On 30 April, at the IEEE EDUCON2020 Conference, Natalia Spyropoulou and Achilles Kameas, members of the STEAMonEdu project team of Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI), presented the scientific paper “STEM Educator challenges and professional development needs: the educators’ views”.

The IEEE EDUCON2020 conference was the eleventh in a series of conferences that rotate among central locations in IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East and North Africa). This year, the conference focused on «Engineering Education for the Future in a Multicultural and Smart World» and took place online, due to the pandemic. EDUCON is the flagship conference of the IEEE Education Society.

The paper summarized preliminary results regarding the challenges and professional development needs of STEM Educators based on a survey that was conducted using an online questionnaire. The data was collected across 19 different cities/regions of Greece, including remote islands and included 59 respondents (26 women), who at the time of the study had implemented STE(A)M-related courses through formal and non-formal education in preschool, primary and secondary education.

The preliminary results show that educators need support with appropriate equipment, infrastructure and resources alongside with a reform of the education system in order to support STE(A)M education. In addition, professional development of educators is considered necessary, however, there is a need to understand in-depth the skills and competences that a STE(A)M educator should possess.

The presentation led to a fruitful exchange of ideas during the discussion that followed, also causing strong interest of the participants for the activities and future actions related to STEAMonEdu project.

Scientix is a community for teaching and learning science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). It promotes and supports a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM teachers, education researchers, policymakers and other STEM education professionals. Each of these groups can benefit from Scientix activities and events.

Scientix also collects and promotes best practices in science teaching and learning in Europe, and organises training and workshops for STEM teachers. To this end, it offers a repository of European or national projects about STEM education.

You can check our project description in the Scientix library here!

On 22 June, at the European Distance and e-Learning Network (EDEN) Conference, Natalia Spyropoulou and Achilles Kameas, members of the STEAMonEdu project team of Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI), presented the scientific paper “Methodology for the Development of a Competence Framework for STE(A)M Educators”.

The EDEN2020 is an annual conference organized by European Distance and e-Learning Network and aims to maximise the potential to exchange academic and professional experience, to promote effective navigation in the field, and improve the quality and depth of information available to the sectors concerned. This year, the conference focused on “Inspiring digital education for the next STE(A)M student generation” and took place online, due to the pandemic.

The STEAMonEdu project aims to increase the adoption and impact of STE(A)M education by investing in the community of stakeholders and the professional development of educators. Focusing on the professional development of educators, it aims firstly to compile a competence framework for STE(A)M educators and then design appropriate training offers.

Τhe presented paper outlines a brief overview concerning the competency-based perspective, in order at first, to identify the challenges and the current research within this topic for STE(A)M education and then to provide the methodology for the development of the Competence Framework for STE(A)M Educators, based on a modified Delphi technique where educators take part during the development phases.

The presentation was followed by a fruitful discussion, where attendees asked more information about the activities and future actions related to the STEAMonEdu project.

On July 17, at the IISA2020 Conference, Natalia Spyropoulou and Achilles Kameas, members of the STEAMonEdu project team of Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI), presented the scientific paper “Investigating the role of STE(A)M Educators: a case study in Greece”.

The IISA (Information, Intelligence, Systems and Applications) Conference was the eleventh in a series of international conferences, which offers a forum for the constructive interaction and prolific exchange of ideas among scientists and practitioners from different research fields – such as computers, mathematics, physics, biology, education, chemistry, experimental psychology, social sciences, linguistics, and engineering.

The presented paper summarized a study that compares the outcomes of previous research with the results of a survey of 59 Greek educators, who have implemented STE(A)M-related courses. Based on the responses through the specially designed close-ended questionnaire, the educators’ perceptions were identified and analyzed. Based on these, the authors assessed the importance of different traits and competences that a STE(A)M educator should have. Furthermore, the research showed evidence that there are some differences in educators’ perceptions depending on their academic background, mostly on teaching and professional development aspects.

The presentation led to a fruitful exchange of ideas during the discussion that followed, also causing strong interest of the participants for the activities and future actions of STEAMonEdu project related to the development of the competence framework for STE(A)M educators and the training curriculum to support their professional development.

By CTI

On 9 and 10 November, at the International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation (ICERI2020), Achilles Kameas and Natalia Spyropoulou, members of the STEAMonEdu project team of Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus” (CTI), presented online two scientific papers based on the results of the STEAMonEdu project.

The first paper, entitled “Professional Development of STE(A)M Educators with Online Tools and Communities” summarized preliminary results of the STEAMonEdu project. The overview of the research issues was provided, alongside with the methodology and achievements of the STEAMonEdu project and its expected impact and key results. In the following table, the key results of the project are summarized:

The second paper entitled “A Holistic Framework of STE(A)M Educators Competences“, focused on the development of the Competence framework for STE(A)M educators. The paper described the different areas and dimensions based on the different role that an educator.  In addition, the potential usefulness of the framework was described. More specifically, the design of the STE(A)M competence framework for educators, has two specific aims: Firstly, it must be usable by educators for self-evaluation and self-regulation purposes as a self-assessment tool in order to educators evaluate themselves and find specific competences that they need to improve. Secondly, it must allow for both the support and professional development of STE(A)M educators, both as a guide for the formulation of the learning outcomes of specific training programs and as an assessment tool for the evaluation of the training programme.

The STEAMonEdu Consortium is currently developing a two-phase training programme for STE(A)M educators comprising a six-week MOOC and a two-week blended learning course.

The MOOC “STE(A)M education for educators: Design, orchestration and implementation of STE(A)M education” will become available during April 2021. It is based on the five perspectives of the Competence Framework for STE(A)M educators, which represents the different roles that a STE(A)M educator can have during the educational procedure:

1. Educator as teacher-trainer-tutor
2. Educator as learning designer and creator
3. Educator as orchestrator and manager
4. Educator as community member
5. Educator as professional

The course supports the professional development of educators and managers/directors at all levels of education and guides them in becoming STE(A)M education tutors, designers and orchestrators. It addresses their need to understand, adapt, apply and create modern STE(A)M educational procedures and practices that enhance the effectiveness and acceptance of short and long-term educational processes.

The participants will gain knowledge and develop competences in the following areas:

• Modern approaches of STE(A)M education
• Design and implementation of STE(A)M educational activities
• Content creation for STE(A)M education
• STE(A)M educational procedure and resource management
• Community building, participation and interaction
• Policies in the context of STE(A)M education
• Competence frameworks and lifelong learning opportunities.

The MOOC will last six weeks and will provide multilingual material in seven different languages (English, Catalan, Italian, German, Greek, Romanian, and Spanish) along with community building interactions.

The course is addressed to all individuals who are interested in applying or finding out about STE(A)M education, such as:

• active educators (teachers, trainers etc.) at all levels and settings of formal and non-formal education;
• managers/directors at all levels of formal and non-formal education;
• students or graduates.

Participation is open and unlimited. In addition to traditional course materials, such as filmed lectures, readings, and problem sets, the MOOC will provide interactive courses with user forums or social media discussions to support community interactions among learners, tutors, teaching assistants and mentors, as well as immediate feedback to quick quizzes and assignments.

Following the MOOC, a blended learning programme will be delivered, which will delve into specific topics such as:

• Knowledge and experience exchange in the context of a community of STE(A)M educators
• Delving into STE(A)M curricula design and development
• Cooperative activities towards the design of STE(A)M activity templates
• Understanding the STE(A)M competence framework and educator profiles and using them towards the promotion of new educational policies

By CTI

The Regional Center for Educational Planning of Western Greece (PE.K.ES. D.E.), Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diofantus” (C.T.I.) and Hellenic Open University (HOU) – DAISSy Research Group co-organize the Panhellenic and International Conference “STE(A)M educators and education”.

The conference aspires to be a step for academic dialogue for the members of the scientific and educational community in Greece and Europe, as well as other stakeholders, on contemporary scientific approaches and policies in the field of STE(A)M education. Presentations of experts and distinguished scientists from Greece and abroad will provoke a fruitful dialogue on the developments of the implementation of the STE(A)M educational approach in Greek and European Education. STE(A)M education proposes the introduction of Art in STEM education and of all disciplines in STEM education as well – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – and includes learning experiences that boost interdisciplinarity, creativity and innovation among learners, through an attractive way of teaching and training, with application to real life problems.

The Conference is coordinated by Dr. Achilles Kameas, Professor of HOU, and Dr. Spyridon Papadakis, Organizational Coordinator of PEKES Western Greece.

The conference is addressed to scientists, teachers and educators of all levels engaged or interested in applying STE(A)M education, researchers and postgraduate students, education executives, providers of vocational education and training but also to any individual interested in being informed about the latest scientific developments, experiences and the results of the implementation of the STE(A)M educational approach.

The conference will take place online from Friday 7 May until Sunday 9 May 2021.

Everybody who wishes to attend the Conference, needs to register by filling out the Registration form. There is no participation fee. Participants are going to receive a certificate of attendance.

For registration, click here

For more information about the programme and the structure of the conference, visit the website of the conference: https://steamonedu.eu/steam2021conference/

The conference is supported by the project “STEAMonEdu: Competence development of STE(A)M educators through online tools and communities”.

 The conference is also supported by

• the Regional Directorate of Education (PDE) of Western Greece
• the international teacher community Scientix
• the projects “STEAM-IT”, «CHOICE«, and «GEMIN«, which are funded by the European Programme Erasmus+ / KA3 / Forward Looking Cooperation Projects in the fields of Education and Training
• the Hellenic Education Society for S.T.E.M. (E3STEM)
• the eTwinning Hellenic National Support Service
• the Greek School Network
• 14 Greek Regional Centers for Educational Planning (PEKES): 1st & 2nd Central Macedonia, 1st & 2nd South Aegean, 1st Ionian Islands, 2nd North Aegean, 3rd, 4th & 5th Attica, Central Greece, Crete, Eastern Macedonian & Thrace, Peloponnese and Thessaly

You can find more information about the conference together with program updates and the links to join in the conference website: https://steamonedu.eu/el/steam2021conference/.

The Conference is held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Education and is co-organised by the Regional Centre for Educational Planning of Western Greece (PE.K.ES. D.E.), Computer Technology Institute and Press “Diophantus”, (C.T.I.) and Hellenic Open University (H.O.U.).

The Conference is co-chaired by Dr. Achilleas Kameas, Professor of H.O.U. and Dr. Spyridon Papadakis, Organizational Coordinator of PEKES Western Greece. It is supported by the project “STEAMonEdu: Competence development of STE(A)M educators through online tools and communities” (https://steamonedu.eu/).

The Conference is also supported by the Regional Directorate of Education (PDE) of Western Greece, the international teacher community Scientix (http://www.scientix.eu/) and the projects “STEAM-IT” (http://steamit.eun.org/), «CHOICE» (https://www.euchoice.eu/) & «GEMIN» (https://gem-in.eu/en/), which are funded by the European Programme Erasmus+/KA3/Forward Looking Cooperation Projects in the fields of Education and Training, the Hellenic Education Society for S.T.E.M. (E3STEM) (http://e3stem.edu.gr/), the eTwinning Hellenic National Support Service (http://www.etwinning.gr), the Greek School Network (https://www.sch.gr/), as well as 14 Greek Regional Centers for Educational Planning (PEKES).

The Conference is addressed to scientists, teachers and educators of all levels that occupy themselves or are interested in getting occupied with STE(A)M education, researchers and post-graduate students, education executives, professional education and vocational training providers, as well as any person interested in becoming aware of the most up-to-date scientific developments, experience and results regarding the application of the STE(A)M educational approach.

The conference will take place in seven (7) parallel rooms extending over fifteen (15) zones. The programme contains 11 invited talks, 52 presentations of scientific papers, 50 STEAM education practices and 28 special sessions (workshops, panels, round tables etc.). Every day, one room will be fully dedicated to English speaking participants.

Participation to the Conference is free, but registration is required here: https://bit.ly/3rC95je. Join the more than 4.000 people from all 5 continents of the world who have already registered!

To communicate with the Conference organizers, please send an email to steam2021conference@gmail.com

Read the programme of the conference here.