The project "Innovative Schools: Teaching & Learning in DIGITAL STEM LABS" aims at creating a strategic partnership for Digital Education Readiness (School education). The specific objective of the project is to enhance the provision of the STEM education at (lower/ upper-secondary) level through wider integration of digital contents into the school curriculum in full compliance with the distance learning and teaching. The project also aims to improve the competencies of secondary school teachers for the development of digital teaching methodology in line with the new applying of distance STEM education (innovations, smart specialisation, design-based innovation). The partnership of secondary schools and higher education institutions will promote networking of institutions across the EU, sharing of resources and expertise, and collaboration with digital technology providers and experts in educational technologies and relevant pedagogical practice, to develop tailor made solutions adapted to local challenges and realities in STEM education. The project network includes six organizations that have a long experience on STEM education, combining organizations from secondary schools to higher education institutions. Based on the relevant momentum created in our digital era, the project “Innovative Schools: Teaching & Learning in DIGITAL STEM LABS” will design an innovative framework curriculum and corresponding teaching/learning method “DIGITAL STEM LABS” for delivering digital contents related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational skills that will be based on cross-sectoral cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches. The project/work plan is structured in 4 components /4 project phases, each of them being divided in several activities, with all the phases/components having strong interactions among them. Component 1: State-of-the-art situation in STEM education concerning the digital readiness Given the diversity of the distance education best practice examples and relevant level of mainstreaming in the countries represented by the project partnership(Turkey, Greece, Lithuania, Spain) a comparative analysis will be undertaken. Relevant study/report will be as an Intellectual Output 1.This component of the project will be coordinated by Nezihe Derya Baltalı Bilim ve Sanat Merkezi (Turkey). Other project partners will provide relevant contributions/inputs. Component 2: Exchange of competencies and know-how/tailor-made trainings The 2nd component of the project will be focused on extensive and direct exchange of competencies and know-how by means of the Short-term joint staff trainings conducted by the respective project partners and their external experts/key stakeholders on the following topics of: • Module 1 Science in STEM- This module will be designed, organised and delivered by University of Crete; • Module 2 Technology-Engineering in STEM- This module will be designed, organised and delivered by Pamukkale University; • Module 3 Maths in STEM- This module will be designed, organised and delivered by Rey Juan Carlos University. Component 3: Development of the Curriculum Framework "DIGITAL STEM LABS” Based on the outcomes of the Component 1 and Component 2, the project coordinator and project partners will jointly deliver the Curriculum Framework "DIGITAL STEM LABS”. The Curriculum Framework will be considered as an Intellectual Output 2. This component of the project will be coordinated by URJC (Spain). Following the delivery the Curriculum Framework the project partners will commence with the development of a comprehensive methodological guideline for teachers which will demonstrate core quality factors required for successful implementation of relevant distance teaching and learning. The methodological guidelines for teacher will be considered as an Intellectual Output 3. This component of the project will be coordinated by University of Crete (Greece) and Other project partners will provide relevant contributions/inputs. In parallel, a Web-based thematic platform, i.e. Open Education Resource (OER) on educational provision of the “DIGITAL STEM LABS” will be designed. The OER design and relevant development will be coordinated by Pamukkale University. Other project partners will provide relevant contributions/inputs. Open Education Resource(OER) will be considered as Intellectual Output 4. Component 4: Pilot-testing of the Curriculum Framework “DIGITAL STEM LABS” The pilot-testing of the Curriculum Framework " DIGITAL STEM LABS” will be carried out by means of a short-term exchange of the secondary school students from 3 partner schools. The pilot testing will be designed and coordinated by Panevėžio Žemynos progimnazija. The final phase of the project will be focused on the dissemination activities as well as internal activities aimed at ensuring maximum impact and sustainability. 3 national dissemination events/conferences will be organised in Turkey, Greece, Lithuania.
• RESULT 1.1: Enhanced competencies of secondary school teachers for developing thematic/cross-curricula contents in relation to online STEM education and related concepts (creativity & innovativeness, participatory approaches, technical innovations, smart specialisation) in an integrated way; • RESULT 1.2: Ensured exchange of good-practices among the secondary schools-project partners regarding the teaching standards, innovative pedagogies and didactic materials used in crosscurricular investigation of STEM education and its revitalisation. • RESULT 2.1: Curriculum Framework “DIGITAL STEM LABS” that enables effective embedding of the digitalized STEM contents into the school curriculum of the secondary schools/contextualized learning of the STEM education contents within the general subjects at the lower/upper secondary schools level is developed, pilot-tested and further disseminated; • RESULT 2.2: A comprehensive methodological guidelines that practically demonstrate core quality factors required for successful implementation “DIGITAL STEM LABS” and relevant teaching/learning (innovative pedagogies and didactic materials used in cross-curricular investigation of STEM education) are developed, pilot-tested and disseminated.
According to OECD's "The impact of COVID-19 on education", remote learning emerged as a lifeline for education and most of the school systems were not ready for it. So, project partners came together to tackle this problem. This project aimed at creating a strategic partnership for Digital Education Readiness (School education). The specific objective of the project was to enhance the provision of the STEM education at (lower/ upper-secondary) level through wider integration of digital contents into the school curriculum in full compliance with the distance learning and teaching. The project also aimed to improve the competencies of secondary school teachers for the development of digital teaching methodology in line with the new applying of distance STEM education. Needs for each TARGET GROUPS: STUDENTS - NEED the school context to adapt and meet the STUDENT’S EXPECTATIONs, so that they relate to learning and configure new concepts of STEM education. - school systems NEED to adapt learning experiences to answer students personal learning styles as well as the opportunity to design and learn from experiments. SCHOOL TEACHERS - STRONG NEED for training in the use of ICT for teaching and enhance their competencies