pLatform for INnovation in Natural science onlinE educatiOn

<< Background >>The motivation behind the application for the project stemmed from the contingency: the pandemic highlighted gaps in teachers' preparedness for digital and remote learning, with many relying on inadequate resources. Despite the efforts to integrate technology in education, its impact has been limited in many school systems. This underscored the need for high-quality, digital materials and teacher training in educational technologies. The needs addressed by the project were: 1. Need of high quality and engaging digital educational resources in Natural Sciences (NS), targeting primary school students. 2. Need for interventions for increasing teachers’ competence as to the integration of digital technologies in their teaching practice from the technological and methodological viewpoint. 3. Need for allowing access to educational activities to students who cannot visit physically NSEIs, be it due to emergencies, geographic distance, health issues, social disadvantage etc. 4. Need for cooperation opportunities among NSEIs, educational institutions and digital companies<< Objectives >>The objectives pursued by the project were: 1. To increase the availability of high quality and engaging digital educational resources in NSs, targeting primary school students. 2. To reduce the gap in the teachers’ competence as to the integration of digital technologies in their teaching practice from the technological and methodological viewpoint. 3. To increase the access to educational activities organised by NSEIs due to restrictions linked to societal emergencies or specific disadvantages. 4. To increase the cooperation opportunities between NSEIs, educational institutions and digital companies.<< Implementation >>The project was structured into 5 different Work Packages (WPs), corresponding to the main activities foreseen:WP1: monitoring activity including the monitoring of project progress, quality, and achievement of project activitiesWP2: development of a web-based platform nurtured with engaging digital resourcesWP3: development of innovative and engaging digital resources (DER) for NS education targeting PSSWP4: development of reusable activities and didactic units (DUs) for supporting teachers in the design of lessons integrating LINNEO digital resources developed in WP3.WP5: development of an online course targeting primary school teachers. << Results >>LINNEO delivered a web-based platform (RES 1) to support digital primary education in natural sciences. The platform offers an integrated approach, with resources, activities, and lessons adaptable to school curricula for both classroom and remote learning. Available in 3 languages (EN, IT, LT), it serves as a hub for the project outcomes.The project also delivered 135 digital resources (RES2) (15 for each world - sea, plants, and land animals - in EN, IT, LT), based on the Design for All principles. These resources can be used by students in 2 main ways: self-guided exploration, supported by the narrative embedded in the platform, and teacher-guided lessons designed using the resources for teachers developed by the project (RES 3); such resources include 18 Reusable Activities (6, available in EN, IT, LT) and 45 Didactic Units (5 per world - in EN, IT, LT) , suitable for blended or distance learning, based on Universal Design for Learning principles, supporting teachers with limited digital experience. All materials are available on the platform and on YouTube. Finally, the project released an online course for teachers (RES 4), based on webinars and videos, supporting the effective use of LINNEO main results on a large scale