STEM + Art = STEAM
A new project from digi_space.
Kreis Bergstrasse is coordinator of the 2023 ERASMUS+ small-scale partnership:
"STEM+Art = STEAM - A new creative approch to IT".
Natural sciences and art? What do they have to do with each other? What are the social implications of new technological developments, what are the moral implications? And what professional and career options does this unusual field offer? Students participating in the ERASMUS+ project "STEM+Art = STEAM" will deal with these and similar questions. In this project, digi_space is cooperating with schools from Greece and Turkey. In addition to the thematic discussion about art and natural sciences, the project focuses on promoting the digital skills of the participating students and critically addressing environmental issues.
Project Goals
STEM + Art = STEAM - A new creative approach to IT.
The project aims to advance STEM+Art = STEAM education.
Usually, STEM subjects are perceived as clearly structured and causal by students, the area of creativity and free design is rather attributed to the area of art. However, the two areas are mutually dependent: for example, art requires materials and uses their natural phenomena, which can be explained by science. The STEM field, for example, requires the design of objects and creativity in the development of new technologies.
Within the framework of the small-scale partnership, we are developing new approaches, workshops and course curricula for school use with the cooperation partners from Greece and Turkey in order to promote the interest and skills of students in and in the subject area STEM+Art = STEAM.
For this, the project relies on the concept of experiential learning activities. Among other things, students will:
- learn to integrate art and technology by using tools such as 3D printers, microcomputers, and digital art software.
- Address the social implications of scientific ideas and theories, the moral implications of scientific research, and public relations for science.
- learn about the principles of engineering, the latest technological innovations such as AI, and agile methods such as design thinking to develop and test ideas in sustainable technologies, renewable energy sources, or waste management.
The thematic work will be complemented by a virtual workshop on career paths in the STEM+Art = STEAM - field. This will give the students insights into various professions and the skills and training required for them. The workshop will also test the possibilities of virtual job shadowing.
First transnational workshop
Young people bring art and technology together February 2024, Heppenheim, Germany
Pupils from Germany, Greece and Turkey experimented at the Erasmus+ workshop as part of the district's digi_space program
Bergstrasse district (kb). Art and technology - how do they go together? 24 pupils from the Bergstrasse district, Agrinio (Greece) and Bodrum (Turkey) recently discussed, experimented and tinkered with this question in a week-long workshop. They not only learned a lot about 3D design, artificial intelligence, robotics and programming, but also about the culture and life in the other countries. The workshop entitled "STEM + Art = STEAM" was organized by digi_space of the Bergstraße district and funded by the Erasmus+ project of the European Union.
Trailer STEM + Art = STEAM
The young people aged between 14 and 18 worked on their own projects - for example with Lego Robotics - under the guidance of Jan Fuchs, digital education officer at the district. They were able to try out 3D printers, microcomputers and software for digital art. There were also joint excursions and trips, such as to TU Darmstadt, Starkenburg in Heppenheim or the Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe. They presented their joint projects to the public at a final event in Lorsch.
"Dealing with technology and experimenting with it independently is a central aspect of our digi_space research workshop. I am very pleased that this is being combined with international exchange and thinking beyond thematic barriers as part of the Erasmus+ project. After all, as a country with few raw materials, we urgently need today's young people to use their technological knowledge and creativity to drive innovation in the future," says District Administrator Christian Engelhardt.
The "STEAM" workshop will initially continue as an online event in March, followed by a return visit by the young Germans and Turks to Greece in April. After another online workshop in May, the final visit to Turkey is scheduled for September. The twelve students from the Bergstrasse district came from Martin-Luther-Schule Rimbach, Lessing-Gymnasium Lampertheim, Starkenburg-Gymnasium Heppenheim, Litauisches Gymnasium Lampertheim, Liebfrauenschule Bensheim and Goethe-Gymnasium Bensheim.
Co-Founded by EU-Program ERASMUS+
The project "STEM + Art = STEAM" belongs to the program part "Erasmus+: smale-scale partnerships" and is funded by the programm KA210.
General objective
The general objective of the Programme is to support, through lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport, in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality jobs and social cohesion, to driving innovation, and to strengthening European identity and active citizenship. As such, the Programme shall be a key instrument for building a European Education Area, supporting the implementation of the European strategic cooperation in the field of education and training, with its underlying sectoral agendas. In addition, it is key in advancing youth policy cooperation under the European Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027 and developing the European dimension in sport.
Specific objectives
The Programme has the following specific objectives:
- promote learning mobility of individuals and groups, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training;
- promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth;
- promote learning mobility of sport staff, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies.
More information: German NA: Schulbildung - Erasmus+ (erasmusplus.de)
Project data
Project number:
Project duration: III/2023 to IV/2024
Funding volume: 60,000 €
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
