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DAISSy-HOU invites you to join the international Community of Practice for STEAM courses in Special Education

logo-spiceThe “Special Education STEAM Academy- SpicE” European project is currently being undergoing by the DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU), aiming to enhance the skills of educators in the inclusive implementation of STEAM education in general education school settings. The project seeks to eliminate any obstacles or exclusions in equal access to STEAM learning and knowledge for all students. Additionally, the project aims to bring together educators interested in promoting educational change and policy changes in STEAM education for a more inclusive educational system.

In order to obtain the project’s goals a Community of Practice (CoP) has been developed, which is activated through a dynamic electronic platform and focuses on Special Education, Inclusive Education, STEAM Education, and Advanced Teacher Education.

In this context, the DAISSy Research Group of the HOU invites:

  • Prospective educators and general or special education related students
  • Αctive educators and trainers in general/special education at all levels and types of education
  • Directors or heads of educational organizations at all levels and types of education
  • Educational policy makers
  • Researchers in the field of special/ inclusive education, STEAM education or teachers’ education

to register and participate in the SpicE Community of Practice.

Participation in the project’s platform is free, and every interested individual benefits from international networking with members of the SpicE community, utilizing educational opportunities and teaching materials. Additionally, there is the opportunity to engage in discussions through forums, focusing on topics related to STEAM and special/inclusive education, while also having access to information about relevant events and news.

For more information about the SpicE project as well as other activities of DAISSy–HOU:

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DAISSy-HOU participated in the 3rd Transnational Partners’ Meeting of the “SpicE” EU Project in Alicante, Spain

logo-spiceOn 21st and 22nd September 2023, the 3rd Transnational Partners’ Meeting (TPM) of the “Special Education STEAM Academy-SpicE“ EU project, took place in Alicante (Spain), hosted by the University of Alicante at the Edificio Germán Bernacer on the picturesque University campus.

More precisely, the SpicE project aims at gathering representatives of Universities, ministries and institutions from Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Bulgaria in an open dialogue to strengthen the Education Framework for STEAM in Special Education for students with mild disabilities in Primary Education. This TPM marked a pivotal milestone of the SpicE project, in an ongoing initiative dedicated to revolutionizing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education, making it more inclusive and accessible to all.

Namely, the 3rd TPM was a resounding success, serving as a platform for esteemed partners to receive comprehensive updates on the project’s current status and the significant milestones achieved, so far. These milestones stand as a testament to the project’s unwavering commitment to elevating the quality of education for all. The meeting also underscored the importance of fostering a robust Community of Practice—a dynamic environment that encourages collaboration among educators and stakeholders, all united in their collective endeavor to champion inclusive education.

A core objective of the SpicE project, extensively discussed during this gathering, was the professional development of STEAM Special educators. The spotlight shone brightly on Work Package 3 (WP3), where discussions delved into the realms of training curriculum, interactive workshops, training mobilities, and blended training—all integral components in the drive for inclusive education.

Embracing the transformative potential of technology in modern education, the 3rd TPM placed significant emphasis on the development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and educational materials for Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). The integration of technology into the education landscape was a central theme, reflecting its critical role in shaping the future of learning.

As the 3rd TPM unfolded, it proved to be a pivotal moment—a convergence of minds, ideas, and aspirations. Together, the participants charted the course of STEAM education, ensuring that no student is left behind. The DAISSy Research Group of the Hellenic Open University (HOU) is the project Coordinator, joined the TPM and was represented in person by Achilles Kameas, Professor of HOU, Director of DAISSy, SpicE Project Coordinator and Natalia Spyropoulou, Project Manager and Researcher of DAISSy as well as by Chara Tapinou, Researcher of DAISSy who joined it online. They moderated the meeting and engaged in the entire sessions, fostering productive discussions and collaboration. More precisely, Prof Kameas provided insights into the project milestones whereas, Ms Spyropoulou presented the project overview and topics related to the project management. Furthermore, she and Ms Tapinou  analyzed the methodology to be used for the digital development of the content of the SpicE training program.

The 3rd TPM of the SpicE project was a success, encouraging team spirit, vivid exchange and agreement on next project steps.

SpicE is a three-year project, co-funded by the European Union, under the Erasmus+ Programme. It is implemented by a consortium of 11 (eleven)  partners from four (4) EU member-states (Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Bulgaria) with the DAISSy-HOU being the Coordinator, actively involved in all project deliverables and having the responsibility for the project management, the development of the STEAM competence framework, the design of the methodology of the training material, the development of the evaluation framework, as well as all related project activities.

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For more information on the SpicE project and other activities of DAISSy:

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Πρόσκληση σε Ερευνά Διερεύνησης των Εκπαιδευτικών Αναγκών των εν ενεργεία και μελλοντικών εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης ως προς την Εκπαίδευση STEAM στην Ειδική Αγωγή

logo-spiceΤο πρόγραμμα SpicE (Special Education STEAM Academy) στοχεύει στην ενίσχυση των ικανοτήτων των εν ενεργεία και μελλοντικών εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης Ειδικής και Γενικής Αγωγής στην αποτελεσματική σχεδίαση και υλοποίηση συμπεριληπτικών προγραμμάτων STEAM, προκειμένου να προστατεύσουν τους μαθητές/ήτριες με Ήπιες Εκπαιδευτικές Ανάγκες τόσο από τον εκπαιδευτικό όσο και από τον κοινωνικό αποκλεισμό.

Για το σκοπό αυτό, διαμορφώθηκε ένα ερωτηματολόγιο, το οποίο επιδιώκει να διερευνήσει

  • τις παρούσες στάσεις αλλά και ανάγκες των εκπαιδευτικών ως προς την υλοποίηση προγραμμάτων STEAM για την υποστήριξη των μαθητών/τριών με Ήπιες Εκπαιδευτικές Ανάγκες σε συμπεριληπτικά σχολικά περιβάλλοντα.

Προσκαλούμε, εν ενεργεία και μελλοντικούς/ες εκπαιδευτικούς Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης (δασκάλους/ες) Γενικής και Ειδικής Αγωγής στην Ελλάδα, να συμμετάσχουν στη δράση αυτή συμπληρώνοντας το διαδικτυακό ερωτηματολόγιο που περιλαμβάνει η έρευνα.

Τo ερωτηματολόγιο θα παραμείνει ανοικτό μέχρι τις 21 Δεκεμβρίου 2022. Μπορείτε να αποκτήσετε πρόσβαση σε αυτό επιλέγοντας τον παρακάτω σύνδεσμο: 

https://forms.gle/1KV9JaDBJeShavyF9

Η συμμετοχή σας στην έρευνα, μέσω της συμπλήρωσης του ερωτηματολογίου, απαιτεί περίπου 15 λεπτά. Για περισσότερες πληροφορίες που αφορούν στο έργο αυτό, διατίθενται στην ακόλουθη διεύθυνση: https://spiceacademy.eu/

Ευχαριστούμε πολύ!!

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Hellenic Open University hosts Kick-off-Meeting of SpicE

Special Education STEAM Academy gathering representatives of universities, ministries and institutions from Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Bulgaria in an open dialogue to strengthen the Education Framework for STEAM in Special Education for students with mild disabilities in Primary Education

From September 22nd to 23rd, 2022, in Athens (Greece) the Hellenic Open University (HOU, Greece) hosted ministry representatives, teachers, professors, and managers of 11 education institutions from Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Bulgaria. The purpose of this meeting was to launch the project SpicE, co-financed by the European Union through the ERASMUS+ programme. This 3-year project is meant to promote visibility and inclusion for primary education students with mild disabilities, as well as to improve and promote STEAM techniques in Special Education at European level.

SpicE aims to enhance Primary Education Teachers’ ability to implement effective STEAM instruction for protecting students with Mild Disabilities (Special Education) from educational and social exclusion. STEAM is used both as the means and as the purpose for enabling a much-needed shift in Special Education in Primary Education both at an in-service and pre-service level. It sought to uplift barriers for a significant number of students that are silently, slowly, and indirectly marginalised from the early stages of European school systems due to the lack of Teachers’ STEAM skills and the lack of a methodological between STEAM and Special Education educational models.

The event allowed for a warm welcome from Prof. Achilles Kameas (HOU), the project coordinator, to the tour de table where partners met and got to know each other, which helped establish the connections that will ensure a smooth project implementation. The meeting was also available on Zoom for the participants that could not attend the meeting in person.

The objective of the kick-off meeting was to make sure all partners have a clear understanding of the expectations of the project, to understand the structure and workflow that will be followed throughout it and to be able to discuss the various work packages and their expected outputs, so that each partner understands their roles and responsibilities.

More specifically, partners discussed the project overview, project management, how special education practices will be collected and analysed, the educational and competence frameworks for STEAM in Special Education, the quality assurance in SpicE, the project’s dissemination means, channels and materials, and a shorter overview of the work packages concerning the professional development of STEAM special educators as well as the pilot testing and evaluation of future project results.

Moreover, Ms. Evita Tasiopoulou and Mr. Eddy Grand-Meyer from European SchoolNet presented EUN activities related to SpicE as well as two STEAM projects focused creating a conceptual framework of reference for integrated STE(A)M education, developing a capacity building programme for primary and secondary education teachers and designing an improvement journey with different stages associated to intervention steps based on research and proven experiences with recommendations.

Other activities carried out throughout this meeting include the approval of the Project Management Handbook and the establishment of the Steering Committee.

In the holding of this event in Athens, partners could share their experiences as well as become familiar with important aspects of the newborn project, and also enjoy the academic, cultural and geographic aspects of the City of Wisdom during their stay.

Additionally, it was hoped that the creation of synergies, and the coming results of the following working tasks and sessions will bring clarity for the implementation of the activities planned in the first year of work for this project.

 

 

For more information, visit the project’s website: spiceacademy.eu or check out its social media on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at @SpicEAcademyEU.

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Introducing SpicE, a new ERASMUS+ project focused on Primary Special Education and STEAM

logo-spiceThe project, implemented by a consortium of 11 public and private organisations from Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Bulgaria, aims at building significant knowledge for students with mild disabilities from educational and social exclusion.

The Special Education STEAM Academy, that is, the Erasmus+ SpicE Project call on Teacher Academies is an international consortium that has been selected on May, 2022 by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

This 3-year long project brings together 11 partners from 4 European countries, led by the Hellenic Open University – HOU (Greece), the coordinator, and including the Research Innovation and Development LabPrivate Company – ReadLab (Greece), University of Macedonia – UoM (Greece), University of Alicante – UA (Spain), Sindicat Treballadores i Treballadors Ensenyament del Pais Valencià Intersindical Valenciana –STEPV (Spain), Sindikat Obrazovanie Kam Kt Podkrepa – TUT (Bulgaria), Trakia Universitet – TUNI (Bulgaria), Osnovno Uchilishte Hristo Smirnenski – OUHS (Bulgaria), University of Cyprus – UCY (Cyprus), Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth – MOESY (Cyprus), and the Regional Directorate of Eduucation of Western Greece –RDEWG (Greece).

At present, inclusive economy based on knowledge and innovation is a high-stake demand for Europe. Professionals in the fields of Science, Engineering and Information and Communications Technology, as well as ICT workers are required and will be in demand in almost every economic area. However, the supply of graduates in ICT and STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) falls short of meeting the increasing demand.

Despite the recognised merits of STEAM Education –an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking–, converging evidence shows that it is not adequately promoted throughout EU countries. Students with “Mild Disabilities” are deprived of the opportunity to benefit from the advantages connected to its use. Due to their learning problems, these students face considerable difficulties acquiring essential knowledge and skills in many domains, including those making up the STEAM Education package. The lack of STEAM knowledge adversely affects these students’ professional perspectives and work- related opportunities in a world heavily dependent on STEAM skills. Therefore, STEAM education is an ongoing opportunity for pupils in primary education to employ skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking interactively.

Thus, this project’s agenda focuses on the promotion of STEM disciplines through the development of STEAM education. SpicE’s bundle of actions aims to enhance Primary Education Teachers’ ability to implement effective STEAM tools in education and to protect students with Mild Disabilities (Special Education) from educational and social exclusion.

As a result, more than 200 teachers and Higher Education students entering the job market in these 4 EU target countries will be trained to support students to develop digital skills through hands-on activity and an action-learning and game-based environment, which will potentially increase digital literacy and expand future career opportunities to beneficiaries.

The expected outcomes include the improvement of teacher education policies and practices in Europe, the enhancement of the European dimension and internationalisation of teacher education, the development of different models of mobility, as well as a sustainable collaboration.

These objectives will be achieved by developing competence and an education framework for STEAM in Special Education, designing an innovative Joint STEAM Curriculum for Special Education and a STEAM Training Programme, which will be further assessed, and creating and nurturing a sustainable Community of Practice.

Ultimately, all these efforts will be made to achieve a proper inclusion of students with disabilities by identifying the necessary competences, which will be linked to the Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu), and we will produce job profiles compatible with ESCO and mapped to EQF/NGFs. These outcomes will also benefit stakeholders, including teachers, researchers, policy makers, etc.

Therefore, understanding and raising awareness of the need to promote and enhance digital skills, STEM studies and entrepreneurship in Special Education is essential in order to undertake an ambitious STEAM-oriented project such as SpicE in the European context.

For more information, visit the project’s website: spiceacademy.eu or check out its social media on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at @SpicEAcademyEU.