It was through the technical knowledge of the various partner entities (schools, universities, companies) in Portugal, Spain, Greece and Lithuania that a set of tools for teaching STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics was created as part of the CREATEskills European project in a practical and attractive way, captivating children’s attention and enthusiasm in learning these subjects.
The testing phase of these tools is currently underway through the implementation of various activities in the schools of the four partner countries by teachers who attended teacher training in February in Athens, Greece.
Workshops, contests, science fairs, in-and-out experiments such as building erupting volcanoes, dissecting the various layers of chicken paw tissue, identifying rock or mineral types, addressing the mathematical work model and angles, creating a solar-powered robot are some of the examples teachers have reported. Students are invited to perform the activities, using their creativity, imagination and knowledge, promoting participatory learning of STEM.
In May, the Agrupamento de Escolas do Loureiro in Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal, invited families to enjoy a day at school to participate in STEM activities, namely the “Science in Action” contest that had a membership overwhelming on the part of students from the 1st cycle to the 7th grade of the 3rd cycle of basic education.
Also, Chania Directorate of Primary Education in Greece develop several robotic activities through constructions with Arduino and old DVD. According to a teacher testimony “The old DVDs are not for a dime. They contain components such as servomotors, DC motors, brushless motors and laser, which in combination with Arduino can create interesting constructions (Arduino is a small and cheap open source PC that can be programmed in several languages). As examples of such constructions, you will see roulettes, plotters and gyroscopes. Laser engravers and 3D printers can be manufactured in the same way. By recycling and reusing seemingly useless items, we invite you to explore the possibilities offered by robotics – a field of action with innumerable everyday practical applications.”
Follow us on Facebook: createskills.eu project or contact us through the project manager Rita Sousa: rita.sousa@mentortec.eu
