Teachers Study STEM and Environmental Science Non-formal Education Programs at the Science and Education Innovation Center

On October 18 and 19, the Science and Education Innovation Center (ZIIC) of the Liepaja Municipal Education Department implemented the second informal training for teachers, developed within the project “Development of Innovation Center in Liepaja City “.

This is already the second teacher training organized in both ZIIC co-creation places and developed in cooperation with partners from Liepaja University and Jaermuseet regional museum to promote knowledge development and students’ career choice in the field of STEM and environmental sciences.

In the Nature house, teachers got acquainted with the importance of ecotechnology in the program “Ecotechnology for Improving the Learning Process”, where Dr. biol. Ieva Roze and natural sciences laboratory assistant Sintija Ozoliņa shared their knowledge on making composite materials from non-traditional materials, while ZIIC experts provided practical knowledge on the use of field research tools.

On the other hand, in the Technology co-creation space, Autoru Street 4/6, in the program “Digital Production in Education” 7.-12. grade teachers studied the use of digital production equipment and the differences from traditional production, supplementing their knowledge with the basic principles of design thinking accompanied by ZIIC experts. Rogier Jupjin, expert from Liepaja University introduced a laser cutter in the master class, and the participants learned the possibilities of involving digital production equipment in the learning process.

On October 19, the project partners from the Jaermuseet regional museum shared their experience on the implementation of classes for students of different age groups in Norway, and also led practical workshops in both ZIIC co-creation places. In the Technology co-creation room, the educators created an electronic machine, the creation of which requires only a few materials available to everyone and a small motor that works with the help of a battery. A hydraulic excavator was also created, in which the principle of hydraulics was realized with water syringes and tubes. At the same time, in the Nature House, teachers and Liepaja University students, together with experts from the Jaermuseet regional museum, got to know the importance of wind energy in the past and the development of wind generators today. The participants researched, designed and searched for the best solutions for more efficient wind power generation using the wind generator modeling equipment. In addition, windmills and kites were made, which can be integrated into the lessons of the younger students.

Non-formal education training programs or teachers are being developed by the project "Development of the Innovation Centre in Liepaja City" that is funded by the European Economic Area and the Norway grant programme "Research and Education".  Its total cost is EUR 986 049.00, of which EUR 754 327.40 is co-financing of the Norwegian Grants, EUR 133 116.60 is co-financed by the State budget of Latvia and EUR 98 605.00 by Liepaja City Municipality.