WP1: Development of VET and STEM methods for teaching and learning (Resp: HAC)
WP2: Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship competence (Resp: ICI)
WP3: Knowledge Centre for IEE, STEM and VET (Resp: L&L)
WP4: Project Management and Implementation (Resp: HAC)
A.1 A „Tech-group“, involving all partners, will be formed to work on the development, prototyping and testing of a new innovative approach to STEM education within a VET framework. The Tech-group will train in digital fabrication technology workshops to develop methods of „learning by making“ and become mentors in digital fabrication techniques. A total of 10 teachers in the pilot-community will be invited to participate in the Tech-group for the development of particular dimensions of innovative learning approaches. University STEM-students at UNAK will be engaged in developing STEM projects for teaching and learning at preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and adult education.
A.2 Workshop in Iceland for the 10 teachers and the educative staff of the pilot community, for the final definition and prototyping of the teaching&learning methods (5 days)
One large workshop where 10 teachers from all the school levels involved in the pilot-community will work together for five days in a digital fabrication workshop. The goal is to develop a training programme for mentors to „Train the trainers“ in digital fabrication „learning by making“ methods.
A.3 Testing activities of the new teaching&learning approach (90 days/6 months)
The new teaching&learning approach will be tested among pupils at the school levels involved: preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and adult levels. Participating teachers along with 15 students will be active in the testing activities.
A.4 Evaluation of the testing activities and final definition of the teaching&learning methods/curricula (60 days/3 months)
Completion of a new programme for innovative STEM teaching, that will be „coded“ into a new VET curricula for preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and adult education levels.
A.5 Final seminar in Iceland (1 day)
Ten teachers and fifteen students in the pilot-community, taking part in the testing activities, will lead this one day seminar in the form of a peer-learning activity, which will contribute to the development of the peer-learning platform included in the Knowledge Centre.
A.6 Development of formal VET curricula in IEE for preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and adult education levels (140 days/7 months).
After the implementation of a desk research for mapping the good practices on IEE, this activity will develop formal VET curricula for preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and adult education, based on recommendations from the Entrepreneurship 360 project and the Thematic Working Group for Entrepreneurship Education for all school levels.
The Welsh Government “Careers and the World of work” (CWW) is an appropriate methodology for this project, as the provision for enhancing the relationship between young people, their learning and the needs in the workplace. Within Wales it is an element of the National Curriculum ‘”Learning Across the Curriculum” and the framework that providers of learning use to review and develop the Careers and the World of the Work provision for 11 – 19 year olds. Teacher/student educational material on the IEE-approach within VET framework will be developed as a part of the project’s Toolbox and will be web-based “open educational resource” at the Knowledge Centre, the ultimate dissemination channel. ICI will lead this activity with all other partners involved.
Activity Leading Organisation: ICI
Participating Organisations: HAC, UNAK, Lindberg&Lindberg, DORA
A.7 Sustainability in VET education within a IEE perspective (140 days/7 months)
In this activity, the partners DORA and UNAK will develop new methodologies to integrate environmental sustainability into all the aspects of daily life through the school system.
UNAK‘s Department of Education and the Department of Natural Resource Sciences have good experience in working with education of teachers and how to put new emphasis into school systems through school development. And DORA is an eco-innovative farm, which combines technological innovation, nature protection and dynamic entrepreneurship. It will bring to the project the right contribution from the world of work, then giving a real example and practical suggestions based on daily working experience about how to realise an environmental sustainable enterprise which may be innovative at the same time.
Activity Leading Organisation: DORA
Participating Organisations: HAC, UNAK, Lindberg&Lindberg, ICI
A.8 Development of IEE teaching material (OER) (120 days/6 months)
This activity will foresee the development of IEE teaching materials (OER) to be coded into new and innovative VET curricula for preschool, primary, secondary, upper secondary and adult education levels and published “open source” in the Knowledge Centre, as a part of the Toolbox. Furthermore, the activity will include the development of context appropriate materials for motivating teachers and school managers to engage in delivering and embedding IEE within their programs.
Activity Leading Organisation: ICI
Participating Organisations: HAC, UNAK, Lindberg&Lindberg, DORA
A.9 Design and realisation of the Internet portal which will be the “virtual” place of the Knowledge Centre (40 days/2 months)
Activity Leading Organisation: L&L
Participating Organisations (+-): UWTSD/IICED, Dora, UNAK, HAC
A.10 Definition and Creation of a “Toolbox” for learning and teaching (140 days/7 months)
A “Toolbox” for learning and teaching will be created online and open source on the basis of the project’s methodology and objectives and as a part of the ultimate Internet portal/Knowledge Centre. All educational material, developed within the project, will be a part of the innovative Toolbox for learning, collaboration and creativity. The educational material, created in the project, will focus on STEM, IEE, digital fabrication, sustainability and business know-how within a VET framework.
A.11 Definition and realisation of Virtual Classrooms and Webinars (160 days/8 months)
L&L will activate students in writing programming codes in cooperation with translators. A workgroup consisting of representatives from the partners and the pilot-schools in Iceland will test and evaluate the Internet portal. Virtual classrooms are well suited to reach out to smaller regional schools. Virtual classrooms also provide a venue for interaction among pupils from different schools across the country. This allows pupils to work together on projects which would not be feasible for very small schools where classes may consist of only 5-20 children with various interests and of different age groups. The virtual classroom is a venue where the limitations of the very small schools can be countered.
It may include:
• Database – storage for projects and instructions.
• Virtual classroom – interface for group work, learning and teaching.
• Student’s gateway – the tool for publishing and tracking the progress of students work on projects.
• Networking platform – forum for participants on various subjects e.g. science, engineering, technology, mathematics and projects.
• Competition playground – a media channel for introduction of the projects worked on in various STEM and VET competitions in Iceland.
• Innovation dropbox – idea box where enterprises and innovators can submit ideas for projects
• STEM and VET information channel – introductions and info about various companies and fields of STEM and VET studies.
• World window – information and connection to other projects world wide.
A.12 Coordination and Project Management (36 months)
The Coordination and Project Management WP will cover the overall coordination of the project following its implementation from the beginning to the entire completion of all the project´s activities.
ICI, as the Project Coordinator, will be the contact point for all the partners, responding to relevant requests and maintaining a high level of communication within the consortium. Official project meetings will be organised and partners will be encouraged for contributing actively.
A daily assessment of the project’s activities implementation and progress will be conducted, as well as of the WPs state and development.
The monitoring of the tasks at the different WPs levels will allow to re-schedule works and tasks if necessary, to achieve constant work balance within budget and timeline.
All the other partners will have to report to the Project Coordinator on a regular basis about the implementation of their own activities.
The monitoring tasks will be implemented every 6 months, and at the end of the project a final evaluation will be carried on as well.
Activity Leading Organisation: ICI
Participating Organisations (+-): Dora, UNAK, ICI, Lindberg&Lindberg