How come crucial disciplines, such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), are not the most popular subjects among secondary school students? How can we stimulate young people’s interest in STEM?
The CHOICE Open Educational Resources (OER), adopting the STE(A)M approach, were developed to provide a meaningful connection between STEM subjects and other disciplines, including Arts, Humanities or Sports. At the same time, the resources emphasise the practical application of STEM, making theoretical concepts more tangible and appealing to students. The main aim of the innovative resources is to enhance young people’s motivation to pursue academic studies and professional careers in these fields and thus help train future professionals capable of dealing with complex societal challenges.
A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) collects all the 20 CHOICE Open Educational Resources (OER), made available for teachers and students.
From January 2022, 200 students and 15 teachers from Liceo Scientifico statale Benedetto Croce in Palermo are pilot-testing five CHOICE Resources developed in Italy:
1. STEM & Arts
The first resource is inspired by and called after the famous painting by Vincent van Gogh “The Starry Night”. This resource combines Art and Math. It uses origami to bring Mathematics to life and link it with art and creativity while getting students actively involved in learning by doing. The students reproduce elements and shapes of the famous Van Gogh painting with origami while deepening their understanding of complex mathematical and geometrical theorems and principles.
2. Experiential projects
“The Ecological House” focuses on the practical application of Physics, Chemistry and Ecology in the context of sustainable housing, favouring the choice of natural materials, striving for energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy. Students are actively involved in seven experiments, providing hands-on laboratory experience showcasing how to save and generate electricity at home through solar panels and mini propeller blades.
3.STEM & languages
The third resource intends to enrich STEM education with linguistic dimension, using foreign languages and the language of future – coding, to enhance students’ communication skills and computational thinking. Students construct a “Robot that can make a difference” using the Lego Kit Mindstorms EV3 and programme its functions on a dedicated Lego platform, applying the language of block coding. The final robot will be capable of distinguishing small objects of different colours and separating them, simulating the work of a waste sorting machine.
4. Digital technology in social sciences
The resource “Winning strategies” proposes using digital technology in Social Sciences such as Economics and Sociology. It also presents Maths in a new, more practical way. Students often consider Maths an infinite and complicated flux of topics disconnected from reality. This resource demonstrates quite the opposite: Maths is a lively and fertile discipline used in the diplomatic and economic fields. Students are introduced to the Games Theory andencouraged to play with the prisoner’s dilemma, exploring a new branch of Mathematics that helps them see the world differently. Digital tools such as spreadsheets are used to sort, analyse and evaluate data.
5. STEM & sports.
Connecting STEM education with sports and physical activity adds a hands-on experience and fun to teaching STEM disciplines, increasing the attractivity of STEM and promoting a healthy lifestyle among students. The fifth resource, “Enjoying and Studying Nature”, presents an example of outdoor STEM education, including the activity of hiking and snorkelling and first aid. When studying outdoors, students can observe, explore and live Nature, learn to respect it and protect their own health and safety.
So far, the feedback from teachers and students has been highly positive: they expressed their enthusiasm for the STE(A)M methodology and the proposed resources, appreciating the multidisciplinary and practical approach. At the same time, CHOICE resources are being tested in Cyprus, Greece and Spain. By the end of the piloting, all students and teachers will undergo an impact evaluation, measuring the change in their attitudes towards STEM learning and teaching and the use of the proposed STE(A)M-based resources.
Visit the CHOICE MOOC to explore all 20 resources and learn more about the STE(A)M approach!
About the project
CHOICE – Increasing young people’s motivation to choose STEM careers through an Innovative Cross-disciplinary STE(A)M approach to education is an Erasmus+ project, Key Action 3: European Forward-Looking Cooperation Projects in the fields of Education and Training
Partners
- CESIE (Italy, coordinator)
- Liceo scientifico Benedetto Croce (Italy)
- GrantXpert Consulting Ltd (Cyprus)
- Grammar school Nicosia (Cyprus)
- ΕUROTraining (Greece)
- Regional Directorate of Education of Western Greece (Greece)
- Blue Room Innovation (Spain)
- Institut de Maçanet de la Selva (Spain)
- Lifelong Learning Platform (Belgium)
For further information
Read more about CHOICE, see the project website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Contact Cecilie La Monica Grus: cecilie.lamonica@cesie.org
