ICSE Science Factory Convention – ICSE – International Centre for Stem Education

Empowering Schools through Open Schooling and Collaboration

by Laura Wanckel

The second convention of the ICSE Science Factory project, held on June 27, 2024, at the University of Education in Germany, marked a significant step in fostering innovation in education by promoting sustainability, digitalization, and health-focused initiatives. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to discuss Open Schooling projects, new partnerships, and the future of hands-on learning experiences across partner schools.

A group of people is sitting and standing around a table in a big room with a wooden wall. A person with brown hair and a beard is talking to them and demonstrating something. The others are listening attentively.

The concept of Open Schooling

One of the central themes of the convention was the core concept of Open Schooling. These projects extend beyond the traditional school day, involving external partners such as local companies and community members. The goal is to provide students with real-life learning experiences that encourage them to address local problems creatively. Schools are encouraged to initiate and lead these projects, ensuring their relevance and sustainability. The flexibility of Open Schooling allows for its integration into various formats, from weekly engagements, like the FreiDays concept, to extended project days.

ICSE’s involvement plays a crucial supporting role. From helping to identify local problems to providing connections with a broader network of professionals and companies, ICSE empowers schools to design their own impactful projects. One highlight was the collaboration between experts in fields such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and the participatory exploration of human-technology interaction (Nexus Experiments), creating innovative cross-disciplinary projects. The University of Freiburg and other partners were instrumental in offering support for these ventures.

A person is puring something from one pot into another one. There is a lot of fog all around the pots. He is wearing a grey shirt and grey pants. On the table are various utensiles, like spoons, a cardboard jug, a water bottle and tea cups. In the background there is a window with green plants and a blue sky just outside of it.

Two pens are glued to a piece of a cardbard tube. There is a black pin glued to the side of the cardboard as well. It acts like a propellor and makes the tube turn. The two pens are drawing circles on the piece of paper that lays beneath it. In the background there is a ICSE note pad and a pen on the table.

New collaborations, such as with Wonderful Idea Co., introduced playful approaches to blending science, art, and technology. Their constructionist learning model emphasizes students’ active participation in project design, sparking creativity and deepening their understanding of complex subjects through hands-on experimentation.

The event also introduced upcoming initiatives, including interactive career talks designed to inspire students by bringing professionals from various STEM fields to schools for informal discussions. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to expose students, especially girls, to potential STEM career paths and develop their interests in science and technology.

2025: An exciting year ahead

Looking ahead, ICSE partner schools are preparing for an exciting year. The 2025 German ICSE Science Factory Fair on Open Schooling, set to take place during the “Jugend Forscht” fair at the Sick Arena in February 2025, will provide a platform for schools to present their projects. This event will also include an Open Schooling competition, where schools will compete for prizes based on their innovative project ideas.

The ICSE Science Factory network is continually expanding, with new partners and ideas being integrated into the framework. Schools are encouraged to explore creative solutions to local issues, often involving students in project development. As Open Schooling evolves, it promises to remain a cornerstone of the ICSE Science Factory’s mission to bring together education, science, and the community for the benefit of students and their environment.

With the next school year on the horizon, ICSE is actively looking for new partners and contributors, from sponsoring competition prizes to providing expertise in Open Schooling projects. This collaborative approach ensures that the future of education remains dynamic, responsive to societal needs, and deeply rooted in experiential learning.

Back to overview