Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics in the 2nd Elementary School Varaždin
2nd Primary School Varaždin ·Croatia
About this project
<p>In the II. elementary school in Varaždin, the infrastructure for conducting STEM education is largely insufficient, defective or nonexistent. Teachers do not have the necessary skills to teach using modern technology such as AI, AR or 3D printing, nor to use modern teaching methods such as gamification and e‐learning. Students and especially students with special learning needs are deprived of learning about these technologies and methods. The school will undergo a digital transformation through the STEAM concept that adds the Arts to STEM education by equipping 4 classrooms including existing astronomic observatory, comprehensive teacher education, curriculum development and activities for students.</p>
Bilateral cooperation results
When negotiating bilateral cooperation, a Partnership Agreement was concluded with the Norway partner NT Gruppen AS. The main results of bilateral cooperation include: Two workshops were held under the leadership of lecturers from NT Gruppen AS: 1. "Instructional Design" – a three-day workshop held at the premises of 2nd Elementary School Varaždin under the leadership of lecturers Lydia Didi Zaric and Snježana Šlabek. A total of 20 teachers/teachers participated; 2. "Gemification" – a two-day workshop held under the leadership of lecturers Lydia Didi Zaric and Snježana Šlabek. A total of 13 teachers/teachers participated. In addition to the workshops, a two-day "Training of Trainers" training was also held under the leadership of the same lecturers. Four teachers from the school participated in the training. After completing the training, participants can independently provide training to other teachers for the purpose of training or introducing new employees. The SANDBOX augmented reality system was purchased and installed, which enables learning through sandbox play and studying a large number of natural phenomena, geographical reliefs or historical events. NT Gruppen AS held an online training session for working with the system. The system is located in the geography classroom. Teachers who attended the training are able to transfer knowledge to other educational staff and students at the school. Experts from the Norwegian partner installed and adapted the NOMON meteorite observation system, which connected our school's camera to the national meteorite imaging network (NT Gruppen AS cooperates in the network of Norwegian schools that use the NOMON system, in which observation data is exchanged). Mentoring geography teachers regarding the SANDBOX and NOMON systems - getting to know the programs used, how to maintain and possibly upgrade the system. After the project is completed, there is a need for maintenance and consulting regarding the aforementioned systems, and cooperation will certainly continue in the upcoming period. Since NT Gruppen has good cooperation with various school institutions in Norway on various educational and technological projects, there is a possibility that the 2nd Elementary School Varaždin joins in some of the future projects.
Project partners
- NT‐Gruppen AS Donor project partner· Norway
- Faculty of Organization and Informatics Varaždin Project partner· Croatia