Steam4Future

Väinölä school is located in Pori, western coast of Finland. Pori has great beaches, versatile culture life and lots of innovative schools.

Väinölä school is a primary school with 300 students and 16 teachers. We have a big outside area that gives great possibilities for physical activities. We use a lot of technology and digital tools at all grade levels.

The Education division is in charge of early childhood education, preschool education, basic education, upper secondary education, and liberal adult education in the City of Pori. The department consists of 28 Basic education schools with 7336 pupils enrolled in grades 1-9 and one upper secondary school with 1250 high school students enrolled. The department has 630 primary, secondary and upper secondary teachers in service. The department is also responsible for teachers’ in service training.

The department of education is responsible for providing up-skilling and professional In-service training for teaching staff in the city itself, and also for the surrounding Satakunta region. The department is highly digitalized and the teaching staff is digitally competent. Beginning of 2015, the City implemented the 1:1 laptop programme for basic education to promote collaboration among teachers, students and staff, to increase efficiency and to provide a foundation for a new ICT and STEAM* curriculum. In 2020 Pori is one of the leading cities in Finland in digitalization of education, being the greatest beneficiary of the digital development funding granted by the Finnish national board of education. Digital practises and models developed in Pori have often been implemented elsewhere in Finland.

Scuola di Robotica (School of Robotics) is a no profit Society appointed as Educational and Training Center by the Italian Ministry of Education, Research and University. A Committee consisting of robotics scientists and of scholars in Humanities has instituted School of Robotics (2000). Actually, School of Robotics is upholding the transdisciplinary of its mission.

The aim of the “Scuola di Robotica” is to promote the knowledge of the science of Robotics among students and young people, in the range of undergraduates, to teachers and the general public. It provides for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information concerning the results of the R&D in the field of Robotics, ICT and of about complementary developments of other disciplines (Artificial Intelligence, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychology, Applied Ethics, Education). Scuola di Robotica has been key in promoting Roboethics (Ethical, Legal and Societal Aspects in Robotics – ELSA) and it was the ELSA Referee for the European Action CARE (Coordination Action for Robotics in Europe). It is a member of European Centre for Women and Technology (ECWT).

It is the National Centre of the Project Roberta, Girls Discover Robot; Regional Partner of the FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL); it is the National Coordinator of EC euRobotics Week. It the National Organizer of the NAO Challenge, and European Reference for the Humanoids Festival.

Since 2004 Scuola di Robotica has contributed to the birth and definition of Roboethics, the ethics applied to advanced robotics. In 2007 Scuola di Robotica coordinated the Atelier of Roboethics, which drew up the Roadmap on Roboethics:

http://www.roboethics.org/atelier2006/docs/ROBOETHICS%20ROADMAP%20Rel2.1.1.pdf

School of Robotics is deeply involved in the study of the complex interaction between Robotics and Society, and is supporting the international project for the development of Roboethics, the ethics applied to robotics.

The main aims of Robot at School are:

· Understanding the impact of ICT, of Robotics and of new technologies in general with regard to the processes and learning methodologies;

· Technical, scientific and methodological update for the teachers working in secondary technical and vocational schools;

· Development and diffusion of a highly innovative didactic methodology through a multidisciplinary Virtual Laboratory on the Internet.;

· Promoting cooperation between the different disciplines with regard to the realization of an innovative experiment;

· Promoting knowledge and responsible use of ICT and the New Media.

Over the past 20 years, School of Robotics has been committed to integrating Robotics into the Undergraduate Education not as an aim but as a tool for: 1) Providing continuous refresher courses for teachers; 2) Making it easier for new high school graduates to find a job; 3) sustain Gender Methodology in STEM Education; 4) Selecting and coaching of graduates interested in university careers; 5) helping societies and workers keep abreast of new technologies; 6); support the Special Need Education. It does it in cooperation with the School of Robotics nationwide network of educators started from the Robot-in-the-Classroom (in Italian, Robot@Scuola), which was originally funded by the Italian Ministry of Education (2005) and following School of Robotics kept supporting and feeding this network.

Centro de Professorat IBSTEAM (founded in 2020) is a state teacher training center made up of 24 in-service teacher trainers from different areas and levels who are advising 450 state and state-subsidied schools from the Balearic Islands in Spain (ranging from kindergarden, primary, secondary, post-secondary, VET and Adult Schools) on their own digital plans, virtual learning environments and providing specific teacher training to a community of 19500 teachers (15500 teachers working in state schools, 4000 teachers from subsided schools).

In the same way, the in-service teacher trainers gather, disseminate and exchange good practices from the schools, apart from developing an online learning resource bank, being the link between administration and the educational centers as regards the digital competence. With their tasks, the in-service teacher trainers accompany and stimulate the changing process, stir the implication of all the participants in the educational community and help the school staff in the process of becoming autonomous to continue their own lifelong learning process, as well as supporting and training the students’ families in their own ICT skills.

As for our training program, it focuses on 6 areas, 5 of which are based on the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators, DigCompEdu, namely: Information and data literacy, Communication and collaboration, Digital content creation, Safety, Problem solving and the STEAM area that aims at being transversal to all of them.

Among our competences, we are also in charge of providing equipment loans (Internet connection and Chromebook devices) for students who are at risk of social exclusion in order to reduce the digital gap.

Similarly, related to other projects, some of our members of staff are Scientix ambassadors, Future Classroom Lab ambassadors and robotics trainers. We also work hard on reducing the gender gap in science by raising awareness among students and teachers alike. We also collaborate with national and regional institutions and companies.

The purpose of this meeting was to launch the project. Due to the sanitary conditions, partners agreed that it would be held online, since not everyone on the steering wheels was vaccinated against COVID-19.

AGENDA

• Expectations
• Break the ice activity
• Evaluation of the project by the Spanish Agency.
• Budget discussion
• Analysis of the final structure/timeline
• Contextualisation about each partner’s needs
• Dissemination plan
• Channels of communication
• Erasmus Days 
• In-between activity before November mobility
• Evaluation of the meeting

Day 1

After a shared jamboard where expectations for the kick off meeting and for the project were presented, there was an activity to break the ice (Padlet) in order to get to know the partners more personally and informally.  There was a careful reading of the evaluation of the project with special emphasis on the weak points to be improved during its implementation. 

In the same way, after consulting with SEPIE (the Spanish agency) it was decided that mobilities will be carried out always taking into account the sanitary conditions.  As for budget, given the fact that IBSTEAM is the coordinator of the project, it was agreed that they will be in charge of creating the handbook of good practice, the platform for the Learning Virtual Environment of the final online course and the webpage. Regarding the timeline, for the time being mobilities will be done in the periods they were written in the application form since they coincide with different international days/ events. The final joint staff training event was not funded by the Agency, having a total of 5 during the 24 month project.  To finish day 1, there was group work in each country to establish and contextualise each partner’s needs in order to define more specific objectives. 

Day 2

After a Quizziz related to Erasmus + application form questions, Day 2 started with the Dissemination Plan. It was agreed that each partner will contribute with their expertise and previous knowledge:

• Designing a draft of the dissemination plan
• Defining the impact and the expected results
• Determine to whom it is aimed.

As far as the channels of communication are concerned, we will communicate mainly through:

Google Chat (a group was created for steering teams in order to communicate for fast matters). A shared unit in Google Drive will allow us to keep all the documents and materials necessary for the project. Thanks to Google Meet the steering teams or coordinators will be able to meet regularly online to keep track of the project.

Etwinning platform: we have created the Twinspace in which we will promote active participation of teachers and head teachers in collaborative activities. 

Webpage: IBSTEAM shows the interface of the webpage www.steam4future.eu and partners agree to send the partner information in order to start filling out the sections.

Social networks: partners agree to create a common profile for the project on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter in order to disseminate its information on a regular basis. 

Regarding Erasmus Days 2021, they will be celebrated on  14th, 15th, 16th October and each partner will celebrate its own with local schools and authorities + one common E+ event which will be held online. The final programme will be discussed during the next meeting.

The next point that was discussed was “in-between mobilities” activity to be carried out at the beginning of the school year. Suggestions for the activity were: a robotics challenge contest. Similarly the Italian partner shared  a draft of the programme for the participants in the first joint staff training meeting to be held in Italy coinciding with the European Robotics week. 

Finally, an evaluation of the transnational project meeting was carried out through a Google form in which participants evaluated items such as participation, expectations, the role of the moderator, time management, online tools and things to be improved for the next one. Regarding participation, 28,6% stated they were really active during the meeting, 57,1% stated they were quite active and only 14,3% stated they were below average. All participants agreed that the role of the moderator, time management had been correct. Similarly, in getting to know each partner,  71,4% stated that in a scale 1-5, 71,4% of the attendees reported 5, whereas 14,3% reported 4 and 14,3% reported 3. In general, everybody agreed that agreements and instructions had been precise and although at first they were hesitant about holding an online transnational meeting, it had been really fruitful.

The purpose of this meeting was to do a follow-up of the project. The meeting was held in Palma (Majorca, Spain) since the coordinator of the project (IBSTEAM) was responsible for helding the kick off meeting but since it was held online due to sanitary conditions (Covid), partners agreed to travel to IBSTEAM main headquarters in the intermediate one. 
Meeting agenda:

• Prepare Pori mobility “International Week of Science and Peace”
• Design in-between activity Erasmus Days
• Italian mobility Safer Internet Day (14th February 2023- state mobility dates)  and decide common activities for that day in the 3 countries
• Evaluation of 1st year project.
• Deadline for outputs: Handbook of good practice/ Online resource bank and partner responsibilities.

Day 1

The first day of the transnational meeting was devoted to meeting the partners and getting to know the facilities of IBSTEAM in Palma. Then,  the first follow-up meeting took place in which evaluation of the first year of the project was thoroughly discussed. Taking into account SEPIE’s intermediate evaluation report, partners agreed to continue in the same line of work, thanks to the comments made by the Spanish National Agency which highlighted the impact of dissemination of the project, the relevance of the activities and the involvement of a lot of stakeholders. 

The second part of the meeting consisted in planning the two LTTAs for the second year of the project namely: “International Week of Science and Peace” (Pori, October 2022) and “Safer Internet Day” (February 2023).

For activity C4, although “International Week of Science and Peace” is held in November every year, it was agreed to be carried out in October for several reasons: on the one hand, because of school calendars, Finnish colleagues had a break fall and Spanish and Italian as well, so October was the best moment in the first term of the school year and on top of that, we made it coincide with the celebration of #ErasmusDays. 

In line with the celebration of #ErasmusDays, in the meeting a robotics challenge was designed to make it a challenge for the schools to participate in mingling robotics and the training carried out at ESERO Spain in relation to the space called “Asteroid Treasure Hunt”. The online meeting with the schools to show the results was scheduled in November to celebrate “European Robotics Week”. 

As for C5, since it was related to “Safer Internet Day”, it was decided to create a campaign related to cybersecurity in which students would record videos giving advice to other peers, teachers and families on issues related to cybersecurity. This would be the final activity of the project carried out by the involved schools.

In the evening, there was a social dinner with all the participants and the staff of IBSTEAM in which Spanish food was shared.

Day 2

The day started with a visit to CEIP Pare Bartomeu Pou (Algaida) one of the most participative schools in this KA2 project in which participants learnt about their robotics school plan and the Spanish educational system, apart from sharing a typical Majorcan “berenar” while interacting with the school’s staff.

After this visit, the second part of the transnational meeting started designing a draft of the handbook of good practices with the different chapters and the different participants involved in writing it.

The tasks for the creation of the online resource bank were also divided. IBSTEAM as coordinator was in charge of creating the Google Classroom platform in which all the materials and activities related to the project will be uploaded so that the educational community has access to it.

The day was completed with a tour around Palma including a visit to the Cathedral terrasses.  

Finally, an evaluation of the transnational project meeting was carried out through a Google form in which participants evaluated items such as if the experience strengthened the cooperation with the partner organisations (100%), if it had reinforced the participant’s European dimension (100%), if they could integrate new knowledge into the participant’s educational process/ professional development (100%), if the coordinator had been reliable and responsible (100%), if the host organisation had been cooperative (100%), if the mobility had met their expectations (100%) and if it had provided opportunities to improve their English language skills (100%). 

The purpose of this meeting was to analyze and evaluate the development of this two-year project as well as preparing the final project report and the outputs. The meeting was held in Alaior (Menorca, Spain) although it was formerly stated that it would be celebrated in Pori. However, taking into account logistic factors such as the distance and the expensive tickets to travel there and the fact that participants needed two days to come and go and the meeting was only two days long, the coordinator of the project (IBSTEAM) suggested going to Menorca (to the new second main headquarters in IBSTEAM) and given the chance, do a multiplier event of the project in two schools from the area.
Meeting agenda:

• Evaluation of the project
• Final report and partners’ responsibilities
• Multiplier event
• Outputs: Handbook of good practice/ Online resource bank

Afternoon day 1

Visit to the talaiòtic site “Torre d’en Galmés” in which participants had a unique experience to discover the daily life of Minorca’s inhabitants during this historical period, their culture and legacy, their construction skills and their capacity to take advantage of the natural resources of their surroundings. It was a great chance to disseminate the Menorca Talaiòtica application to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 2

The multiplier event of the project took place in two different schools in Minorca. The first one, IES Josep Maria Quadrado (Ciutadella) was the secondary school chosen to disseminate our KA2 project. Students who participated in it explained to the Italian and Finnish teachers what it meant for them to do robotics or participate in the CanSat challenge (design and construction of a satellite in a can). 

After this visit, the multiplier event continued in CEIP Es Fornells, one of the smallest primary schools in Minorca, where students learned about the KA2 and showed what they have learned about prehistoric culture and “Torre d’en Galmés” thanks precisely to the project that had robotics as their common thread.

It was a nice opportunity to meet teachers and students so engaged in STEAM and robotics and to share the results of a very interesting KA2.   

The day was completed with a meeting in which the status of the outputs was updated and some changes were made in line with the project latest mobilities.

Day 3

Day 3 started at IBSTEAM headquarters in Alaior where the transnational meeting continued. The dissemination plan was reviewed as well as the project management and the final budget. The questions of the final report were analysed and deadlines were set for the reports’ completion. 

The day finished with a tour around Maó and a nice dinner with all the staff from IBSTEAM.   

Finally, an evaluation of the transnational project meeting was carried out through a Google form in which participants evaluated items such as if the experience strengthened the cooperation with the partner organisations (100%), if it had reinforced the participant’s European dimension (100%), if they could integrate new knowledge into the participant’s educational process/ professional development (100%), if the coordinator had been reliable and responsible (100%), if the host organisation had been cooperative (100%), if the mobility had met their expectations (100%) and if it had provided opportunities to improve their English language skills (100%). 

01. Scratch our country’s tale #ErasmusDays.

In order to popularize robotics and make schools include it in the curriculum, we brought together boys and girls from a representation of primary schools from Spain (CEIP Pare Bartomeu Pou), Finland (Väinölä) and Italy who did a collaborative multicultural coding and storytelling project . Each national team has exchanged storytelling texts which in turn will be turned into coding on Scratch. During the online event the students presented their stories getting to know each other’s country/region.

02. I wanna be a scientist TOO.

This contest was designed to commemorate the 11th February, the International Day of Women and Girl in Science in order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls

The aim of this video contest was to raise gender awareness in science among the primary and secondary school students. Participants created a video in which they had to show a female scientist throughout history.

More than 50 schools with a total of 180 videos and more than 500 students from Italy, Finland and Spain have participated in the contest. The winner has been “Kapana Chawla” made by the students from IES M Àngels Cardona (Menorca, Spain)

Here you can find some pictures of the online international event celebrated on the 18th February and the playlist of the best 8 videos which took part in the international phase.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV56be4xNoDvglhfaskRWUt_37w2-J9PG

03. Asteroid Treasure Hunt.

To celebrate #ErasmusDays 2022, we launched a challenge called “Asteroid Treasure Hunt” where students from both primary and secondary school from Finland, Spain and Italy worked together to program a robot that travels from the Earth to the asteroid to get minerals. The trip consists of outbound trip, field clean up, mineral location, return trip and a celebration dance. You can find the learning situation here to do it in your classrooms. 

Watch the online event we hosted in which we celebrated #EuropeanRoboticsWeek and students could interact with each other and see what other students have done in their different countries.

Final dissemination Conference: STEAM for the Future

Handbook of good practices.

Online resource bank