The project develops the innovative outputs and promotes innovative practices and integrated methods for teaching and learning technologies in informal education. It is targeted at the educators who live far away from the capital cities, work with the families from remote areas with high unemployment level, as well as with the children with special needs. The educators of the project organizations have the limited knowledge and skills how to use the technologies in pedagogically meaningful way which results in the lack of equal access to technological skills and knowledge of the regions and schools at a disadvantage, especially in sparsely populated or geographically remote areas. The aim of the project is to create the network of the educators, creative and playful technologists, interdisciplinary innovators who will help pupils move beyond historical stereotypes associated with STEM , who will become multipliers with the ability to lead integrated workshops: Science through technologies, English through technologies, etc. In the project, the educators will learn how to use the innovative STEAM approach which gives the pupils a more positive view of engagement with the STEM subjects. The trained educators will be able to assist other teachers and pupils in delivering content across multiple subject areas and following learners' individual needs. The project will have the following objectives: 1) to develop the framework of technological, pedagogical and content knowledge for effective pedagogical practice in informal education; 2) To develop strategic and integrated use of technologies and open practices in informal education so fostering technological skills and competence also of technologically excluded groups. The target group is educators of 4 secondary schools represented by 1 municipality (LV), 1 secondary school (EE), 1 pro-gymnasium (LT), 2 youth centers (LV, LT), parents' NGO (LV) and 1 Higher Vocational Education School with 25 years of experience in the fields of Education, Employment and Management consulting (SI). Transnational cooperation between 4 countries will help in 1) learning, exchanging and adapting the methods of integrated education between different countries, 2) bringing together the specialists from different countries, work and cultural experiences to decrease the risk of narrow (one country/school) project results, 3) finding courage and inspiration in meeting others and communicating in English. The project INTEGRA will create a new way of technological thinking that is engaging, multifaceted, inclusive, and has a real world approach. Collaboration between different countries and organizations that work in informal education will be the case for any country that will be interested in using the STEM and STEAM approach, also in the work with the pupils with special needs. At least 73 educators’ capacity will be increased 1) by organizing 4 short-term exchanges of groups of pupils (119 pupils' mobilities and 104 accompanying persons' mobilities) involving also pupils’ led 16 masterclasses “Technologies are exciting!” and 4 robotics competitions in SI, EE, LT and LV, 2) by developing 5 lifelong learning programs for technology integrationists (in Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovenian) and approbating them during in- service training courses about integrated technologies, basic or advanced programming in robotics, working with electronics or welding sets, the methodology how to teach the collaboration or creativity skills, how to integrate technologies in, for example, English, Art or music and in the work with disabled pupils (25 hours for 3 project partners from Rezekne (LV), 18 hours for Kupiskis Povlas Matulionis progymnasium (LT), 18 hours for Haademeeste Keskkool (EE), 30 hours for Všļ Vaiku ir jaunimo visapusiško lavinimo in Jonava (LT), 60 hours for Academia Druzba za Storitve Doo (SI), 3) by developing and approbating 35 WebQuests (technological projects), which will allow the educators to integrate science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) concepts with the humanitarian subjects (STEAM). Intellectual results: Prepared 1 research article (in English) about integrated technologies and STEAM concept in project partner organizations and countries (presented in 1 scientific conference in LV, in 1 final dissemination event and spread among all partner organizations). Developed 5 lifelong learning programs and approbated in the courses for technology integrationists in 7 partner organizations. Developed and approbated 35 online WebQuests/technological projects for using them in multidisciplinary settings, also for the learners with special needs. As a result, at least 73 educators who work with pupils in the partner countries will be trained to become technology integrationists/multipliers in Europe. The project will result at reduced digital gap between the pupils in the capital cities and remote areas.
The project had the following objectives: 1) to develop the framework of technological, pedagogical and content knowledge for effective pedagogical practice in informal education; 2) To develop strategic and integrated use of technologies and open practices in informal education so fostering technological skills and competence also of technologically excluded groups.The target group were educators of 4 secondary schools represented by 1 municipality (LV), 1 secondary school (EE), 1 pro-gymnasium (LT), 2 youth centers (LV, LT), parents' NGO (LV) and 1 Higher Vocational Education School with 25 years of experience in the fields of Education, Employment and Management consulting (SI). Transnational cooperation between 4 countries was necessary because it helped in 1) learning, exchanging and adapting the methods of integrated education between different countries, 2) bringing together the specialists from different countries, work and cultural experiences to decrease the risk of narrow (one country/school) project results, 3) finding courage and inspiration in meeting others and communicating in English. The innovative STEAM approach gave the pupils a more positive view of engagement also with the STEM subjects. The project created a new way of technological thinking among educators who work in informal education: engaging, multifaceted, inclusive, having a real world approach. Collaboration between different institutions (municipalities, schools, youth centers, NGOs) was case for any country that would be interested in using the STEAM approach. The trained technology integrationists will be able to share their experience and demonstrate the integrated workshops in their countries and abroad.
The project was targeted at the educators who live far away from the capital cities, work with the families from remote areas with high unemployment level, as well as with the children with special needs. The educators of the project organizations had the limited knowledge and skills how to use the technologies in pedagogically meaningful way which resulted in the lack of equal access to technological skills and knowledge of the regions and schools at a disadvantage, especially in sparsely populated or geographically remote areas. For example, in 2020, before the project was developed, there was only one youngster who taught robotics in youth center "Zeimuļs" for all the children of Rezekne district and town. There was a similar situation in Estonia and Lithuania. However, the interest in learning and teaching technologies was growing.