© Veikko Somerpuro / IDoS / The IDoS peers at a meeting about early STEM Education for Sustainable Development
IDoS kicks off 2024 with peer meeting 1/3
The first peer meeting of the year took place in February. The six IDoS peers met again virtually to share the latest updates from their networks and to discuss the process of writing their next publication on “STEM Education in the Digital Age”.
Updates from the peers
In the first half of the meeting, the peers shared updates from their organisation and education networks. An internal survey of the IDoS network also revealed that each peer strongly agrees that the network adds value to their work and that they could take away important insights and learnings for the benefit of their regional networks.
© Stiftung Kinder forschen / Announcement for the first STEMplus Leadership webinar series
Stiftung Kinder forschen
First, Stiftung Kinder forschen presented their newly launched website to the peers. After over 15 years the pages have undergone a re-design and new user-friendly features were introduced. The main aim of the relaunch was to have a clearer focus on the target group of Stiftung Kinder forschen – the pedagogues that are working in early childcare education and after-school centres and primary schools and that are looking for teacher training, (online) courses, and practice material on the website. The relaunch also gave the IDoS web pages a new look.
Furthermore, Stiftung Kinder forschen reported on their newly launched webinar series called MINTplus (STEMplus). The webinars are intended to draw connections between STEM disciplines and other important areas in kindergartens, such as aesthetics, movement, nature, or leadership.
Siemens Stiftung
Siemens Stiftung started the new year with a communications campaign on STEMplus – a holistic approach defined by Prof Dr Kristina Reiss (TUM School of Education) and Dr Barbara Filtzinger (Siemens Stiftung) in their publication: "STEMplus – the basis of education in the 21st century". The paper highlights: "[…] children and adolescents must be able to have experiences that prepare them for participation in society. This includes being open to creative ways outside their own environment, engaging with different aspects of knowledge and respecting other cultures. Thus, it is not enough to limit oneself to the technical aspects of STEM."
Siemens Stiftung’s CEO Dr Nina Smidt also appeared in a videocast with Prof Dr Kristina Reiss – titled: #Bildungswende (educational turnaround). Point of discussion: How do schools need to change to prepare young people for the diverse challenges of our VUCA world?
© Siemens Stiftung / Siemens Stiftung's appearance in podcast on the educational turnaround
Office for Climate Education (OCE)
In other news, the OCE is organising the second edition of its Climate Education Summer University (CESU). The event will take place from the 8th to 12th July 2024 in Toulouse, France and will welcome middle school teachers, high school teachers and trainers from all over Europe.
Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC)
Carol O’Donnell from SSEC drew attention to a recent cross-country survey which found that teachers in the US are less likely to add teaching about sustainable development to their curriculum than their global peers. Reasons given for that are the lack of support, time and expertise needed to incorporate sustainable development into their classroom lessons. According to the SSEC, this study would reinforce the timely need for transdisciplinary science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEM/STEAM) education.
Focus Topic: New Publication on "STEM Education in the Digital Age"
The IDoS peers also discussed their latest publication in the making. This time the focus is on the teaching of Science, Technology, Engineering/Computer Science and Mathematics (STEM) in an increasingly digitalised world. With more tools and applications being introduced in pre- and (primary) schools that are often even replacing established analogue learning methods, the peers are seeking best practices to combine both digital and physical learning to achieve the most beneficial outcomes in preparing children for the 21st century challenges. The peers will gather case studies showcasing experiences from their own organisations and networks and present recommendations to a wider audience. More information on this new publication and its contents will be given shortly.
About IDoS
The International Dialogue on STEM Education (IDoS) is a joint initiative of Siemens Stiftung and Stiftung Kinder forschen (Little Scientists Foundation) that promotes high-quality early STEM Education for Sustainable Development worldwide. Together with selected expert members, the initiative maintains a regular "peer dialogue" – that is, systematic and regular exchanges at international level – that benefits the actors and organisations involved in the development of the education sectors in their respective countries.
Parties concerned are able to learn from and with the best players in the field of early STEM Education (the so-called "IDoS peers") worldwide and thus implement their work at home more efficiently, more effectively, and in a more knowledge-based way.
IDoS operates under the auspices of the German Commission for UNESCO and the OECD; it receives financial support from Siemens Stiftung and the Wilhelm und Else Heraeus Stiftung.