Rationale of the Project

Rationale of the project

Background and rationale of the project:

The main rationale of the implementation of this Jean Monnet learning initiative is to create a clear STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) pedagogical strategy and to lift it on a European level. This way the school wants to raise awareness among students for the importance and relevance of STEM subjects in their lives and future professional careers.

This project is launched for four main reasons:

decreasing number of students in the field of STEM in higher grades at the BG/BRG Judenburg
focus on STEM topics by the Austrian and Styrian government and pedagogical school development plan
implementation of innovative learning scenarios in STEM subjects based on EU priorities especially on the EU-Commission’s Green Deal
to improve students’ knowledge, skills and literacy in the field of STEM to foster their professional STEM skills for their future professional and/or academic career.
connecting acquired STEM skills and knowledge at school with the principles of the European Green Deal following the European Educational Area strategy to foster learning for green transition and sustainable development.

ad 1)

The competition between schools in the region in order to attract students has also grown a lot. The administration of the BG/BRG Judenburg statesd that the number of students registering for higher grades, especially in the field of STEM has been decreasing steadily due to demographic reasons but also due to the outdated offer of STEM subjects and teaching methods and the lack of a European dimension for these subjects. In lower grades (ISCED 2) students are generally quite interested in science and technology but often they have bad experience at school with mathematics and other STEM topics and quite often they do not see any reason why they should put more effort in such subjects which are difficult to handle. Putting positive focus on STEM based subjects at school, combining them with innovative, motivating and project based learning scenarios and relating these subjects to a European dimension will not only attract more students registering for STEM subjects at school but also raise awareness for the importance of STEM on a regional, national and European level.

ad 2)

The Austrian ministry of education follows a clear strategy high-lightening the importance of STEM based subjects in the curriculum, as representatives of the labour market and several universities have reported a lack of well-educated students in the field of STEM. Furthermore the Austrian ministry of education also regards a high level of education especially in the field of STEM, as a guarantee for a prosperous European society being competitive on a global market The ministry of education also supports the implementation the EU-Commission’s strategy to combine EU strategies and values with innovative educational approaches at school in order to make Austria and Europe more competitive on an international level. Additionally the regional government of Styria has also launched several campaigns in order to foster educational innovations relating to European values and strategies. The Styrian government focuses on its European strategy STEM related topics like digitalisation and cyber-security, climate change, inclusion and equality as well as active citizenship among teenagers.

ad. 3)

Many STEM teachers of the BG/BRG Judenburg also mentioned the wish and the need to implement innovative learning scenarios based on EU priorities in their STEM classes. As the school has been carrying out many Erasmus+ projects and mobilities teachers and administration of the school have realised the importance and opportunities the European cooperation among schools, organisations, institutions, teachers, universities ect. bring along. The school administration and the school council have also manifested the need to foster STEM campaigns at school in the official school development plan for the next years. The school council is fully aware of the need to support strategies to promote STEM classes based on EU topics in order to raise the number of students interested in those classes. Not only the school council but also the regional school authorities are in favour of the combination of STEM classes and EU priorities at school.

ad. 4)

Very often students do not opt for STEM classes as they do not understand the importance of STEM for their later professional life. However, Styrian politicians and high representatives of the regional labour market state that if students can combine their acquired STEM knowledge at school with real jobs and the possibilities their STEM knowledge offers on a European level they will be much more successful at university and the labour market. The higher the level in the education in STEM is, the lower are the risks for people who refuse or do not believe in scientific and technological facts. Thus, there is a strong need for the school to relate the students professional STEM knowledge not only to their future university education and to the Austrian labour market but also to European values and priorities. This JM initiative will enable the school to offer EU activities and courses during the school year and include a wide range of non-teacher centred learning scenarios including project work, group discussions, digital methodologies and innovative didactic approaches, study visits and cooperation with local, regional, national and European institutions in STEM classes.

ad. 5)

The European Education Area fosters collaboration among European Union Member States to build more resilient and inclusive national education and training systems. The European Commission supports EU Member States in their efforts to

equip learners and educators with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for a greener and more sustainable economy and society
help education and training institutions to integrate sustainability into teaching and learning and across all aspects of their operations
create a shared understanding on the deep and transformative changes needed in education and training for sustainability and the green transition (in Europe and globally).

This project is based on the Jean Monnet “Learning EU Initiative”. According to these principles this project aims to boost learning about the European Union in ways that inspire students and teachers. They will be implemented in cooperation with Styrian and European companies, institutions and organisations and with the support of higher education institutions. Applying the concept of the EU’s Green Deal this learning initiative includes the development and delivery of specific content (Green Deal topics in STEM subjects) to be taught during the school year. The project will include formal, non-formal and informal learning scenarios like, external meetings with external experts on Green Deal topics and STEM, specific project weeks, debates with politicians and many other educational activities.

This project aims to equip students interested in STEM with specific knowledge, strategies and skills to understand why it is important to relate STEM with the principles and values of the EU. Learning how the European Union and its institutions work, give the students the opportunity to understand not only their immediate political and social environment, but also to understand complex European and global political, economic, environmental, social and educational connections and developments much better. Only if they have the skills, abilities and knowledge to develop critical thinking about their environment and democratic rights they can fully participate as European citizen in society and the democratic process and will be prepared for the future.

GREEN DEAL

Within this project upper-secondary students (ISCED 3/aged 15-18) will tackle the following areas of the EU’s Green Deal:

Transforming our economy and societies
Making transport sustainable for all
Leading the green industrial revolution
Cleaning our energy system
Renovating buildings for greener lifestyles
Working with nature to protect our planet and health
Boosting global climate action

STEM

This Jean Monnet Learning initiative will be implemented in a set of regular upper-secondary STEM subjects (ISCED 3) like biology, chemistry, physics, IT, mathematics, introduction to scientific work and project management.

INNOVATIVE APPROACH

This initiative allows the school to create innovative learning scenarios in order to make the STEM subjects more attractive and they will meet the school’s needs and the students demands for more interesting, engaging and attractive EU based STEM classes.

This project will help students to strengthen their sense of belonging to the EU and to understand the mechanism, values and policies of the EU and enlarge students EU literacy.

This learning initiative will foster the introduction of EU based STEM activities at the BG/BRG Judenburg and will strengthen the European identity, EU literacy and active citizenship not only among students but also teachers and other stakeholders at school.

This project fosters up-to-date information on EU, innovative teaching and communicative learning scenarios, invitations and discussions with EU experts and representatives, the use of digital, virtual, non-teacher-centred and students’ focused approaches. These methods go along with the objective of this JM initiative to empower the school and teachers with new professional teaching material and methods and will make EU topics more attractive to students.

Additionally, the use of authentic and digital teaching material offered by EU institutions and adjusted to the needs and ages of students from 14-18 in this project will also improve the learning outcome on EU matters. Furthermore, it will strengthen EU literacy in school. The participation in a specially for students designed course combined with the opportunity to participate in E+ mobilities and visits of the EU institutions in Vienna and Brussels will enhance the interest in the EU. The specific knowledge provided in courses funded by this JM learning initiative will also enhance the participation of students in the democratic process becoming an active political EU citizen.

This project promotes innovation and creativity in the field of STEM classes for several:

At school there is no clear strategy how to implement STEM topics combined with EU based topics. This project also supports the innovative approach to offer innovative teaching and learning approached to students.
In the district and region, there are no schools that are implementing this project in their schools. As this is a new EU initiative in Styria, this project is an innovation not only for the BG/BRG Judenburg but also for the schools in Styria and Austria in general. Experience in this project will be passed on the Styrian school authorities and other European partners.
As this project combines different learning scenarios (formal, non-formal and informal learning sessions) it is also innovative because STEM lessons up to now are still frequently teacher centred. Another innovative aspect is the use of authentic digital material (books, brochures, posters, digital material, online games, videos etc.) provided by the EU.
Creative learning approaches and the use of digital methodologies are offered so that students have a wide spectrum of how to get engaged in their learning process and to find personal fulfilment.
Cross-curricular approach: This project seeks to implements EU related topics in a cross-curricular form. Students experience EU topics related to a wide range of subject within their regular curriculum. This leads to interlinked and networked thinking.
Close cooperation with local companies, institutions, communities, politicians and visits of EU institutions and EU wide cooperation also turn this project into a very creative and innovative one.