Fairness in Teaching

Women remain underrepresented in STEM careers due to persistent gender stereotypes in science education. The Gender4STEM Erasmus+ project (2017-2020) addressed this issue by developing hands-on training and a digital assistant platform to support gender-fair teaching, impacting over 3,000 actors (teachers, pupils, experts…). Building on this success, the Fairness in Teaching (FIT) project has aimed to further promote fair and inclusive STEM education, ensuring equal opportunities for all students. FIT targets three key target groups: 1) teachers and especially teachers in STEM, head of teachers and schools directors, School delegates in digital education and delegates for equality between girls and boys, but also psychologists and career advisors in primary and secondary level education, 2) students from primary and secondary level education (children and youngsters of 11-18 years old); the final beneficiary of project results, and 3) associated partners such as teacher training centers and policymakers. Aligned with the Erasmus+ priorities on Diversity and Inclusion and Digital Transformation, FIT fosters fair teaching practices while equipping educators with digital tools and skills to support equitable STEM learning.

The project aimed to: 1) Expand the Fairness in Teaching Competency Framework – It broadened its scope from gender equity to an intersectional approach, ensuring continuity between primary and secondary education. The project developed assessment questionnaires and training sessions (both online and in-person), establishing the framework as a reference standard for school education. 2) Enhance the Accessibility of the Digital Assistant Platform – The platform's multilingual capabilities were strengthened, contents were extended to primary education, and an intersectional perspective was integrated. Additionally, advanced algorithms were developed to recommend fair teaching materials, along with interactive features such as feedback options and user-driven content suggestions. 3) Develop the FIT Community of Practice – A collaborative network was created to facilitate knowledge-sharing and best practices, ensuring the wide adoption and long-term sustainability of the FIT approach across educational institutions.

The FIT project utilized a Design Thinking (DT) approach, involving three key target groups: 1) Teachers, particularly those in STEM fields, along with school leaders such as heads of departments and school directors, as well as school delegates for digital education and gender equality. Additionally, psychologists and career advisors from both primary and secondary education were engaged. 2) Students from primary and secondary education, aged 11-18, who are the final beneficiaries of the project's outcomes. 3) Associated partners, including teachers' training centers, representatives from regional, national, and EU authorities, and STEM ambassadors. The project's primary goal was to raise awareness of fairness in teaching and empower educators as agents of change. It aimed to equip them with the skills necessary to engage a diverse student body in STEM disciplines. The non-linear Design Thinking process, which includes the five stages of Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, led to the following four key outcomes: PR1: Development of the FIT Competency Framework for Fairness in Teaching. PR2: Enhancement and expansion of the FIT digital assistant platform. PR3: Creation of new platform features to support inclusive teaching practices. PR4: Development of FIT training programs to promote fairness in STEM education. PR5: Establishment of the FIT Community of Practice. Additionally, 17 management meetings were organized, including 11 online and 6 hybrid formats. Three multiplier events were held to disseminate the project's outputs: two at the local level in Italy and Cyprus, and one in Luxembourg to mark the project's closure. Partners also conducted various other outreach activities to further spread the project's impact.

The FIT project produced several concrete outputs and results that contributed to its goal of promoting fairness in STEM education. These outcomes include: - FIT Digital Platform: The project successfully developed and launched a platform that attracted a total of 3,684 visitors. The platform offers 100 teaching materials designed to support educators in implementing fair and inclusive teaching practices. - Competency Framework: The original Competency Framework for fairness in teaching was extended to incorporate an intersectional approach, moving beyond gender fairness to include other dimensions of diversity and inclusion in teaching. - Assessment Tool: A key outcome was the creation of a situation judgmental assessment tool, which includes 34 stereotyped scenarios. The tool offers 136 possible responses, each associated with different levels of fairness. This allows educators to assess and reflect on their reactions to various classroom situations, helping them identify areas for improvement in promoting fairness. - Training Programs: The project provided both face-to-face and online training, reaching over 200 participants. These training sessions were designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to engage diverse students and promote fairness in STEM education. - Community of Practice (CoP): A Community of Practice was established as part of the project, with more than 50 members actively participating. This CoP provides a collaborative space for educators to share resources, experiences, and strategies related to fair and inclusive teaching. - Multiplier Events: The project organized 3 multiplier events, with 78 participants attending these events. These events served as key dissemination activities, enabling stakeholders to engage with and learn about the project's results. These outputs and results highlight the project's significant impact on both educators and students, promoting a more equitable and inclusive approach to STEM education. - Sustainability Approach: One of the key aspects of the project’s sustainability is the integration of the FIT assets (resources, tools, and training materials) into the G-STEAM Teacher Academy, which will officially launch in April 2025. This initiative represents a critical step in ensuring that the valuable resources created during the project will continue to have a lasting impact on STEM education.