update our curriculum. During the project 5 learning, teaching and training activities were implemented with the participation of 232 students and 49 teachers. The project activities were focused on Astronomy and STEM. Bulgarian LTTA were focused on Science and Astronomy and helped students understand the concepts of 3D modeling and astronomy and encouraged them to team work. Technology and Astronomy workshops of the Italian LTTA helped pupils discover the functions of 3D printers and develop their ability to use technological tools. The virtual Turkish Astronomy workshops aroused students' interest in space science and STEM subjects, as well as the knowledge of space technology. The Engineering and Astronomy creative workshops of the virtual Polish LTTA helped students gain engineering knowledge by designing and building various structures and robots. Mathematical and Astronomical creative workshops in Slovakia were aimed at developing the students' skills in map reading, interpretation and problem solving. As a result of the project, we can state that the students' learning experiences in the field of STEM and astronomy has helped them prepare for their future studies and careers. The project activities taught the students to connect general knowledge acquired in scientific fields, developed their critical thinking and problem solving skills. They helped pupils integrate their knowledge and skills, including scientific research, project-based learning, problem-based learning and design. Students gained motivation for careers in science, mathematics and technology, developed friendships with students from different countries and developed their creative problem-solving skills. Participating teachers gained innovative pedagogical approaches in STEM+Astronomy field through the exchange of best practices in European level. In addition, schools were enriched with innovative ideas, resources, materials and practical methods in the field of STEM+Astronomy. Thanks to this, the teaching quality of science subjects has improved, the teachers’ professional capacity and the cooperation between stakeholders and schools have strengthened. The AstroSTEM Club will continue its activities, so students’ knowledge and skills will be sustainable. As a result, STEM skills can also be acquired by students attending school in the following years.