A Format to Support European STEM Educators
by Laura Wanckel, Anna Bölke und Dr. Oliver Straser
Offering insights into current trends in STEM education
As part of the Erasmus+ project 3C4life, the ICSE team has introduced an innovative professional development format for STEM educators: 1h4Teachers in STEM. This online event series is designed to unite educators and educational stakeholders across Europe, providing them with regular opportunities to enhance their STEM teaching methodologies. Each quarter, the series features hour-long workshops led by experts who offer insights into current topics in STEM education.
AI in the Classroom
The first 1h4Teachers in STEM workshop took place in January 2024, with a session titled “AI in the Classroom? How ChatGPT Can Support STEM Teachers.” Led by Dr. Oliver Straser from the International Centre for STEM Education at the University of Education in Freiburg, the event attracted 115 educators from across Europe. Dr. Straser explored the transformative role of AI, particularly tools like ChatGPT, in revolutionizing education. He demonstrated how AI can automate time-consuming administrative tasks, generate personalized lesson plans, and improve student engagement, freeing up teachers to focus more on their students’ learning.
Sustainability Education
Following the success of the first workshop, the series continued with another event on 28 March 2024, titled “Sustainability Education for Environmental Citizenship.” This session, led by Dr. Michiel van Harskamp of Utrecht University, brought together educators eager to integrate sustainability education into their curricula. Dr. van Harskamp presented his research on sustainability education and shared practical lesson modules developed by his team, offering strategies to help teachers address complex environmental issues in the classroom. The session underscored the critical role of fostering environmental citizenship and inspired participants with new teaching ideas and experiences shared by fellow educators.
Upcoming Event: AI-Based Assessment
The third event date will be announced shortly (stay tuned and check our event calender for more information). It is set to take place in December 2024 titled “AI-Based Assessment in STEM Education: An Evolution in Teaching?” and will focus on the practical application of AI based-assessment in STEM education. Aimed at educators, this session will explore how AI-Tools like ChatGPT can be utilized for student performance assessment and diagnostics. Key features of the workshop include a review of knowledge-oriented and competence-oriented assessment methods in STEM education, an overview of AI-based assessment tools currently available in STEM education, and examples of AI-based diagnostics and approaches for individualized learning. Educators will gain practical insights into using AI tools like ChatGPT to support and improve their teaching methodologies in STEM subject.
All workshops not only provided valuable resources and knowledge but also awarded certificates of participation to attendees, recognizing their commitment to advancing STEM education.
Given the positive reception of the 1h4Teachers in STEM format, the series will continue and be integrated into other EU projects like the ICSE Academy, further supporting educators as they navigate the evolving demands of STEM education.
Stay tuned for upcoming sessions and join a growing community of educators dedicated to innovation in STEM by subscribing our ICSE newsletter!
