On Thursday 4 May 2023 the N.C.S.R. “Demokritos” Multiplier event for the STEAM4ALL project took place at the Demokritos Congress Center in Agia Paraskevi, Athens. Invitations were sent out to policy makers, municipalities, authorities, schools, educational centers, teachers, IT experts and other stakeholders to register online via Google forms. Almost 50 registrations were recorded prior to the event.
The 24 people audience that finally participated, comprised mostly secondary school teachers from general and special education as well as policy makers (2 senior advisors from the Greek Ministry of Education). The Regional Director of Primary and Secondary Education of Crete honored the event with his presence and also addressed the audience by stressing the importance of non-formal education and projects such as STEAM4ALL which enhance and complement formal learning. The event was entitled “Presentation of STEAM4ALL Project Results Conference” and lasted over 6 hours (15:00-21:30).
The Multiplier event was treated as the main dissemination event of P6 and a great opportunity to present complete, finalized and tangible results (survey results, competence framework, educational material for 3D Design and Printing and Drones Programming and Piloting, e-learning and e-assessment platform using Open Badges as a validation method and the mobile app, etc.). regarding the e-platform, there was a live presentation of how to access it and register and enroll in the available courses and how to download the corresponding mobile app.
The event was divided into 2 distinct parts. In the first part, an overview of the project was given, with the aims and objectives, the partnership, before all 3 Intellectual Outputs, results and activities, were presented in detail. After the exhaustive presentation of the project and its results (IOs), which was the main aim of the event, a fruitful discussion was initiated about the importance of STEAM in education how it can be incorporated in formal education curricula.
The second part focused on a live demonstration of 3D Design and Printing with the usage of an actual 3D printer. Teachers had the unique opportunity to learn how a 3D Printer works and witness the whole process firsthand. In particular, we started by explaining the fundamental parts of the 3D printer. We then took the educators through the 3D printing pipeline, starting with the creation of a digital 3D model. We explained how this can be designed using various 3D modeling software such as TinkerCAD or sourced from online repositories. The subsequent step, known as slicing, where the model is divided into thin horizontal layers and converted into G-code instructions that the 3D printer can interpret was explained. We then loaded this G-code onto the 3D printer and started the printing process, allowing the teachers to watch the object being printed live gradually and taking shape layer by layer. Through this live demonstration, the teachers were able to appreciate the potential of 3D printing as an educational tool. They saw firsthand how this technology could turn abstract concepts into tangible models, enhancing the learning experience whether in the context of mathematics, biology, history, or geography, thus opening up new dimensions of creativity and understanding within their classrooms.
During the event and during networking at the end, the audience was asked to visit the e-tools (website, e-platform, mobile app, social media, etc.) of the project and register, become ambassadors and to follow the social media of the project in order to get informed about its activities and how these can be sustained and exploited by the teachers themselves in their schools and classrooms with their students.
From the feedback and comments received, it was apparent that the event was a success as the audience showed a real interest in the activities and aims of the project. Emphasis was given on how to keep the project alive after its financial lifetime ends and how to sustain and exploit its results and products with more events such as this one and in more schools and educational entities by more teachers and their students through the creation of synergies.
P1 committed to maintain and support the available e-tools and to organize summer schools for students to attend mostly 3D Design and Printing educational classes and for teachers to become mentors and continue their professional development.
All related files (invitation, signed participants list, agenda, photos, etc.) for this event are available.