Promoting STEAM through early childhood teacher education (EarlySTEAM)

The project aims to promote STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) competencies among primary school teachers in Luxembourg.

The project at a glance

Start date:

15 Nov 2022
Duration in months:

38
Funding:

Fondation Veuve Emile Metz-Tesch /
Principal Investigator(s):

Christina SIRY

About

The EarlySTEAM project is a new initiative for The SciTeach Center, the goal of which is to promote STEAM competencies among in-service teachers Cycle 1 (3-5 years old) and Cycle 2 (6-7 years old), meaning early levels of primary education in Luxembourg. The project’s objectives included the creation of a series of professional development workshops, pedagogical kits based on the workshops to borrow free of charge, and inspirational resources of STEAM-based classroom practices. The professional development workshops are integrated into the Ministry of Education’s system of continuous education, which supports actions and activities that engage in-service teachers with the goal of updating and enriching their pedagogical practice. STEAM approaches fit very well with early childhood education, in that the holistic focus aligns with young children’s inquisitive, complex and embodied ways of meaning making. Children are born curious, each day they actively engage in inquiring and making sense of the world. Why do worms have no legs? Can we climb the rainbow? Where do hedgehogs sleep? Children ask questions, think, discuss, and investigate. STEAM supports children in their investigations and explorations, while fostering their creativity and problem-solving skills. Early childhood STEAM education is important and helpful, but the question is how can a teacher practice it? The SciTeach Center’s goal is to support teachers in promoting STEAM by offering professional development workshops that are not only designed for teachers, but also co-planned and co-taught with teachers.