Abstract:

In the last few years, the implementation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) education practices at the secondary school level have been significantly increased. Literature has been highlighting the need of incorporating hands-on practices and project-based learning (PBL) methodologies in STEAM learning and teaching approaches to boost the learning processes of secondary students. Although the number of STEAM learning projects has been significantly increasing at the secondary school level, the number of educational packages presenting hands-on practices and PBL methodologies that are grounded on an internationally validated pedagogic proposal and address a multidisciplinary approach are still scarce.

Keeping that in mind, the OrganKits project aims at promoting STEAM education through the design, implementation and dissemination of OrganKits as a new educational resource and an innovative learning method based on active methodologies. OrganKits is a European project coordinated by the University of Murcia (Spain), gathering 7 partners from 5 European countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Turkey) and targeting secondary teachers, students, and schools and other relevant stakeholders, including (but not limited to) science museums or sports clubs.

The project takes place along a 3-year lifespan, and its activities are organized in 2 transversal work packages (WP), that address management and quality assessment (WP1) and dissemination (WP5) aspects and 3 technical WPs that cover the technical implementation of the project. Along the project, new and innovative educational resources will be designed (within both WP2 and WP3), implemented and assessed (within WP4) based on PBL, thus encouraging the active participation of the students, and built on a multidisciplinary approach, therefore promoting the students’ acquisition of competences not only in the different STEAM subjects but also in other disciplines, namely Languages or Sports. The educational resources (the OrganKits) will be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Council Recommendation on Key Competences for Life-Long Learning. The OrganKits will be comprised of Educational Guides (learning projects), Toolkits and Teacher Guides (designed under WP2), and the plastinated organs and their briefcases (designed under WP3) that will be implemented and tested (WP4) in real educational scenarios from 4 European countries (Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey). Particularly, six different OrganKits (Cardiohealth & emotions, Nutrihealth & wellness, Neumohealth & environment, Mentalhealth & mindfulness, Sportshealth & dependence, Reporhealth & gender) will be designed, implemented and tested.

The project will also follow a Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology, with two iterative cycles of testing (Cycle I and Cycle II). DBR is a research methodology aiming to develop resources or solutions in close collaboration with the beneficiaries, grounded in iterative cycles of design, implementation, testing and redesign. The 2 iterative cycles of the OrganKits project will be part of an integrative process, incorporating the lessons learnt from Cycle I during Cycle II. In sum, the OrganKits project intends to offer a broad set of hands-on and creative resources to boost the STEAM education in the secondary school level, while promoting the engagement of the students in its development, implementation, testing and redesign.

Keywords:

STEAM, secondary school level, educational resources, OrganKits.