Innovative STEM Teacher Training: STExperiMents Project Meeting in Istanbul
The STExperiMents project focuses on preparing and evaluating experiments that effectively integrate Project-Based Education (PBE), Inquiry-Based STEM Education (IB-STEM-E), and Collaborative Learning into teacher training.
The project’s emphasis on experiment-based activities allows for:
- Active Learning – Hands-on, experience-driven methods that foster student engagement and deepen conceptual understanding.
- Real-World Applications – Problem-solving tasks that connect STEM education to practical, real-life challenges.
- Creative Thinking – Incorporating artistic and design elements through the STEAM approach, encouraging innovation and problem-solving.
- Digital Transformation – Equipping teachers with digital tools such as PhET applets (phet.colorado.edu), GeoGebra, and virtual simulations to enhance STEM learning.
A Collaborative European Effort
The project is coordinated by Charles University, a recognized leader in STEM education that hosts Europe’s premier STEM conference on Project-Based Education (PBE). By leveraging this expertise, the project seeks to transform academic knowledge into practical pedagogical strategies for European educators.
Developing a STEM Toolkit for Teacher Training
A core outcome of the project is a comprehensive toolkit, featuring:
- Four real-world experiments and four virtual experiments designed for STEM and STEAM learning.
- Assessment tools to evaluate the effectiveness of experiment-based teaching.
- A pilot program with 20 pre-service teachers, testing and refining the methodologies for optimal impact.
- Enhanced teacher training materials to support the implementation of STEAM-focused lessons.
Impact on STEM Education and Teacher Development
By incorporating context-rich, evidence-based improvements, the project aims to:
- Enrich research groups and university departments by integrating a broader range of STEAM disciplines.
- Provide international educators with tested, research-backed STEM experiments, making them accessible to the wider STEAM education community.
- Highlight the importance of student activation methods, ensuring pre- and in-service teachers understand how STEAM experiments contribute to skill development.
Looking Ahead
The STExperiMents project continues to refine its approach, ensuring that the next generation of STEM teachers is well-prepared to integrate interactive, interdisciplinary, and technology-enhanced methodologies into their classrooms.
Stay tuned for further updates as we pilot, refine, and expand this innovative approach to STEM education!
This project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union. The project partners are:
Charles University (CU
Johannes Kepler University Linz (JKU)
University of Jyväskylä / Bahçeşehir University (JYU)
