OUTPUTS
ARTIFEX-project produced five outputs, an open learning platform (output 6) and an ARTIFEX conference. The open access to all the educational resources (output 1 to 5) developed during the project assured by the way according to which the integrated outcomes (or single outcomes) are presented. As a matter of fact, the idea is to deliver all contents via an open learning platform for teachers, teacher trainers and STEM educators, giving them not only access to the outcomes of the project but also offering them the opportunity to choose for a STEM education that is truly adapted to their specific needs.
OUTPUT 1: ARTIFEX book – STEM literacy and education in Fablabs or Makerspaces.
An electronic BOOK that focuses on (1) the required STEM literacy of workers in the contemporary labor market, and (2) the STEM education competences of teachers and (FabLab) educators. The publication has, as such, function as a vision document that illustrates the philosophy of ARTIFEX, the problems/challenges from which it departs, and the answers it provides to answer them. There are three main parts in the book.
In the first part of the ARTIFEX BOOK, there are presented 15 diverse STEM professions from across Europe and focus on the competences required for successful careers in these sectors. Each case is being used to zoom in a specific (set of) competence(s). The second part of the ARTIFEX BOOK details the STEM education competences needed by teachers and educators to build the STEM literacy of learners in the context of a FabLab or makerspace. Thus relating demands of the 21st century labor market with the needs of the schools. In a third part we provide some strategies to bring together schools, out of school programs, businesses, institutions of higher education and STEM-rich institutions, based on the experiences of the four national learning networks.
Lead: EDUBRON – University of Antwerp
Chapter 1: STEM professions
Chapter 2: Teaching in open learning environments – challenges and opportunities
Chapter 3: Building high-tech informal learning spaces- the FabLab model and good practices
OUTPUT 2: Self-Assessment Tool for STEM education competences
A self-assessment tool means that teachers, fablab educators and teacher trainers (and train-the-trainers) can use it to scan their STEM education competences. The self-assessment tool is based on a review of recent literature regarding effective education in innovative learning spaces such as FabLabs, and visualizes the STEM education competences of the user. By making these competences, and the level to which the user of tool masters them, explicit, issues for professional development can be identified. The results of the self-assessment will be presented to the user in an easy to interpret and visual format. The tool is free to use online application that can be used to identify priorities in teachers’ and educators’ professional development. Those needs can then be addressed using the CPD (output 4). The ARTIFEX self-assessment tool should thus be considered as an instrument that renders the modular CPD into a targeted tool: based on the results of the self-assessment, teachers, and teacher trainers and educators will be able to select those units that are most relevant or of the highest priority for the professional development. Specific parts of the self-assessment tool are linked to specific parts of the modular CPD program.
Lead: EDUBRON – University of Antwerp
http://teachstem.eu/teachers-educators/
OUTPUT 3: eScan – STEM education competences
The eSCAN presents an overview and state of the art of the STEM education competences of teachers and educators. This is done in the form of the report on the results of a European survey focusing on these competences. The report shows which competences are mastered and which still present a challenge.
The information from the survey was used to feed the ARTIFEX BOOK (output 1), to identify priorities in the teacher professional development initiative (CPD, output 4), as well as for developing the self-assessment tool (output 2).
Lead: KARLSTADS UNIVERSITET
OUTPUT 4: CPD – Teacher’s continuing professional development
An online innovative and freely available professional development training course with training modules (with a minimum of 15 training modules) for teacher trainers or train-the-trainers who want to improve the STEM education competences of their target audience (teachers and FabLab educators). Combined with the results of the self-assessment tools (output 2) teacher trainers will be able to select the modules that are applicable to their target audience. These modules consist of concrete recommendations and user-scenarios for teacher educators and they are accompanied with advice as to how these materials can be used for workshops to sensitize and improve STEM education competences. These training modules consist of both hands-on and reflection moments building on teachers’ own experiences and the good practices developed within this project (output 5).
The training modules were developed following the methodology of educational design research (EDR).
LEAD: QUEST – ARTEVELDE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE GHENT
http://teachstem.eu/workshops/
OUTPUT 5: Repository of good practices
This repository consists of at least 20 good practices developed at the schools of four of the partner institutions. These Educational good practices were developed through action research by the facilitators (teachers and educators) at FabLabs in co-creation with teacher trainers and other relevant stakeholders. The materials developed through this process is relevant to and applicable by other facilitators at FabLabs. The good practices are linked to the STEM education competences which the facilitator needs to perform. These good practices are described (aims, materials, resources, target audience, role and competences of the facilitator…) and are supported with different media (video, pictures, …) exemplifying not only the result (the good practice) but also the personal reflections of the facilitator during the different stages of the action research. Because the good practices are created through action research, there was also included a guide for action research to facilitate FabLabs and schools in the innovation of their educational approach. This guide for action research combined with the resulting good practices will inspire other facilitators in FabLabs and schools to start their own action research and improve their own competences through self-reflection and try-outs.
LEAD: ELLINOGERMANIKI AGOGI
OUTPUT 6: Open e-learning platform
The ultimate outcome of ARTIFEX is an e-learning platform. This platform stands apart from the open website we created following the European instructions.
The e-learning platform integrates (interactively) the different intellectual outcomes (see description of the other outputs). Ultimately, this is no more or less than a self-assessment or self-training tool for schools, teacher trainers, FabLab educational employees or educational researchers. It opens the possibility to create a learning plan adapted to the specific needs of the learning environment.
All ARTIFEX’s outputs are interrelated – e.g. depending on the self-assessment tool (output 2) which modules were used (output 4), which good practices can inspire us (output 5)… It is not the intention to make interactivity too sophisticated, but the emphasis is laid on the educational interaction between the different parts.
The open access to all the educational resources developed during the project is assured by the way according to which the outcomes are delivered. Due to this choice, didactic materials, documents and media produced, that is made available to a broader public under Creative Commons license, and – to allow broader intake –is registered via the EU Open Education Portal (http://www.openeducationeuropa.eu/).
Lead: National Training Centre, Adam Smith College of Management
Multiplier event – ARTIFEX conference
A multiplier event was created at the end of project year 2 in the Czech Republic.
This multiplier event allowed the project to assess all findings on a more international level, particularly adopting the intellectual outputs to the specifics of education in different European countries. This is crucial for the project since what fits in one country does not necessarily in another.
Present were representatives from schools, FabLabs and makerspaces, teacher trainers and researchers next to stakeholders extern on the project.
A methodology and program were developed by Euroface Consulting.
The results of this multiplier event were entirely integrated into the ARTIFEX learning platform.
Lead: Euroface Consulting
Presentations from the multiplier event.
Workshops Artifex in Kromeriz
Self assessment for supporting learning in fablabs & makerspaces
Report from research in Kromeritz October 2019