Within the framework of the European Erasmus+ Programme ΚΑ122 / 2024-1-EL01-SCH-000223545” entitled “Breaking Stereotypes: Inclusive STEAM Education for a Brighter Tomorrow", five teachers from the 47th Primary School of Heraklion participated in educational mobility in Dublin, Ireland, attending the training seminar "STEM Education: Basic ICT Tools and Apps", organized by the Europass Teacher Academy.
The one-week training aimed to strengthen their knowledge of modern digital technologies and their applications in teaching practice, with particular emphasis on STEM teaching.
The programme included rich and multidimensional content, organised into individual thematic sections:
• Introduction to the course, the school, and Dublin: Introduction to the participants, the seminar environment, and the culture of Ireland.
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence & Deep dive to AI: Basic concepts of Artificial Intelligence and in-depth study of its advanced functions and capabilities.
• Practical Application of ICT Tools: Presentation and practice of practical ICT tools that can be directly integrated into the classroom.
• Discussing the ethical considerations surrounding ICT: This is a discussion of the ethical issues arising from the use of technology in education.
• Excursion & Cultural Activities: Visits to local cultural points of interest, enhancing intercultural understanding.
• Hands-on experience with a full range of Generative AI tools: Practical practice with generative AI tools, such as creating texts, images, audio and code.
• Agentic Thinking / Building Agents: Understanding and developing autonomous digital "agents" that can support learning processes.
• Developing AI-powered Learning Experiences: Designing innovative lessons utilizing the capabilities of AI.
• Vibe Coding – Making tools for you and your students: Creating personalized tools with code for use by teachers and students.
• New Mindset in ICT and Education: Developing a new understanding of the integration of technologies in the educational process.
• Exploring the Role of ICT in Shaping Modern Education: Analyzing the role of ICT in shaping the modern educational reality.
• Final Thoughts: Conclusions and reflection on what we gained from the seminar.
This experience strengthened the knowledge and skills of our teachers in the use of digital tools in the classroom, enriching teaching practice and promoting a modern, experiential, and participatory approach to learning. At the same time, they had the opportunity to exchange ideas and good practices with colleagues from all over Europe and beyond and to visit local points of educational and cultural interest.
They returned full of inspiration, knowledge, ideas, and a willingness to apply and share what they learned for the benefit of our students and the school community.
