DISCOVER ROBOTICS VIA STEM

After seeing the negative results of the Covid-19 outbreak in our schools, we applied for our project. The use of technology in education increased during the pandemic. During this period, we saw that disadvantaged groups had difficulty accessing education and were left behind. A "digital" distinction emerged between those who could access information and technology and those who could not. During the pandemic period, digital education turned from a problem to a crisis. The needs of 6 partner schools were determined by looking at the results of the needs analysis. Our needs; - Including students with fewer opportunities in education, - Increasing students' basic competencies, creativity, motivation, self-confidence, communication, social and intercultural skills, - Developing inclusive strategies, - Providing STEM and Robotics skills. In this project, students and teachers developed STEM and robotics skills in cooperation with NGOs, participation strategies were learned. Digital skills needed during the pandemic period were developed. With the mobile application we developed, course material was brought to the education world. By successfully carrying out our project, we met the needs we stated above and achieved our goals.

We wanted to achieve the following goals by implementing our project: 1- Inclusion of disadvantaged children in education with STEM and Robotics. 2- Increasing the motivation,self-confidence,social and intercultural skills of disadvantaged children. 3- Teachers develop methods and strategies on how to include disadvantaged students in education. 4- Increasing the cooperation,communication and digital skills of all Participants. 5- Increasing students' problem solving and computational thinking skills with STEM. 6- Increasing 21st century skills and key competencies of students with STEM. 7- Developing students' algorithmic thinking skills with robotic software and coding. 8- Developing a mobile application called "RunYours".

1- Learning-Teaching-Training Activities (LTTA): 3 LTTAs were carried out to achieve the goals of our project. All trainings were provided by 3 project partner NGOs. - STEM&Robotics training was organized for teachers in Denmark (September 25-29, 2023). - STEM&Robotics training was organized for students in Spain (Alicante) (March 18-22, 2024). - STEM&Robotics training was organized for students in Portugal (May 1-5, 2024). 2- Transnational Project Meetings (TPM) and Job Shadowing (JS): 2 TPMs and 3 JSs were carried out to achieve the goals of our project. TPM: - The kick-off meeting was held in Coordinator Poland (March 27-28, 2023). - Closing meeting was held in Ireland (December 3-4, 2024). JS: - In Spain (Algeciras), Digital and Inclusive good practices were observed in school (June 5-7, 2023). - In Turkey (Kayseri), STEM and Robotics lessons and inclusive practices at school were observed (November 27-28, 2023). - Inclusive practices at school were observed in Iceland (September 7-9, 2024). 3- Local activities: -12 online trainings were provided by NGOs for students. - Robotics clubs were established in schools. 4- Intellectual Output: A mobile application containing STEM and Robotics applications was produced.

- 44 students received STEM and Robotics training in Spain and Portugal (50% of them are students with fewer opportunities). - 18 teachers received STEM and Robotics training in Denmark. - 44 Teachers/Experts participated in TPM organized in Poland and Ireland and ensured the successful management of the project. - 74 Teachers/Experts observed good practices and education systems by observing schools in Spain, Turkey and Iceland. Inclusive strategies were developed. - 185 Teachers/Experts and 44 Students who participated in transnational activities increased their digital literacy, communication, collaboration and foreign language skills. - 720 students from 6 schools participated in 12 online trainings organized by NGOs. - 240 students received training in 6 schools in 24 months in Robotics clubs opened in schools(50% of them are students with fewer opportunities). - Disadvantaged children's motivation,self-confidence,social and intercultural skills increased. - With STEM, students' 21st century skills,basic competencies, problem solving,computational thinking and engineering skills increased; with Robotics, algorithmic thinking,software, coding and programming skills increased. - A mobile application called RunYours was created.