Abstract:

Objectives:
(1) To design and develop an open e-toolkit of educational e-learning objects for the integrated teaching of design and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.
(2) To test and apply the e-toolkit in everyday teaching and learning activities.
(3) To disseminate the e-toolkit to other educational organisations.

The main expected impact of the project is the improved knowledge and skills in integrated design and STEM subjects. The primary target group is design students aged 15-25 in applied/vocational/college design schools and their teachers; the secondary target group is students aged 15-18 studying STEM subjects and their teachers.

Methodology:
The partners of Erasmus+ Key Action 2 project “DesignSTEM” met at an initial meeting (Estonia, December 2016). The objectives and scope of the project were set out. Subsequently, seven workshops were held in partner countries. During these workshops, Participants followed the World Café methodology for group work. Potential topics which could integrate design and STEM subjects were identified, selected, explored, developed, tested and refined to create the e-learning objects.

1. Background research (Finland): partners explored good practice case studies and agreed to follow the 5E pedagogical model of learning to develop each e-learning object. This model (based on the constructivist theory of learning) follows five stages: engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration and evaluation
2. Brainstorming and prototyping (Greece): matching design objects to STEM concepts and training on developing participants’ creativity and teamwork.
3. Presentation and improvement of initial ideas (UK): merging and consolidation of one hundred ideas into fewer manageable themes (approximately twenty five).
4. Adapting themes (Slovenia): translating themes into e-learning objects.
5. Elaboration of e-learning objects (Netherlands): further development and in-school testing.
6. Presentation of the e-learning platform using Fachwerk (Italy workshop): testing of e-learning objects on stem and design students.
7. Refinement (Portugal): additional testing, identification of further improvements and plans for dissemination (Multiplier Events, to be held in each partner country).

Additional modifications were discussed at the concluding meeting (Germany, May 2019). Improvements have continued following Multiplier Events in partner countries (held in June and July 2019).

Results:
Twenty five sample DesignSTEM e-learning projects have been developed as part of the e-toolkit. The e-toolkit is in English with a glossary in each partner country language. Each e-learning object follows the 5E model, starting off with a design problem as the basis for engagement in the object’s themes. The objects are diverse in their scope and content, covering themes such as colour vision deficiency, tattoos, algorithms, bees and packaging, finding triangles, origami, and natural dyes. Each one successfully integrates teaching and learning in design and STEM subjects.

Conclusions:
Feedback from students and teachers during testing and Multiplier Events has been very positive and constructive, with modifications made to the e-toolkit as a result of suggested improvements. The e-learning objects developed are innovative and engaging. Furthermore, they are flexible in that teachers and lecturers have the opportunity to follow each e-learning object step-by-step in its entirety, or to select activities of particular interest. We acknowledge the different time and curriculum pressures on teachers and lecturers in different educational settings and different countries. However, in the spirit of integration of design and STEM subjects, it is essential that teachers emphasise the connectivity between the two, which could be lost if parts of each scenario were selected out-of-context. A major strength of the e-toolkit is that it helps design students to connect their learning to underlying STEM concepts and that it helps STEM students to connect their learning to real world design applications.

Keywords:

Erasmus Plus, Design, STEM, e-tools, teaching and learning resources.