A multiplier event has taken place in Lithuania

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE SEMINAR FOR TEACHERS “CREATE AN IDEA IN A BOX”

 On 12 February 2022, VGTU Engineering Lyceum hosted the Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Strategic Partnerships International Project “Think Inside the Box! A methodological STEAM toolkit for schools” seminar for teachers of the country. As many as 41 teachers from various Lithuanian cities got acquainted with the methodology of the innovative STEAM event developed during the Erasmus + project.

The methodological material prepared during the project, i.e. the methodology of STEAM events for students of grades 5-8 and 9-12, was presented at the event. “Challenge in the Box” is an innovative, creative event where students apply their knowledge of engineering, physics, mathematics, electronics, 3D modeling and programming to create certain projects inside a box. These activities can successfully be integrated into a lesson content or be used for an exciting, exclusive STEAM event.

VGTU Engineering Lyceum acting director Dr. Lina Bagdžiūnaitė-Litvinaitienė presented the general concept of STEAM education to teachers from various schools of Lithuania. Project coordinator Akvilė Gerulskytė (Public Institution “School of Robotics”) introduced the goals and objectives of the project. Ernesta Smalinskė, a deputy director for education, shared the basic methodological advice on the application of the Lyceum STEAM model and the guidelines for the methodological tool being developed during the project. Teachers of VGTU Engineering Lyceum Ignas Jurčiukonis (teacher of Physics and Engineering) and Jolita Stapurevičiūtė (teacher  of Engineering), who collaborate in the preparation and implementation of the methodological material, provided the participants with some scenarios of creative STEAM hackathons and practical testing of the methodology, which was the main task of this seminar. Representatives of Panevėžys STEAM Center, School of Robotics and the Lyceum gave practical classes for the participants of the seminar.

The methodology was jointly prepared by the project partners, namely, Public Institution “School of Robotics”, VGTU Engineering Lyceum and Panevėžys STEAM Center. In the first pilot phase, the methodology was tested with students in Lithuania and in partner countries (Estonia and Romania). The second stage aims to share the developed methodology with other schools of Lithuania.

 In the practical part, participants learned to program with micro: bit computers and design in 3D with SolidWorks software.

 During the creative workshops, the teachers themselves tested the challenge in a box: creating, constructing, measuring and calculating. There was no shortage of interest!

 We are excited about the enthusiasm and willingness of teachers to challenge the challenge in a box with our students as well. In the coming months, the project activities will move to schools, with at least 300 students from grades 5-8 and 9-12!

 The project methodology was jointly developed and presented during the seminar by the joint “Robotics School”, VGTU Engineering Lyceum and STEAM Panevėžys team.

 

Erasmus + Key Action 2 Strategic Partnership project “THINK INSIDE THE BOX! A METHODOLOGICAL STEAM TOOLKIT FOR SCHOOLS”, grant agreement no. 2020-1-LT01-KA201-077987.