There is a growing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, combined with Art. This should result in national strategies in teaching/learning and lead to an international cooperation to boost quality and exchange of good practices. Society should be involved, in order to have citizens able to meet the requirements of a continuosly changing world. The STEAM approach could be used in cultural, environmental, economic, managerial contexts, with the involvment of many other subjects. A new pedagogy and a new evaluation system could strengthen the idea of cooperation and mutual trust among European citiziens and governments. An integrated approach will favour all stakeholders. The project has main roots in the "Mega-Trends, Catalysts and Game Changers" described in the "Global Trends to 2030. Challenges and Choices for Europe" by ESPAS (European Strategy and Policy Analysis System), a Report issued in April 2019 thanks to the cooperation between the main EU institutions. STEAMFUL is based on the partnership among six European countries ( Italy, Estonia, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Croatia ) with students aged 16-19 and will have practical results, as well as moments of discussion using STEAM in a global approach, with the involvement of over 100 participants. Its activities are characterised by a very innovative methodology, based on the following steps: a challenge is launched, followed by braistorming, research, hackathon (digital marathon)/discussion in multicultural teams, assessment by the teachers, production of STEAMFUL possible solutions and improvement of the present situation. The five challenges to face are: - Climate change and Saving the planet - Demography, Migration, Improving Ageing - Connectivity, Artificial intelligence and Transportation - Economic growth and International trade - Position of Europe in the world: How to protect democracy and Manage conflict and terrorism Both teachers and learners are encouraged to develop a stronger sense of commitment to dealing with global issues, while creating tangible results by working together. The project will enhance the STEAM process, based on investigating, discovering, connecting, reating, reflecting, imagining, planning, designing and improving.This will enhance transversal skills, such as "learning to learn". STEAMFUL will : - Identify STEM in everyday life and learn how to integrate real-world STEM problems in classes - Build confidence in trying out new methods in the classroom, thans to an interdisciplinary approach - Explore a range of resources, tools and strategies for activities that enhance STEAM in real life - Enable to learn about 21st-century skills and how to address them. - Reduce gender biased stereotypes regarding both science/technical and care activities. by proposing challenges that require a solution obtained combining both technical and social aspects. Furthermore it will increase: - Knowledge and understanding of the differences, by encouraging tolerance and respect for other cultures; - the European dimension of education as well as the importance of a European heritage; - the promotion of equal opportunities, regardless of gender, social background, ethnic origins, educational special needs; - cooperative learning and lifelong learning; - learning-by-doing and teamwork; - cross curricular involvement of different departments at school. STEAMFUL will generate an attitude of research, investigation and commitment which can produce long term benefits and a strong impact on all stakeholders.
The project had its main roots in the "Mega-Trends, Catalysts and Game Changers" described in the "Global Trends to 2030. Challenges and Choices for Europe" by ESPAS (European Strategy and Policy Analysis System), a Report issued in April 2019 thanks to the cooperation between the main EU institutions. STEAMFUL was based on the partnership among six European countries (Italy, Estonia, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Croatia) with students aged 16-19 and had practical results, as well as moments of discussion using STEAM in a global approach, with the involvement of over 100 participants. Its activities were characterised by a very innovative methodology, based on the following steps: a challenge was launched, followed by brainstorming, research, hackathon (digital marathon) /discussion in multicultural teams, assessment by the teachers, production of STEAMFUL possible solutions and improvement of the present situation. The five challenges to face were: - Climate change and Saving the planet - Demography, Migration, Improving Ageing - Connectivity, Artificial intelligence and Transportation - Economic growth and International trade - Position of Europe in the world: how to protect democracy and Manage conflict and terrorism Each mobilitty concentrated on one of the previous aspects, with the arrangement of a Hackathon. After confrontation, the students designed products, such as: a fake voice creator mobile app, a mockup app to help migrants, lights that turn on automatically with Arduino, a micro website and apps to help identify fake news, an AI app to detect certain kinds of reacion, a plan for a green school info graphics and a smart bin, powered by solar energy, for the classroom, "PsychoPrat", an online app aimed at providing psychological support to students, an IoT-enabled product: a remote-controlled device for environmental monitoring, an app designed to assist students in understanding and reducing their carbon footprint., to minimise envirinmental impact, a report on migration in Italy: proposals for a better welcome, an app that serves as a valuable resource to hel newcomers adapt to life in Spain. Both teachers and learners were encouraged to develop a stronger sense of commitment to dealing with global issues, while creating tangible results by working together. The project enhanced the STEAM process, based on investigating, discovering, connecting, creating, reflecting, imagining, planning, designing and improving.This enhanced transversal skills, such as "learning to learn". STEAMFUL gave the opportunity to: - Identify STEM in everyday life and learn how to integrate real-world STEM problems in classes - Build confidence in trying out new methods in the classroom, thans to an interdisciplinary approach - Explore a range of resources, tools and strategies for activities that enhance STEAM in real life - Enable to learn about 21st-century skills and how to address them. - Reduce gender biased stereotypes regarding both science/technical and care activities. by proposing challenges that require a solution obtained combining both technical and social aspects. Furthermore it increased: - Knowledge and understanding of the differences, by encouraging tolerance and respect for other cultures; - the European dimension of education as well as the importance of a European common heritage; - the promotion of equal opportunities, regardless of gender, social background, ethnic origins, educational special needs; - cooperative learning and lifelong learning; - learning-by-doing and teamwork; - cross curricular involvement of different departments at school. STEAMFUL generated an attitude of research, investigation and commitment, able to produce long term benefits and a strong impact on all stakeholders, as the products were easily replicable and the methodogical approach was integrated in the school curricula. The results were widespread through an eTwinning event by the coordinator school and, thoughout the project ,several Hackathons were arranged by other schools, which took inspiration from the project itself. In the long term, the project will represent a valuable source for further insipration especially as concernis innovative methodology and design.