Cambiando el aprendizaje en ciencias utilizando STEM

<< Background >>This project tries to create STEM Learning environments to develop mathematics and scientific skills in students, training them to face global duties. They will be provided with strong curricular tools to apply these knowledge to daily life and solve future problems. Thus, this type of projects allow students to prepare for emerging jobs in areas such as cryptology, artificial intelligence and robotics.This way, the principal aim of this project was to improve and set up STEM methods in a cross-curricular way in curricular areas in the participating schools. For that, it was considered the possibility of transforming educational spaces, improve methodologies in teachers. The potential of STEM learning was also powered among students with more learning difficulties, and also it was tried to foster STEM vocations, mainly among female students.The needs that were worked were centered, among other, in the lack of STEM training among teacher staff, the low motivation in the student’s learning process in scientific subjects and the modernization of learning programs in the participating schools regarding to STEM.<< Objectives >>The objectives aimed to be achieved with this project were:A) REGARDING PARTICIPATING SCHOOLSTo modify and create educational spaces within schools that serve as catalysts for the acquisition of key competencies.To adapt the curriculum by incorporating STEM-based learning.To improve school methodology as a core curricular element to promote effective learning.B) REGARDING TEACHERSTo encourage collaborative work among teachers at the same educational level.To update teaching methodologies by incorporating STEM learning.To facilitate connections with other teachers interested in STEM learning.C) REGARDING STUDENTSTo enhance students' academic guidance related to STEM career paths.To promote STEM career interests among female students.To boost STEM subject learning, especially for students facing greater learning challenges.To improve competency-based learning by integrating multiple subjects in a cross-disciplinary approach.<< Implementation >>1) Initial teacher meeting.2) Virtual teacher fair: small projects were created among teachers from participating schools.3) Celebration of commemorative days related to scientific anniversaries.4) Development of teaching units: several units were designed over the course of the project.5) Final best practices fair: at the end of the project, a virtual fair was held with participating teachers to showcase examples of relevant STEM educational practices.6) Exhibition of modified STEM spaces: each school created a physical space to display the results achieved during the project.STEM events: four events were held periodically in Estonia, Poland, Spain, and Austria, with participating teachers attending to plan and coordinate activities throughout the project’s duration.7) Workshops for families: experts were brought in to provide specific training for families.8) Final dissemination event: each school hosted an event to present the results achieved.9) Extracurricular activities.All initially planned activities were successfully completed.<< Results >>1) Organization of a Virtual Good Practices FairA dedicated web space was created, featuring information about the activities conducted, along with summaries of each. This platform is available to provide teaching inspiration to all interested educators through the projects developed during the fair.2) Implementation of STEM ActivitiesActivities were organized to coincide with key events such as “STEM Day,” “Inventors’ Day,” and the “International Day of Women and Girls in Science” to foster interest in scientific and technological disciplines.3) Development of eTwinning ProjectsCollaborative projects among different schools were encouraged; however, it was not possible to use the eTwinning platform, as most interested teachers had no prior knowledge of it, and numerous issues were identified following the migration of data to the new platform.4) Encouragement of Good Practice Exchange among TeachersMutual learning among Association teachers was promoted through the sharing and exchange of educational best practices.