04. April, 2022
Continuing cooperation with Norwegian partners in the implementation of the project “Development of the Innovation Center in Liepaja City”, employees of the Science and Education Innovation Center (ZIIC) of the Liepaja Municipal Education Department went on an experience exchange and knowledge improvement trip to the Science Farm and Science Factory in Norway.
The aim of the visit was to participate in classes organized by Norwegian partners for students on topics relevant to the Nature House and the co-creation place for technologies, as well as in different workshops to improve the content of both interest education and non-formal teacher education programs.
The team of the Nature House took part in the Science Farm’s activities, where lessons on alternative energy sources, biogas production, everyday chemistry and animals or wildlife were observed and analyzed. The gained experience allows to look at the learning process from a different point of view and to see new methods for improving the already developed interest education programs in Liepaja. The long-term experience of the Norwegian partners provided valuable insights and inspiration for the development of innovative classes in both ZIIC co-creation places.
On the other hand, the team of the Technology co-creation place not only observed technology and programming lessons for Norwegian 7th grade students, but also gained insight into the science center’s cooperation with the University of Stavanger, the university’s pedagogy students in various technology laboratories. A unique experience was gained by getting involved in testing new educational programs and technological solutions, with the aim of improving the lessons already developed. The team of the Liepaja Science and innovation center, together with the staff of the Jaermuseet Regional Museum, created a robot that can recognize the things programmed for it, such as a specific object, sound or image. The acquired skills will be used in the implementation of classes to promote the development of Latvian students’ knowledge and career choices in the fields of STEM and environmental sciences.
The experience exchange trip is being realized within 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.